Innovative technological solutions for thermal management of components at small scales, such as electrohydrodynamic (EHD) conduction pumping, are being developed to enable the next generation of miniaturized high density electronics. In EHD conduction, a strong electric field is applied via asymmetric submerged electrodes in a dielectric liquid. The field enhances the dissociation of electrolytic impurities present within the fluid, generating ions that migrate to form heterocharge layers over each electrode. The subsequent abundance of asymmetrically distributed space charge generates a net Coulomb force that is applied on the fluid, producing a net flow in the direction of the force. EHD conduction pumps have no moving parts, consume very little power, and have simple, flexible designs that can be easily miniaturized to the micro-scale. This study numerically investigates the heterocharge layer morphology of EHD conduction pumping used in flow distribution control between parallel micro-scale branches, using different pumping orientations and accounting for flow inertia effects. The results are qualitatively compared with available experimental data and serve to explain observed behaviors.

正在开发用于小规模组件热管理的创新技术解决方案，例如电液动力学（EHD）传导泵，以支持下一代小型化的高密度电子设备。在EHD传导中，通过非对称浸没电极在电介质液体中施加强电场。该场增强了流体中存在的电解杂质的离解，产生了离子，这些离子迁移以在每个电极上形成杂化层。随后大量的不对称分布的空间电荷会产生净库仑力，该净库仑力会作用在流体上，从而在力的方向上产生净流量。EHD传导泵没有活动部件，消耗的功率非常小，并且设计简单，灵活，可以轻松地微型化。本研究以数值方式研究了EHD传导泵的杂化层形态，该形态用于控制平行微尺度分支之间的流量分配，采用不同的泵浦方向并考虑了流惯性效应。将结果与可用的实验数据进行定性比较，并有助于解释观察到的行为。