Numerical Study on Bubble Formation in a Microchannel Flow-Focusing Device Using the VOF Method

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shobeir Aliasghar Zadeh ◽  
Rolf Radespiel
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Disperse Phase ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Bubble Formation ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Glycerol Solution ◽  
Flow Focusing ◽  
Injection Angle ◽  
Bubble Length

The liquid-gas two-phase flow in a flow-focusing device are numerically investigated and the results are compared with experimental data. The geometries and the structured meshes were generated using the Gridgen software, while the computations were conducted with Fluent. N2 (disperse phase) and Water-Glycerol solution (continuous phase) at standard atmospheric conditions are considered as fluids. Based on dimensional analysis, the effects of various parameters such as the flow rates of both phases (effect of CQ = Qd/Qc), the viscosities of both phases (effect of the respective Reynolds number Re), the surface tension (effect of the capillary number) and the geometrical properties of the channel (channel width W and injection angle β) on the bubble formation and its length are compared to available experimental results. The break-up mechanism of the bubbles in various capillary regimes is explained. The computed length of the generated bubbles as a function of the capillary number (varying the flow rate of the continuous phase) are in good agreement with the experiments. Further studies indicate that at a constant flow rate of the continuous phase, the bubble length rises strongly as the flow rate of the disperse phase increases. In contrast, the relative effects of the viscosity and the surface tension on the length of the bubbles are moderate. The numerical results using various injection angles show that the bubble length increases, as the injection angle is raised from β = 45° to β = 90°.

Numerical Study on Droplet Formation in a Microchannel T-Junction Using the VOF Method

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shobeir Aliasghar Zadeh ◽  
Rolf Radespiel
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Droplet Formation ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Vof Method ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Glycerol Solution ◽  
Hexahedral Elements

The liquid-liquid two-phase flow in a T-junction was numerically investigated applying the VOF method and is compared with experimental results. The geometry was generated and meshed using the software Gridgen, and the corresponding equations for the CFD analysis were solved by using the commercial software Fluent (Fluent 12). The generated mesh consists of block-structured grids with hexahedral elements. Water-Glycerol solution (to-be-dispersed phase) and silicone oil (continuous phase) at room conditions are considered as fluids for this work. The effect of various parameters such as flow rate of the phases, width of the channel, viscosity and surface tension on the droplet formation are investigated and compared with available experimental results [1]. The breakup mechanism of droplets in various capillary-number regimes are explained. The numerical results of the length of the generated droplets as a function of the capillary number (varying the flow rate of the continuous phase) are in good agreement with the experimental values, which were measured using the same geometrical and physical properties. Further studies indicate that at a constant flow rate of the continuous phase, the droplet length rises strongly if the flow rate of the disperse phase increases, whereas the relative effects of the viscosity of the continuous phase, and the surface tension between phases on the length of droplets are moderate.

scholarly journals Drop formation in microfluidic cross-junction: jetting to dripping to jetting transition

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina M. Kovalchuk ◽  
Masanobu Sagisaka ◽  
Kasparas Steponavicius ◽  
Daniele Vigolo ◽  
Mark J. H. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Interfacial Tension ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio ◽  
Dispersed Phase ◽  
Flow Focusing ◽  
Jet Formation ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Power Law Function ◽  
Dispersed Phases

AbstractThe regimes of drop generation were studied in a Dolomite microfluidic device which combined both hydrodynamic and geometrical flow focusing over a broad range of flow rates. A series of aqueous dispersed phases were used with a viscosity ratio between continuous and dispersed phases of close to unity. Surfactants were added to alter the interfacial tension. It was shown that the transition from dripping to jetting is well described by the capillary numbers of both the dispersed and continuous phases. Only the jetting regime was observed if the capillary number of the dispersed phase was above a critical value, whereas at smaller values of this parameter a jetting → dripping → jetting transition was observed by increasing the capillary number of the continuous phase. The analysis performed has shown that the conditions for a dripping to jetting transition at moderate and large values of the capillary number of the continuous phase can be predicted theoretically by comparison of the characteristic time scales for drop pinch-off and jet growth, whereas the transition at small values cannot. It is suggested that this transition is geometry mediated and is a result of the interplay of jet confinement in the focusing part and a decrease of confinement following entry into the main channel. The flow fields inside the jet of the dispersed phase were qualitatively different for small and large values of the capillary number of the continuous phase revealing the relative contribution of the dispersed phase flow in jet formation. The volume of the drops formed in the jetting regime increased as a power law function of the flow rate ratio of the dispersed to continuous phase, independent of the interfacial tension.

