Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Page 1 of 15
Model Library > Chemical Reaction Engineering Module > Mass Transport
Model Definition
Figure 1 shows the systems geometry. It is made up of a domain of porous material containing the electrolyte and two electrodes that generate a potential difference. The conductivity is very small, and the model assumes that the effects of electrochemical reactions at the electrode surfaces are negligible.
Figure 1: The modeled domain consists of an electrolyte contained in a porous structure and two electrodes that generate an electric field. In the first part of the model, you solve the continuity equations for the flow velocity and the current density at steady state:
(1) Here u denotes the velocity (m/s) and i represents the current-density vector (A/m ). The velocity includes two driving forcesa pressure term and an electroosmotic term:
2
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 2 of 15
(2) In this equation, p denotes the porosity, a is the average radius of the pores (m), gives the fluids dynamic viscosity (Pa s), represents the tortuosity of the porous structure, w is the fluids permittivity (F/m), p gives the pressure (Pa),
is the zeta potential (V), and V equals the potential (V). The current density is given by
(3) where denotes the conductivity (S/m). At the solid walls, the normal velocity component vanishes: (4) At the inlet and the outlet, the pressure is fixed:
(5) and
(6) The boundary conditions for the current-density balance are insulating for all boundaries except the electrode surfaces, where the potential is fixed:
(7) In the second model stage, you use the steady-state velocity and potential fields in a transient simulation of the concentration of a charged tracer species injected into the system, assuming that the tracer species does not influence the conductivity or the set potential in the porous structure. The mass-transport equation for the tracer reads
(9) In this equation, D denotes the tracers diffusivity (m /s), c gives its concentration (mol/m ), z represents the tracers charge number, and F is Faradays constant (C/mol). The mobility, um (mol m /(J s)), is given by the Nernst-Einstein equation
2 2 3
(10) where Rg = 8.314 J/(mol K) is the gas constant and T (K) is the temperature. The boundary conditions for Equation 8, the mass-transport equation, are insulating except at the inlet and the outlet. There you use the Flux condition to set the diffusive and convective contributions to the flux through the boundaries to zero:
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 3 of 15
(11) The initial concentration is given by a distribution that is uniform in the y direction and bell-shaped in the x direction:
(12) Here ctop denotes the peak concentration, xm is the position of the peak along the x-axis, and equals the base width of the peak.
Results
The upper plot in Figure 2 shows the flow distribution in the porous structure when only the electric field acts as a driving force. In the lower plot, it is instead the pressure gradient that drives the flow. In both cases, the velocity is large around the corners of the electrodes, where the field strength is large and the effect of the decrease in the geometrys cross section is most pronounced. A comparison of the maximum flow-velocity values shows that the pressure gradient is the dominating driving force.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 4 of 15
Figure 2: Velocity distributions in the cell with an applied electric field (top) and an applied pressure difference (bottom). The scale unit for the magnitude surface plot is m/s. Figure 3 shows the concentration field in the case where both pressure and electroosmotic forces are included. The figure shows that the migration of the charged tracer also influences the transport rate. In this case, the tracer is transported both by the movement of the flow, due to pressure and electroosmotic terms, and the electrophoretic effect on the charged tracer itself. At t = 0, the tracer is introduced as a bell-shaped vertical distribution near the inlet. In the subsequent simulation, this distribution is sheared and transported by diffusion, migration, and convection.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 5 of 15
Figure 3: Concentration distribution in the domain at different times after injection. The effects of diffusion, convection, and migration deform the initial bell-shaped pulse. Figure 4 shows the cross sections of the pulse along a line at y = 2.5 mm for the times t = 0, 0.5 s, 1.0 s, 1.5 s, and t =
2.0 s. Diffusion smears out the pulse, while migration and convection mainly translate and shear it, depending on the
pressure and the electric field.
Figure 4: Cross-section plot of the concentration along a horizontal line at y = 2.5 mm for the times t = 0, 0.5 s, 1.0 s, 1.5 s, and 2.0 s. Despite its geometrical simplicity, this model includes the components needed to model complex-shaped domains.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 6 of 15
References
1. M-S. Chun, Electrokinetic Flow Velocity in Charged Slit-like Microfluidic Channels with Linearized Poisson-Boltzmann Field, Korean J. Chem. Eng., vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 729734, 2002. 2. S. Yao, D. Huber, J. Mikkelsen, and J.G. Santiago, A Large Flowrate Electroosmotic Pump with Micron Pores, Proc. IMECE, 2001 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, New York, November 2001.
