Characterization of Mobility of Charged Dissociated Species in Dielectric Fluids For EHD Pumping Microsystems

Abstract

Electro-Hydro-Dynamic (EHD) effects could exhibit interesting performances when a moving fluid is needed, as is the case with mono or diphasic thermal management systems [1] or for soft robotics actuators [2]. Indeed, EHD pumps are non-mechanical devices that allow inducing flow motion of dielectric fluids through a channel under the influence of a high electric field (typically 10V/μm). This phenomenon arises from the unbalance between dissociation and recombination of neutral species in the polarized media [3]. In conduction mode, the efficiency of such pumping system is highly depending on the fluid properties and especially the mobility of dissociated species [4].In this paper we present the theory and a methodology associated with a specific test bench that allows investigating in the mobility of dissociated species in various fluids. This makes possible to assess their respective effectiveness for the obtention of high performances EHD pumping microsystems.