Abstract
This paper proposes a new concept of thermal switch with the electrowetting-on-dielectic(EWOD) method. The proposed thermal switch plays a role of thermal insulation and transport in the magnetic refrigeration systems and has remarkably expected features of low power consumption, high-response performance, simple structure and easy miniaturization. The experiment on the unsteady motion characteristic of EWOD-driven mercury droplets on the two-electrode type EWOD with Pt-electrode and dielectric layers of water-repellent fluorocarbon and Parylene membrane was conducted. The minimum electrical potentials required for the movement of the droplets 0.5 to 3 mm in diameter, the effect of flow channel geometry, and the relation between the contact area and moving speed of the droplets are discussed in the paper.
