Flow field analysis in a spiral viscous micropump

The paper presents a stream function solution and a computational analysis for the flow field of a viscous spiral pump, which employs a rotating spiral channel to achieve pumping action. This pump is fabricated using surface micromachining technology. The stream function solution employs a simplified 2D model for the flow field in its spiral channel that neglects the curvature of the spiral, and replaces it with an equivalent straight channel. The effect of spiral wall height on flow rate is analyzed and discussed. 3D computational analyses are obtained and are compared with analytical predictions.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]