Modeling Instructions
MODEL WIZARD
1 Go to the Model Wizard window. 2 Click the 2D button. 3 Click Next. 4 In the Add physics tree, select Chemical Species Transport>Transport of Diluted Species (chds). 5 Click Add Selected. 6 In the Add physics tree, select Mathematics>PDE Interfaces>General Form PDE (g). 7 Click Add Selected. 8 Click Add Dependent Variable. 9 In the Dependent variables table, enter the following settings:
p V
10 Click Next. 11 In the Studies tree, select Preset Studies for Selected Physics>Stationary. 12 Click Finish.
GLOBAL DEFINITIONS
Parameters
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Global Definitions and choose Parameters. For your convenience, a set of parameters are made available in a text file. 2 Go to the Settings window for Parameters.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 7 of 15
3 Locate the Parameters section. Click Load from File. 4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file electroosmotic_flow_parameters.txt. In these expressions, the predefined physical constants epsilon0_const and R_const refer to the permittivity of vacuum and the gas constant, respectively.
DEFINITIONS
Variables 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Model 1>Definitions and choose Variables. 2 Go to the Settings window for Variables. 3 Locate the Variables section. Click Load from File. 4 Browse to the models Model Library folder and double-click the file electroosmotic_flow_variables.txt. In the above expressions, the explicit unit brackets implement the correct units for the pressure gradient and potential gradient components defined using the unitless dependent variables of the General Form PDE interface.
GEOMETRY 1
Rectangle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Model 1>Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle. 2 Go to the Settings window for Rectangle. 3 Locate the Size section. In the Width edit field, type 8e-3. 4 In the Height edit field, type 3e-3. 5 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type -4e-3 . 6 Click the Build All button.
Rectangle 2
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Rectangle. 2 Go to the Settings window for Rectangle. 3 Locate the Size section. In the Width edit field, type 0.2e-3. 4 In the Height edit field, type 1.5e-3. 5 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type -2e-3. 6 Click the Build Selected button.
Circle 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Circle. 2 Go to the Settings window for Circle. 3 Locate the Size and Shape section. In the Radius edit field, type 1e-4. 4 Locate the Position section. In the x edit field, type -1.9e-3. 5 In the y edit field, type 1.5e-3. 6 Click the Build Selected button.
Union 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Boolean Operations>Union. 2 Select the objects r2 and c1 only.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 8 of 15
3 Go to the Settings window for Union. 4 Locate the Union section. Clear the Keep interior boundaries check box. 5 Click the Build Selected button.
Copy 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Transforms>Copy. 2 Select the object uni1 only. 3 Go to the Settings window for Copy. 4 Locate the Displacement section. In the x edit field, type 3.8e-3. 5 Click the Build Selected button.
Difference 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Geometry 1 and choose Boolean Operations>Difference. 2 Go to the Settings window for Difference. 3 Locate the Difference section. Under Objects to add, click Activate Selection. 4 Select the object r1 only to add it to the Objects to add list. 5 Under Objects to subtract, click Activate Selection. 6 Select the objects uni1 and copy1 only. 7 Click the Build All button.
u_flow v_flow
x y
Initial Values 1
1 In the Model Builder window, click Initial Values 1. 2 Go to the Settings window for Initial Values. 3 Locate the Initial Values section. In the c edit field, type c_init.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 9 of 15
Reactions 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose Reactions. 2 Select Domain 1 only.
Flux 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose Flux. 2 Select Boundaries 1 and 10 only. 3 Go to the Settings window for Flux. 4 Locate the Inward Flux section. Select the Species c check box. 5 In the N0,c edit field, type -chds.nmflux_c.
Symmetry 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Transport of Diluted Species and choose Symmetry. 2 Go to the Settings window for Symmetry. 3 Locate the Boundary Selection section. From the Selection list, select All boundaries. 4 Select Boundaries 29 and 1114 only.
