scholarly journals Inertial focusing of finite-size particles in microchannels

2018 ◽  
Vol 840 ◽  
pp. 613-630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evgeny S. Asmolov ◽  
Alexander L. Dubov ◽  
Tatiana V. Nizkaya ◽  
Jens Harting ◽  
Olga I. Vinogradova

At finite Reynolds numbers, $Re$, particles migrate across laminar flow streamlines to their equilibrium positions in microchannels. This migration is attributed to a lift force, and the balance between this lift and gravity determines the location of particles in channels. Here we demonstrate that velocity of finite-size particles located near a channel wall differs significantly from that of an undisturbed flow, and that their equilibrium position depends on this, referred to as slip velocity, difference. We then present theoretical arguments, which allow us to generalize expressions for a lift force, originally suggested for some limiting cases and $Re\ll 1$, to finite-size particles in a channel flow at $Re\leqslant 20$. Our theoretical model, validated by lattice Boltzmann simulations, provides considerable insight into inertial migration of finite-size particles in a microchannel and suggests some novel microfluidic approaches to separate them by size or density at a moderate $Re$.

Author(s):  
Derek C. Tretheway ◽  
Luoding Zhu ◽  
Linda Petzold ◽  
Carl D. Meinhart

This work examines the slip boundary condition by Lattice Boltzmann simulations, addresses the validity of the Navier’s hypothesis that the slip velocity is proportional to the shear rate and compares the Lattice Boltzmann simulations to the experimental results of Tretheway and Meinhart (Phys. of Fluids, 14, L9–L12). The numerical simulation models the boundary condition as the probability, P, of a particle to bounce-back relative to the probability of specular reflection, 1−P. For channel flow, the numerically calculated velocity profiles are consistent with the experimental profiles for both the no-slip and slip cases. No-slip is obtained for a probability of 100% bounce-back, while a probability of 0.03 is required to generate a slip length and slip velocity consistent with the experimental results of Tretheway and Meinhart for a hydrophobic surface. The simulations indicate that for microchannel flow the slip length is nearly constant along the channel walls, while the slip velocity varies with wall position as a results of variations in shear rate. Thus, the resulting velocity profile in a channel flow is more complex than a simple combination of the no-slip solution and slip velocity as is the case for flow between two infinite parallel plates.


Lab on a Chip ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 1168-1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Liu ◽  
Guoqing Hu ◽  
Xingyu Jiang ◽  
Jiashu Sun

This work provides physical insight into the multiplex focusing of particles in rectangular microchannels with different geometries and Reynolds numbers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 709 ◽  
pp. 123-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santtu T. T. Ollila ◽  
Tapio Ala-Nissila ◽  
Colin Denniston

AbstractWe derive new analytical results for the hydrodynamic force exerted on a sinusoidally oscillating porous shell and a sphere of uniform density in the Stokes limit. The coupling between the spherical particle and the solvent is done using the Debye–Bueche–Brinkman (DBB) model, i.e. by a frictional force proportional to the local velocity difference between the permeable particle and the solvent. We compare our analytical results and existing dynamic theories to lattice–Boltzmann simulations of the full Navier–Stokes equations for the oscillating porous particle. We find our analytical results to agree with simulations over a broad range of porosities and frequencies.


2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna Wiklund ◽  
Tetsu Uesaka

Abstract We have performed free-energy-based two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann simulations of the penetration of liquid into the edge of a porous material. The purpose was to gain further insight into possible mechanisms involved in the penetration of liquid into the unsealed edges of paper and paper board. In order to identify the fundamental mechanisms we have focused on a model structure that consists of a network of interconnected capillaries. Two different mechanisms were identified: pinning at corners of solid surfaces and increased pressure in dead-end pores. These mechanisms significantly decelerate or even stop the liquid penetration into the porous structures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Cruz ◽  
Klas Hjort

