Flow recirculation when pumping liquids with AC electric fields: experiments and simulations

Many popular micropumps implement moving parts that presents serious drawbacks. This is one of the reasons for the growing interest in valveless micropumps. Pumps exploiting AC electric fields are investigated here. Theoretical results are recalled and the behaviour of fabricated glass and PDMS prototypes is presented and compared to simulations. Recirculation of liquid in the pumping channel is explained by geometrical reasons.