LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATIONS OF MIXING ENHANCEMENT BY THE ELECTRO-OSMOTIC FLOW IN MICROCHANNELS

Abstract

The Lattice Boltzmann methods are used to study the mixing enhancements by the electro-osmotic flow in microchannel. Three sets of lattice evolution methods are performed for the fluid flow, for the electrical potential distribution, and for the concentration propagation. The simulation results show that the electro-osmotic flow induces y-directional velocity which enhances the mixing in microchannels. The mixing enhancement is related with the surface zeta potential arrangement and the external electric field strength.