PIV Flow Measurements of Conduction Pumping Flow Created by Nine Pairs of Asymmetric Surface Electrodes

Abstract

In this paper, the electrohydrodynamic flow generated by nine electrode pairs of asymmetric electrodes is experimentally investigated. Electrodes are flushed into a cavity wall and a DC voltage is applied to the electrodes in order to set the liquid in motion. The liquid flow patterns are recorded by the use of a particles velocity Image system. Flows have been recorded during more than 500s and time variations are presented. According to the theory the flow over each electrode pair is most of the time directed from to small electrode to the large one but unpredicted flow patterns have also been obtained. It can be noticed that an unexpected reversed flow has even been observed in some configurations. In order to explain these behaviors, a joint analysis of both flow patterns and measured electric current is made. This last point is more particularly discussed in the last part.