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On the energy conversion in electrokinetic transports

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Abstract

Energy conversion in micro/nano-systems is a subject of current research, among which the electrokinetic energy conversion has attracted extensive attention. However, there exist two different definitions on the electrokinetic energy conversion efficiency in literature. A few researchers defined the efficiency using the pure pressure-driven flow rate, while other groups defined the efficiency based on the flow rate with the inclusion of the effect of the streaming potential field. In this work, both definitions are investigated for different fluid types under the periodic electrokinetic flow condition. For Newtonian fluids, the two definitions give similar results. However, for viscoelastic fluids, these two definitions lead to significant difference. The efficiency defined by the pure pressure-driven flow rate even exceeds 100% in a certain range of the parameters. The result shows that in the case of viscoelastic flow, it is incorrect to define the energy conversion efficiency by pure pressure-driven flow rate. At the same time, the reason for this problem is clarified through comprehensive analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mathematical Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010021, China

    Zhaodong Ding, Kai Tian & Yongjun Jian

  2. School of Statistics and Mathematics, Inner Mongolia University of Finance and Economics, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010021, China

    Long Chang

Authors
  1. Zhaodong Ding
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  2. Long Chang
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  3. Kai Tian
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  4. Yongjun Jian
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Correspondence to Yongjun Jian.

Additional information

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 11902165, 11772162, and 11862018), the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China (Nos. 2019BS01004 and 2021MS01007), and the Inner Mongolia Grassland Talent (No. 12000-12102013)

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Ding, Z., Chang, L., Tian, K. et al. On the energy conversion in electrokinetic transports. Appl. Math. Mech.-Engl. Ed. 43, 263–274 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-022-2810-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10483-022-2810-7

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