電気浸透流を用いたマイクロポンプに関する基礎研究(流体工学,流体機械)

抄録

A micro-pump using an electroosmotic flow has some advantages over a mechanical pump in smallsizing, easy-controlling and no pulsation. The electroosmotic flow, however, has not been studied much in the field of mechanical engineering and fluid mechanics because the flow is appreciable only in a micro-channel like a capillary not but in a channel used in conventional fluid mechanics. In this study, the relations between the electroosmotic flow rate and a channel size, a pressure gradient and an applied electric field were measured. In addition, the electric current along the electroosmotic flow channel was measured. The electroosmotic flow rate is shown to be proportional to the channel size. There are cases that the electroosmotic flow rate is not proportional to the applied electric field. The flow rate of an electroosmotic flow under the influence of a pressure gradient is linear to the pressure gradient. In the bulk region of the liquid in an electroosmotic flow channel, there is an excess electric charge that contributes to an additional electric current over the conductive current.