Electronic edition ISSN 1574-0579

Transient response of a ferrofluid plug-driven micropump

K. Das¹ , M. Sarkar² , A. Mukhopadhyay³ , R. Ganguly²

¹ Department of Power Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700098, India
² School of Nuclear Studies and Applications, Jadavpur University, 700098, India
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India

Abstract
A theoretical model for oscillatory motion of a non-wetting immiscible ferrofluid plug-driven micropump is developed. The plug drives an immiscible host fluid through a microchannel under the influence of an oscillating magnetic line dipole as it simultaneously experiences magnetic, pressure, viscous, and capillary forces. When a sinusoidal oscillation of the driving magnetic field is imposed, the plug exhibits different waveforms of oscillatory displacement depending upon the operating parameters. Dynamic response of the plug under varied magnetic susceptibility and the oscillation frequency of the dipole are reported. Results of the study will be useful in design and selection of operating ranges for ferrofluid-based micropump systems. Tables 1, Figs 5, Refs 7.