Numerical study of micro-scale EHD conduction pumping: The effect of pump orientation and flow inertia on heterocharge layer morphology and flow distribution control

Innovative technological solutions for thermal management of components at small scales, such as electrohydrodynamic (EHD) conduction pumping, are being developed to enable the next generation miniaturized high density electronics. In EHD conduction, a strong electric field is applied via asymmetric submerged electrodes in dielectric liquid. The enhances dissociation electrolytic impurities present within fluid, generating ions that migrate form heterocharge layers over each electrode. subsequent abundance asymmetrically distributed space charge generates net Coulomb force on producing flow direction force. pumps have no moving parts, consume very little power, and simple, flexible designs can be easily micro-scale. This study numerically investigates layer morphology pumping used distribution control between parallel micro-scale branches, using different orientations accounting inertia effects. results qualitatively compared with available experimental data serve explain observed behaviors.