In this paper, we report numerical and experimental studies of the Joule heating-induced heat transfer in fabricated T-shape microfluidic channels. We have developed comprehensive 3D mathematical models describing the temperature development due to Joule heating and its effects on electrokinetic flow. The models consist of a set of governing equations including the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for the electric double layer potential profiles, the Laplace equation for the applied electric field, the modified Navier-Stokes equations for the electrokinetic flow field, and the energy equations for the Joule heating induced conjugated temperature distributions in both the liquid and the channel walls. Specifically, the Joule number is introduced to characterize Joule heating, to account for the effects of the electric field strength, electrolyte concentration, channel dimension, and heat transfer coefficient outside channel surface. As the thermophysical and electrical properties including the liquid dielectric constant, viscosity and electric conductivity are temperature-dependent, these governing equations are strongly coupled. We therefore have used the finite volume based CFD method to numerically solve the coupled governing equations. The numerical simulations show that the Joule heating effect is more significant for the microfluidic system with a larger Joule number and/or a lower thermal conductivity of substrates. It is found that the presence of Joule heating makes the electroosmotic flow deviate from its normal “plug-like” profiles, and cause different mixing characteristics. The T-shape microfluidic channels were fabricated using rapid prototyping techniques, including the Photolithography technique for the master fabrication and the Soft Lithography technique for the channel replication. A rhodamine B based thermometry technique, was used for direct “in-channel” measurements of liquid solution temperature distributions in microfluidic channels, fabricated by the PDMS/PDMS and Glass/PDMS substrates. The experimental results were compared with the numerical simulations, and reasonable agreement was found.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2007 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference
September 4–7, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Design Engineering Division and Computers and Information in Engineering Division
ISBN:
0-7918-4804-3
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Joule Heating Induced Heat Transfer and Its Effects on Electrokinetic Mixing in T-Shape Microfluidic Channels
Gongyue Tang,
Gongyue Tang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Search for other works by this author on:
Chun Yang,
Chun Yang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Search for other works by this author on:
Yee Cheong Lam
Yee Cheong Lam
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Search for other works by this author on:
Gongyue Tang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Chun Yang
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Yee Cheong Lam
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Paper No:
DETC2007-35136, pp. 643-651; 9 pages
Published Online:
May 20, 2009
Citation
Tang, G, Yang, C, & Lam, YC. "Joule Heating Induced Heat Transfer and Its Effects on Electrokinetic Mixing in T-Shape Microfluidic Channels." Proceedings of the ASME 2007 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference. Volume 3: 19th International Conference on Design Theory and Methodology; 1st International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems; and 9th International Conference on Advanced Vehicle Tire Technologies, Parts A and B. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. September 4–7, 2007. pp. 643-651. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2007-35136
Download citation file:
5
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Comparison of Experiments and Simulation of Joule Heating in ac Electrokinetic Chips
J. Fluids Eng (February,2010)
Electrokinetic-Driven Flow and Heat Transfer of a Non-Newtonian Fluid in a Circular Microchannel
J. Heat Transfer (February,2013)
Flow Characteristics and Heat Transfer Enhancement of Electro-Thermo-Convection in Dielectric Liquids With Residual Conductivity
J. Heat Mass Transfer (January,2025)
Related Chapters
Laminar Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer
Applications of Mathematical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Models in Engineering and Medicine
Simultaneous Thermal Conductivity and Specific Heat Measurements of Thin Samples by Transient Joule Self-Heating
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)
Experimental Investigation of an Improved Thermal Response Test Equipment for Ground Source Heat Pump Systems
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)