Computational analysis of a fluid ratchet for pumping of Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids.

摘要

Pumping through a fluid ratchet using the immersed boundary method is simulated in Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids with various Reynolds numbers. During the actuation of the ratchet, tracking marker particles visually represent the movement of the fluid and flux computations are made to measure the amount and direction of fluid flow through the ratchet. The results are analyzed to classify characteristics of this pump and to determine the effects of ratchet design on fluid dynamics. To this author's knowledge, this type of pump has not been thoroughly researched in the literature, making these fluid ratchet simulations the first of their kind.