Thermophoresis of particles in aqueous solution in micro-channel

A theoretical analysis of micro motion of particles under the action of thermophoresis in aqueous electrolyte solution is presented in this paper. A two-dimensional, incompressible and laminar fluid flow model is proposed to simulate the fluid flow and particle motion trajectory in micro-channel. The effects of thermophoretic force and viscous force on the particle are calculated. The particle trajectories considering the effects of particle size, inlet flow velocity and temperature difference between bottom side and top side in micro-channel with a length of 2000 μm and a height of 500 μm are simulated. The effect of thermophoresis on separation motion of particles in micro-channel is analyzed. The results show that thermophoretic force increases with the increase of temperature gradient in micro-channel and particles with smaller diameter, smaller density and smaller gravity acceleration can pass the micro-channel more easily.