PDE
u_flow v_flow
x y
-kappa*Vx -kappa*Vy
x y
5 Locate the Source Term section. In the f edit-field array, type 0 on the first row. 6 In the f edit-field array, type 0 on the 2nd row.
Flux/Source 1
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click PDE and choose Flux/Source. 2 Select Boundaries 2, 3, 6, and 9 only.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 10 of 15
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click PDE and choose Dirichlet Boundary Condition. 2 Select Boundaries 7, 8, 13, and 14 only. 3 Go to the Settings window for Dirichlet Boundary Condition. 4 Locate the Dirichlet Boundary Condition section. Clear the Prescribed value of p check box. 5 In the r2 edit field, type V1.
MESH 1
In the Model Builder window, right-click Model 1>Mesh 1 and choose Free Triangular.
Size
1 In the Model Builder window, click Size. 2 Go to the Settings window for Size. 3 Locate the Element Size section. Click the Custom button. 4 Locate the Element Size Parameters section. In the Maximum element size edit field, type 1e-4. 5 In the Model Builder window, right-click Mesh 1 and choose Build All.
STUDY 1
In Study 1, solve for the stationary pressure and potential fields only.
Step 1: Stationary
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 1 node, then click Step 1: Stationary. 2 Go to the Settings window for Stationary. 3 Locate the Physics Selection section. In the associated table, enter the following settings: PHYSICS INTERFACE USE
RESULTS
Visualize the stationary potential and flow fields in a combined surface, contour, and arrow plot.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 11 of 15
2D Plot Group 1
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Results>2D Plot Group 1 node, then click Surface 1. 2 Go to the Settings window for Surface. 3 In the upper-right corner of the Expression section, click Replace Expression. 4 From the menu, choose PDE>Dependent variable V (V). 5 Click the Plot button. 6 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar. 7 In the Model Builder window, right-click 2D Plot Group 1 and choose Contour. 8 Go to the Settings window for Contour. 9 In the upper-right corner of the Expression section, click Replace Expression. 10 From the menu, choose Dependent variable V (V). 11 Locate the Levels section. From the Entry method list, select Levels. 12 In the Levels edit field, type range(0,2.5,50). 13 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, select GrayScale. 14 Clear the Color legend check box. 15 Click the Plot button. 16 In the Model Builder window, right-click 2D Plot Group 1 and choose Arrow Surface. 17 Go to the Settings window for Arrow Surface. 18 Locate the Expression section. In the x component edit field, type u_flow. 19 In the y component edit field, type v_flow. 20 Select the Description check box. 21 In the associated edit field, type Velocity field. 22 Locate the Coloring and Style section. In the Scale factor edit field, type 0.5. 23 From the Color list, select Black. 24 Click the Plot button. Add a separate study for the transient simulation of the concentration distribution.
MODEL WIZARD
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click the root node and choose Add Study. 2 Go to the Model Wizard window. 3 In the Studies tree, select Preset Studies for Selected Physics>Time Dependent. 4 Click Finish.
STUDY 2
In this transient study, solve for the concentration field and use the solution from Study 1 for the flow and current density distributions.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 12 of 15
3 Locate the Study Settings section. In the Times edit field, type range(0,0.1,2). 4 Locate the Physics Selection section. In the associated table, enter the following settings: PHYSICS INTERFACE USE
PDE (g)
5 Click to expand the Values of Dependent Variables section. 6 Select the Values of variables not solved for check box. 7 From the Method list, select Solution. 8 From the Study list, select Study 1, Stationary.
9 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 2 and choose Show Default Solver. 10 Expand the Study 2>Solver Configurations node.
Solver 2
1 In the Model Builder window, expand the Study 2>Solver Configurations>Solver 2 node, then click TimeDependent Solver 1. 2 Go to the Settings window for Time-Dependent Solver. 3 Click to expand the Absolute Tolerance section. 4 In the Tolerance edit field, type 1e-8. 5 In the Model Builder window, right-click Study 2 and choose Compute.
RESULTS
Concentration (chds)
1 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar. The surface plot in 2D Plot Group 2 shows the concentration at t = 2 s. Under the Report branch in the Model Tree, you can add an Animation feature to see how the distribution evolves with time. Alternatively, to reproduce the plot in Figure 3, showing the concentration distribution at four different times, follow the steps below.
