Abstract: Poisson-Boltzmann equation for EDL (electric double layer) and Navier-Stokes equation for liquid flows were numerically solved to investigate resistance effect of electric double layer on liquid flow in microchannel. The dimension analysis indicates that the resistance effect of electric double layer can be estimated by an electric resistance number, which is proportional to the square of the liquid dielectric constant and the solid surface zeta potential, and inverse-proportional to the liquid dynamic viscosity, electric conductivity and the square of the channel width. An "electric current density balancing" (ECDB) condition was proposed to evaluate the flow-induced streaming potential, instead of conventional "electric current balancing" (ECB) condition which may induce spurious local backflow in neighborhood of the solid wall of the microchannel. The numerical results of the flow rate loss ratio and velocity profile are also given to demonstrate the resistance effect of electric double layer in microchannel.

Key words: electric resistance number, microchannel, electric double layer