Abstract

A non-intrusive diagnostic technique, infrared micro-particle image velocimetry (IR-PIV), is developed for measuring flow fields within micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices with micron-scale resolution. This technique capitalizes on the transparency of silicon in the infrared region, and overcomes the limitation posed by the lack of optical access with visible light to sub-surface flow in silicon-based microstructures. Experiments with laminar flow of water in a circular microcapillary tube of hydraulic diameter 255 lm demonstrate the efficacy of this technique. The experimental measurements agree very well with velocity profiles predicted from laminar theory. Cross-correlation and autocorrelation algorithms are employed to measure very low and moderate to high velocities, respectively; the former approach is suitable for biomedical applications while the latter would be needed for measurements in electronics cooling. The results indicate that the IR-PIV technique effectively extends the application of regular micro-PIV techniques, and has great potential for flow measurements in silicon-based microdevices.

Date of this Version

2-3-2005

DOI

10.1007/s00348-004-0922-z

Published in:

D. Liu, S. V. Garimella and S. T. Wereley, “Infrared Micro-Particle Image Velocimetry Measurement in Silicon-Based Microdevices,” Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 38, pp. 385-392, 2005.

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