Induced-charge electro-osmotic flow around cylinders with various orientations

Abstract

Induced-charge electro-osmosis around multiple gold-coated stainless steel rods under various AC electric fields is investigated using the techniques of microparticle image velocimetry and numerical simulation. In this study, the results of interactions between induced electric double layers of two identical conductive cylinders on surrounding fluid are presented. The induced-charge electro-osmosis flow around multiple rods in touch and with one cylinder diameter gap reveals quadrupolar flow structures with four vortices. The induced-charge electro-osmotic flow structure and velocity magnitude also depend on the cylinder geometry and orientation. It is seen that four small vortices develop in the close region of cylinder surface for multiple rods with gap, while the other four large vortices are surrounding them. The distributions of vorticity patterns also strongly depend on cylinder orientation in the close region of cylinder surface.