scholarly journals Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Droplet Generation in a Microfluidic Cross-Junction

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1235-1256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haihu Liu ◽  
Yonghao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Droplet Size ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Lattice Boltzmann ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Viscosity Ratio ◽  
Droplet Formation ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Viscous Force ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio

AbstractUsing the lattice Boltzmann multiphase model, numerical simulations have been performed to understand the dynamics of droplet formation in a microfluidic cross-junction. The influence of capillary number, flow rate ratio, viscosity ratio, and viscosity of the continuous phase on droplet formation has been systematically studied over a wide range of capillary numbers. Two different regimes, namely the squeezinglike regime and the dripping regime, are clearly identified with the transition occurring at a critical capillary number Cacr. Generally, large flow rate ratio is expected to produce big droplets, while increasing capillary number will reduce droplet size. In the squeezing-like regime (Ca ≤ Cacr), droplet breakup process is dominated by the squeezing pressure and the viscous force; while in the dripping regime (Ca ≤ Cacr), the viscous force is dominant and the droplet size becomes independent of the flow rate ratio as the capillary number increases. In addition, the droplet size weakly depends on the viscosity ratio in both regimes and decreases when the viscosity of the continuous phase increases. Finally, a scaling law is established to predict the droplet size.

scholarly journals Diamagnetic Manipulation of Cell-Encapsulating Droplets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Buryk-Iggers
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Flow Focusing ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Prostate Cells ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Droplet Phase

In this thesis, a microfluidic method for label-free control of cell encapsulating droplets is developed using diamagnetic forces. To generate droplets in a microfluidic device, we use a symmetrical flow-focusing design, where two streams of a continuous phase shear a single stream of a droplet phase, resulting in droplet generation. First, it is shown that by adjusting only the droplet phase flow rate, precise control of empty droplets can be achieved. Human prostate cells are then introduced to the system and encapsulated by droplets. Control of the cell-encapsulated droplets and empty droplets is studied. It is shown that cell-encapsulated droplets and empty droplets deflect by different amounts when exposed to the magnetic field. By exploiting this difference, efficient sorting of empty droplets from cell-encapsulated droplets is achieved at a purity of 85% in a single pass. Following sorting, cells are analyzed and show 90% viability after a two-hour incubation period.

Droplet Formation by Dripping at Micro T-Junction in Liquid-Liquid Mixing

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujin Yeom ◽  
Sang Yong Lee
Keyword(s):  
Disperse Phase ◽  
Drag Force ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Shear Force ◽  
Growth Stage ◽  
Droplet Formation ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Main Channel ◽  
Interfacial Shear ◽  
Two Phases

In the present work, the phenomenon of droplet formation by dripping at a micro T-junction in liquid-liquid mixing was studied experimentally. The drop formation process consisted of three stages: the X-Y growth, X growth, and the detachment stages. In the X-Y growth stage, the bulged part of the disperse phase grows both in X (parallel to the main channel) and Y (lateral to the main channel) directions. The X-Y growth stage is followed by the X growth stage where the bulged part grows only in the main channel direction. Subsequently, in the detachment stage, the drag force exerted by the continuous phase becomes larger than the surface tension force between the two phases and the bulged part is finally separated into a droplet with regular intervals through a rapid necking process. Droplet sizes were estimated from the drop generation frequency and the flow rate of the disperse phase, and were also confirmed by direct measurements through photography. The sizes of the micro droplets generally decrease with the larger flow rate of the continuous phase or with a smaller flow rate of the disperse phase. This is due to the increase of the interfacial shear force between the two phases through the increase in the relative velocity. The droplet size also decreases with increase of the viscosity of the either phase. This again is due to the increase of the interfacial shear force (and hence the drag force) between the phases when the viscosity of either phase becomes large. The measured drop sizes will serve as a set of the benchmarking data for the development of a droplet detachment model in the dripping mode at micro T-junctions.

