3D numerical micro-cooling analysis for an electrohydrodynamic micro-pump

A 3D numerical thermal-hydraulic analysis for a micro-channel flow induced by an electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump was studied. The micro pump provides the required pumping power by using the dipole moment force generated from polarizing fluid molecules. The effects of different electrode pitches (5-200 mu m) and electrode angles (theta = 2 degrees and theta = 6 degrees) are investigated in detailed for different applied voltage V-E ranging from 100 V to 500 V, using HFE-7100 and oil as the working fluids. It is found that the EHD micro pump is more effective for smaller channel pitch and higher applied voltage. For V-E = 500 V and parallel electrodes with pitch = 50 mu m, this study identifies the performance of 13 kPa in the pressure head and 10 W/cm(2) in the wall heat flux (cooling capacity). It is also shown that the larger angle for non-parallel electrodes, the more micro pumping force. In addition, as the pitch is reduced to 5 mu m, the pressure head and cooling capacity could reach 54 kPa and 223 W/cm(2), respectively. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.