One-dimensional actuation of a ferrofluid droplet by planar microcoils

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Author(s)
Beyzavi, Ali
Nguyen, Nam-Trung
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2009
Metadata
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This paper discusses the simulation of a device for actuation of a ferrofluid droplet using planar microcoils. The device with two pairs of planar microcoils was designed and fabricated on a double-sided printed circuit board (PCB). Each pair is placed on each side of the PCB. The coils on the bottom actuate the droplet along the line connecting their centres. The coils on the top create a virtual channel to confine the motion of the droplet along a straight line. The paper first formulates the model of the magnetic field of the coils. With the modelled magnetic field, the corresponding forces acting on the droplet were ...
View more >This paper discusses the simulation of a device for actuation of a ferrofluid droplet using planar microcoils. The device with two pairs of planar microcoils was designed and fabricated on a double-sided printed circuit board (PCB). Each pair is placed on each side of the PCB. The coils on the bottom actuate the droplet along the line connecting their centres. The coils on the top create a virtual channel to confine the motion of the droplet along a straight line. The paper first formulates the model of the magnetic field of the coils. With the modelled magnetic field, the corresponding forces acting on the droplet were calculated. The equation of the motion of a ferrofluid droplet immersed in silicone oil is solved numerically. The influence of different parameters such as driving current, droplet diameter and viscosity of the carrier fluid is investigated. Theoretical and experimental results agree well quantitatively and qualitatively. Both theoretical and experimental results show that a higher magnetic field, a lower oil viscosity and a bigger droplet size will increase the peak velocity of the droplet.
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View more >This paper discusses the simulation of a device for actuation of a ferrofluid droplet using planar microcoils. The device with two pairs of planar microcoils was designed and fabricated on a double-sided printed circuit board (PCB). Each pair is placed on each side of the PCB. The coils on the bottom actuate the droplet along the line connecting their centres. The coils on the top create a virtual channel to confine the motion of the droplet along a straight line. The paper first formulates the model of the magnetic field of the coils. With the modelled magnetic field, the corresponding forces acting on the droplet were calculated. The equation of the motion of a ferrofluid droplet immersed in silicone oil is solved numerically. The influence of different parameters such as driving current, droplet diameter and viscosity of the carrier fluid is investigated. Theoretical and experimental results agree well quantitatively and qualitatively. Both theoretical and experimental results show that a higher magnetic field, a lower oil viscosity and a bigger droplet size will increase the peak velocity of the droplet.
View less >
Journal Title
Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
Volume
42
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2009 Institute of Physics Publishing. This is the author-manuscript version of this paper. Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Subject
Physical sciences
Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified
Engineering