scholarly journals Diamagnetic Manipulation of Cell-Encapsulating Droplets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Buryk-Iggers
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Flow Focusing ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Prostate Cells ◽  
The Magnetic Field ◽  
Droplet Phase

In this thesis, a microfluidic method for label-free control of cell encapsulating droplets is developed using diamagnetic forces. To generate droplets in a microfluidic device, we use a symmetrical flow-focusing design, where two streams of a continuous phase shear a single stream of a droplet phase, resulting in droplet generation. First, it is shown that by adjusting only the droplet phase flow rate, precise control of empty droplets can be achieved. Human prostate cells are then introduced to the system and encapsulated by droplets. Control of the cell-encapsulated droplets and empty droplets is studied. It is shown that cell-encapsulated droplets and empty droplets deflect by different amounts when exposed to the magnetic field. By exploiting this difference, efficient sorting of empty droplets from cell-encapsulated droplets is achieved at a purity of 85% in a single pass. Following sorting, cells are analyzed and show 90% viability after a two-hour incubation period.

scholarly journals Examining the Effect of Flow Rate Ratio on Droplet Generation and Regime Transition in a Microfluidic T-Junction at Constant Capillary Numbers

Inventions ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katerina Loizou ◽  
Voon-Loong Wong ◽  
Buddhika Hewakandamby
Keyword(s):  
Transition Region ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Flow Rate Ratio ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Regime Transition ◽  
Droplet Volume ◽  
Rate Ratios

The focus of this work is to examine the effect of flow rate ratio (quotient of the dispersed phase flow rate over the continuous phase flow rate) on a regime transition from squeezing to dripping at constant capillary numbers. The effect of the flow rate ratio on the volume of droplets generated in a microfluidic T-junction is discussed, and a new scaling law to estimate their volume is proposed. Existing work on a regime transition reported by several researchers focuses on the effect of the capillary number on regime transition, and the results that are presented in this paper advance the current understanding by indicating that the flow rate ratio is another parameter that dictates regime transition. In this paper, the transition between squeezing and dripping regimes is reported at constant capillary numbers, with a transition region identified between squeezing and dripping regimes. Dripping is observed at lower flow rate ratios and squeezing at higher flow rate ratios, with a transition region between the two regimes at flow rate ratios between 1 and 2. This is presented in a flow regime map that is constructed based on the observed mechanism. A scaling model is proposed to characterise droplet volume in terms of flow rate ratio and capillary number. The effect of flow rate ratio on the non-dimensional droplet volume is presented, and lastly, the droplet volume is expressed in terms of a range of parameters, such as the viscosity ratio between the dispersed and the continuous phase, capillary number, and the geometrical characteristics of the channels.

Numerical simulation and experiment of droplet formation in circular cross-section micro-channels

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (18) ◽  
pp. 1950200
Author(s):  
Hongcheng Wang ◽  
Chengxin Tang ◽  
Miaomiao Zhao ◽  
Liqun Wu ◽  
Baohua Yu
Keyword(s):  
Interfacial Tension ◽  
Cross Section ◽  
Droplet Size ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Microfluidic Chip ◽  
Capillary Number ◽  
Circular Cross Section ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Micro Channel ◽  
Micro Channels

In recent decades, microfluidics in biological applications have experienced significant growth due to their advantages of small volume, low cost, short reaction time and high throughput. Almost all cross-section shapes of micro-channels in microfluidic chips are rectangular or triangular by the existing chip fabricating technologies, including hot embossing, lithography, etching and injection molding, etc. However, compared with the above micro-channel shapes, the circular one has the advantages in aspects of fluid flow, droplet generating, heat transfer and its replication for blood vessels. This paper presents a T-junction droplet microfluidic chip with circular cross-section micro-channels. The effect of micro-channel wettability, interfacial tension, velocity and flow rate of continuous phase on droplet size are simulated and mechanism of droplets generating process is explored. Comparing with continuous phase viscosity and interfacial tension, flow rate plays a decisive role in determining the droplet size which is in the range of 100–350 [Formula: see text]m according to the simulation result. The Capillary number is affected by the above three parameters and an estimating numerical method for generated droplet size was proposed according to the above simulation results and calculated by Capillary number. The droplets, the sizes of which were in the range of 20–400 [Formula: see text]m, were produced by varying the parameters of water and oil flow rates in the designed T-junction droplet microfluidic chip with circular cross-section micro-channels.

