A Magneto-Hydrodynamic Micro Fluidic Network
The magneto hydrodynamic fluidic network’s basic building blocks are conduits equipped with two electrodes positioned on opposing walls. The entire device is either subjected to an external uniform magnetic field or fabricated within a magnetic material. When a prescribed potential difference is applied across each electrode pair, it induces current in the liquid (assumed to be a weakly conductive). The current interacts with the magnetic field to produce a Lorentz force that is perpendicular to both the directions of the current and the magnetic field. Analogously with electric circuits, by judicious application of the potential differences at various branches, one can direct liquid flow in any desired way and rate without a need for mechanical pumps or valves. By equipping the network branches with additional, interior electrodes, the branches double as stirrers capable of generating chaotic advection. The paper describes the basic building blocks for such a network, the operation of these branches as stirrers, a general theory for the analysis and control of fluidic magneto-hydrodynamic networks, and an example of a network fabricated with low temperature, co-fired ceramic tapes.