2 In the Model Builder window, expand the Concentration (chds) node, then click Surface 1.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 13 of 15
3 Go to the Settings window for Surface. 4 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, select Solution 2. 5 From the Time list, select 0. 6 Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color table list, select TrafficLight. 7 Click the Plot button. 8 Locate the Data section. From the Time list, select 0.6. 9 Click the Plot button. 10 From the Time list, select 1.2. 11 Click the Plot button. 12 From the Time list, select 1.8. 13 Click the Plot button. Proceed to study the effects of each of the two driving forces - the pressure gradient and the electric field- on the velocity field by reproducing the plots in Figure 2. First visualize the velocity field that results from the electric field alone.
2D Plot Group 3
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 2D Plot Group. 2 Go to the Settings window for 2D Plot Group. 3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, select Solution 2. 4 Right-click Results>2D Plot Group 3 and choose Surface. 5 Go to the Settings window for Surface. 6 In the upper-right corner of the Expression section, click Replace Expression. 7 From the menu, choose Definitions>Flow-velocity electroosmosis term, magnitude (U_eo). 8 Locate the Expression section. From the Unit list, select mm/s. 9 Click the Plot button. 10 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar. 11 In the Model Builder window, right-click 2D Plot Group 3 and choose Arrow Surface. 12 Go to the Settings window for Arrow Surface. 13 Locate the Expression section. In the x component edit field, type u_eo. 14 In the y component edit field, type v_eo. 15 Select the Description check box. 16 In the associated edit field, type Flow-velocity electroosmosis term. 17 Click the Plot button. Next, plot the velocity field that results from the pressure gradient.
2D Plot Group 4
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 2D Plot Group. 2 Go to the Settings window for 2D Plot Group. 3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, select Solution 2. 4 Right-click Results>2D Plot Group 4 and choose Surface.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 14 of 15
5 Go to the Settings window for Surface. 6 In the upper-right corner of the Expression section, click Replace Expression. 7 From the menu, choose Definitions>Flow velocity pressure term, magnitude (U_p). 8 Locate the Expression section. From the Unit list, select mm/s. 9 Click the Plot button. 10 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar. 11 In the Model Builder window, right-click 2D Plot Group 4 and choose Arrow Surface. 12 Go to the Settings window for Arrow Surface. 13 Locate the Expression section. In the x component edit field, type u_p. 14 In the y component edit field, type v_p. 15 Select the Description check box. 16 In the associated edit field, type Flow-velocity pressure term. 17 Locate the Coloring and Style section. In the Scale factor edit field, type 0.5. 18 Click the Plot button. Finally, reproduce the cross-section plot of the concentration along the line y = 2.5 mm shown in Figure 4. First define a Cut Line 2D Data Set feature.
Data Sets
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results>Data Sets and choose Cut Line 2D. 2 Go to the Settings window for Cut Line 2D. 3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, select Solution 2. 4 Locate the Line Data section. In row Point 1, set x to -4e-3. 5 In row Point 2, set x to 4e-3. 6 In row Point 1, set y to 2.5e-3. 7 In row Point 2, set y to 2.5e-3. 8 Click the Plot button. 9 Click the Zoom Extents button on the Graphics toolbar.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011
Page 15 of 15
1D Plot Group 5
1 In the Model Builder window, right-click Results and choose 1D Plot Group. 2 Go to the Settings window for 1D Plot Group. 3 Locate the Data section. From the Data set list, select Cut Line 2D 1. 4 From the Time selection list, select From list. 5 In the Time list, select 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2. 6 Right-click Results>1D Plot Group 5 and choose Line Graph. 7 Go to the Settings window for Line Graph. 8 In the upper-right corner of the x-Axis Data section, click Replace Expression. 9 From the menu, choose Geometry and Mesh>Coordinate>x-coordinate (x). 10 Locate the x-Axis Data section. From the Unit list, select mm. 11 Click the Plot button.
http://127.0.0.1:1034/help/topic/com.comsol.help.models.chem.electroosmotic_flow/electr...
7/11/2011