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Electric Fields and Electric Charges
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Active control of viscous fingering using electric fields.

Tao Gao1, Mohammad Mirzadeh1, Peng Bai1,2

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.

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|September 7, 2019
PubMed
Summary

This study demonstrates active control of viscous fingering, a fluid instability, using electro-osmotic flows. Applying an electric field manipulates fluid interface stability in Hele-Shaw cells.

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Area of Science:

  • Fluid dynamics
  • Interface phenomena
  • Electrokinetics

Background:

  • Viscous fingering is a common fluid instability where less viscous fluids displace more viscous ones.
  • Controlling this instability is challenging due to factors like viscosity ratio and geometry.
  • Hele-Shaw cells are often used to study such interfacial instabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally demonstrate active control over viscous fingering in a Hele-Shaw cell.
  • To investigate the use of electro-osmotic flows for manipulating fluid interface stability.
  • To validate theoretical predictions of linear stability under electrokinetic influence.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing a Hele-Shaw cell with two immiscible electrolyte fluids.
  • Applying an external electric field to induce electro-osmotic flows along confining surfaces.
  • Varying electric field direction to influence hydraulic flow and interface stability.
  • Comparing experimental results with theoretical linear stability predictions.

Main Results:

  • Active control of viscous fingering was achieved by manipulating electro-osmotic flows.
  • The direction of the applied electric field determined whether the induced flows assisted or opposed the main hydraulic flow.
  • This electrokinetic manipulation effectively controlled the interface stability, demonstrating 'electrokinetic thinning/thickening'.
  • Experimental findings confirmed theoretical predictions for a range of electrolyte displacements.

Conclusions:

  • Electro-osmotic flows provide an effective method for active control of viscous fingering.
  • The phenomenon of 'electrokinetic thinning/thickening' explains the observed control over interface stability.
  • This research validates theoretical models and offers a new approach to managing fluid instabilities.