Numerical investigation of Joule heating effects on electroosmotic flow through a microchannel with triangular cross-section

In this paper, numerical investigation of Joule heating effects on the electroosmotic flow through a microchannel with the triangular cross section and constant wall temperature have been presented. The energy equation for the temperature distribution, Navier–Stokes equation for the velocity distribution and a Poisson equation for the electric potential distribution have been solved by using the finite-volume method in a system curvilinear coordinates. Thermophysical properties such as the dynamic viscosity and electric conductivity vary with temperature. The results show that by increasing the Joule number, the temperature, velocity and mass flow rate increase with constant EDL number. With constant Joule number, the increments of EDL number causes the mass flow rate to increase. Mean temperature and velocity reduced by increasing the angle between sides and base of the cross-section in the particular Joule number.