Design, fabrication, and testing of a DC MHD micropump fabricated on photosensitive glass

• MHD micropump was fabricated on photosensitive glass for circulating liquid metal.
• 1D design and analysis tool has been developed and employed to design micropump.
• Performance was evaluated for the circulation of liquid Ga using NdFeB magnets.
• Maximum pressure increase generated is 2.82 kPa at 6 A DC.
• Maximum efficiency is 0.46% at 2 A DC, where the flow rate is 40 ml/min.

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the performance of a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) micropump fabricated on photosensitive glass for circulating liquid metal is presented. A one-dimensional design and analysis tool has been developed and employed to design the pump, which has a uniform rectangular cross section of 5 mm × 0.8 mm and a length of 20 mm; perpendicular magnetic fluxes and an axial electric current are generated in the pump. Experimental results are presented for the circulation of liquid Ga using NdFeB permanent magnets that produce 0.375 T. The maximum pressure increase generated is 2.82 kPa at 6 A DC; the maximum efficiency is 0.46% at 2 A DC, where the flow rate is 40 ml/min.