Electrokinetically forced turbulence in microfluidic flow.

Abstract

While laminar flow heat transfer and mixing in microfluidic geometries has been investigated experimentally, as has the effect of geometry-induced turbulence in microfluidic flow (it is well documented that turbulence increases convective heat transfer in macrofluidic flow), little literature exists investigating the effect of electrokinetically-induced turbulence on heat transfer at the micro scale. Successful research in this area could be invaluable in creating more efficient heat exchangers for emerging microscale electronics as well as to fields requiring greater control of mixing in microfluidic devices.