Numerical investigation of water drop movement within a microchannel under electrowetting phenomenon

Abstract

The present study investigates the movement of water drop within a microchannel under electrowetting phenomenon. Electrowetting, by applying boundary (line) stress and the macroscopic variation in the contact angle of the surface, operates according to an electric field in order to manipulate small volumes of liquids. Applied electrostatic field makes the conducting drop to move in the direction of the field. Electrowetting phenomenon simulation has been done by application of OpenFoam software in Linux operating system and interFoam solver, by using the method of the volume of fluid (VOF). Numerical modeling has been compared with experimental results has been confirmed, and then has been investigated through three dimensional modeling of the movement of fluid drop in microchannels under electrowetting phenomenon with channel's different heights. An increase in microchannel height at fixed volume of water drop causes the velocity of drop to increase. The movement of the drops under the electrowetting phenomenon stimulation in climbing up the inclined plane in microchannels has been investigated through variable angle toward the horizon. Increasing microchannels angle with the horizon surface decrease the drop ascending velocity.