AbstractMicrofluidics exploiting the phenomenon of inertial focusing have attracted much attention in the last decade as they provide the means to facilitate the detection and analysis of rare particles of interest in complex fluids such as blood and natural water. Although many interesting applications have been demonstrated, the systems remain difficult to engineer. A recently presented line of the technology, inertial focusing in High Aspect Ratio Curved microfluidics, has the potential to change this and make the benefits of inertial focusing more accessible to the community. In this paper, with experimental evidence and fluid simulations, we provide the two necessary equations to design the systems and successfully focus the targets in a single, stable, and high-quality position. The experiments also revealed an interesting scaling law of the lift force, which we believe provides a valuable insight into the phenomenon of inertial focusing.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Yanfeng Gao ◽  
Pascale Magaud ◽  
Lucien Baldas ◽  
Yanping Wang

The inertial migration of particles in microchannel flows has been deeply investigated in the last two decades. In spite of numerous reports on the inertial focusing patterns in a square channel, the particle inertial focusing and longitudinal ordering processes remain unclear at high Reynolds numbers (>200) in square microchannels smaller than 100 µm in width. Thus, in this work, in situ visualization of particles flowing in square micro-channels at Reynolds numbers Re ranging from 5 to 280 has been conducted and their migration behaviors have been analyzed. The obtained results confirm that new equilibrium positions appear above a critical Re depending on the particle to channel size ratio and the particle volume fraction. It is also shown that, for a given channel length, an optimal Reynolds number can be identified, for which the ratio of particles located on equilibrium positions is maximal. Moreover, the longitudinal ordering process, i.e., the formation of trains of particles on equilibrium positions and the characterization of their length, has also been analyzed for the different flow conditions investigated in this study.


1991 ◽  
Vol 224 ◽  
pp. 261-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. McLaughlin

The motion of a small, rigid sphere in a linear shear flow is considered. Saffman's analysis is extended to other asymptotic cases in which the particle Reynolds number based on its slip velocity is comparable with or larger than the square root of the particle Reynolds number based on the velocity gradient. In all cases, both particle Reynolds numbers are assumed to be small compared to unity. It is shown that, as the Reynolds number based on particle slip velocity becomes larger than the square root of the Reynolds number based on particle shear rate, the magnitude of the inertial migration velocity rapidly decreases to very small values. The latter behaviour suggests that contributions that are higher order in the particle radius may become important in some situations of interest.


2004 ◽  
Vol 15 (03) ◽  
pp. 459-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
GUSZTÁV MAYER ◽  
GÁBOR HÁZI ◽  
ATTILA R. IMRE ◽  
THOMAS KRASKA ◽  
LEONID V. YELASH

Numerical calculations for three-dimensional vapor–liquid equilibria have been accomplished by lattice Boltzmann simulations. The aim of this investigation is to test the capability of the lattice Boltzmann method in comparison with solutions obtained by the underlying equation of state. As a result we have found a finite-size effect (just like the ones obtained in one and two dimensions) at small lattice sizes for all phase equilibrium properties and related constants such as the critical exponent β. Here, systems with up to 1003 lattice sites are investigated. Reasonable convergence has been obtained from about 323 lattice sites.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Cruz ◽  
Klas Hjort

Abstract Microfluidics exploiting the phenomenon of inertial focusing have attracted much attention in the last decade, as they provide the means to facilitate the detection and analysis of rare particles of interest in complex fluids such as blood and natural water. Although many interesting applications have been demonstrated, the systems remain difficult to engineer. A recently presented line of the technology, inertial focusing in High Aspect Ration Curved (HARC) microfluidics, has the potential to change this and make the benefits of inertial focusing more accessible to the community. In this paper, with experimental evidence and fluid simulations, we provide the two necessary equations to design the systems and successfully focus the desired targets in a single, stable, and high-quality position. Last, the experiments revealed an interesting scaling law of the lift force, which we believe provides a valuable insight into the phenomenon of inertial microfluidics.


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