Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Complex Flow Generation in Microchannel

In this paper, we present a design methodology for magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) complex flow generation inside a simple straight microchannel in which electrodes are patterned on two side walls and a bottom wall. The Lorentz force, a driving force to generate a flow, can be variously induced in the microchannel by changing applied voltages at the patterned electrodes and a magnetic field. The required applied voltage conditions at each electrode to generate axial, transverse, sinusoidal and multi-vortical flows are discussed for a given magnetic field. Threedimensional CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulations confirm the successful generations of the designed complex flows in the microchannel. The design methodology for the present MHD complex flows such as sinusoidal or vortical flow might be applied to precise control or mixing of the flow inside the microchannel.