Computational Investigation of Microdroplet Formation in a Crossflow Membrane Emulsification Process

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manabendra Pathak
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Viscosity Ratio ◽  
Period Doubling ◽  
Continuous Phase ◽  
Inertia Force ◽  
Dispersed Phase ◽  
Phase Flow ◽  
Membrane Emulsification ◽  
Emulsification Process

Monodisperse microdroplets are formed, when a liquid is injected through a micropore into another immiscible liquid. Depending on the relative flow between the two phases, droplets may form in quiescent, coflowing and crossflowing environment. The dispersions of one phase liquid in another crossflowing liquid are observed in liquid emulsification process and the system has been used extensively in microfluidic devices to produce monodisperse microdroplets with controllable size. Liquid emulsions are widely used in food, cosmetics, pharmaceutics and polymer industries. In the present work, microdroplet formation in a crossflow membrane emulsification process has been investigated computationally using VOF/finite volume method. The full transient simulation has been carried out starting from the injection of dispersed phase to breakup into drops for different values of dispersed phase and continuous phase flow rate, surface tension and viscosity ratio of both the phases. Depending upon the values of the both phases, the droplet formation process shows the dripping and jetting behavior. The qualitative features of the two regimes and their transition have been correlated with different non-dimensional numbers such as Capillary number, Weber number and viscosity ratio of the two phase liquids. Some interesting nonlinear behavior such as period doubling been observed near the transition between the dripping and jetting regimes has. The topological characteristics of dripping, jetting and transition regimes in membrane emulsification have been observed different than in the cases of T-junction emulsification and flow focusing emulsification. Two ways of dripping to jetting transition have been observed, one with the increasing dispersed phase flow rate at constant continuous phase flow rate and other way is reducing the surface tension at constant dispersed phase flow rate. The effect of inertia force has been observed negligible for high value of surface tension and significant for lower surface tension value.

scholarly journals Effect of a newly developed pastille on the salivary flow rate in subjects with dry mouth symptoms: a randomized, controlled, monocentric clinical study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Bielfeldt ◽  
D. Wilhelm ◽  
C. Neumeister ◽  
U. Schwantes ◽  
K. -P. Wilhelm
Keyword(s):  
Surface Tension ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Gum Arabic ◽  
Salivary Flow ◽  
Salivary Flow Rate ◽  
Dry Mouth ◽  
Main Ingredient ◽  
Control Product ◽  
Swallowing Problems ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Xerostomia is associated with several diseases and is a side effect of certain drugs, resulting from reduced saliva secretion. Often, aged and sometimes younger people suffer from (idiopathic) xerostomia. Chewing gum and sucking pastilles may relieve symptoms of xerostomia by increasing the salivary flow rate due to the mechanical effect of sucking and gustatory stimulation. Swallowing problems and the urge to cough or experiencing a tickling sensation in the throat might be alleviated through a reduction in dry mouth symptoms. We investigated whether a pastille containing four polysaccharides increased the salivary flow rate and relieved the symptoms of dry mouth. Methods Participating subjects with xerostomia were randomized into two equally balanced treatment groups. Subjects received the pastille on Day 1 and a control product (Parafilm®) on Day 3, or vice versa. Unstimulated saliva was collected every 2.5 min for 0–10 min. Stimulated saliva was collected after subjects sucked the pastille or the control product. The salivary flow rate was determined gravimetrically, and, in parallel, the feeling of dry mouth was assessed using a visual analog scale. Saliva surface tension was measured in pooled saliva samples (0–5 min of sampling). Additionally, in stimulated saliva from six subjects who sucked the pastille, the presence of the main ingredient—gum arabic—was examined by Raman spectroscopy. Results Chewing the pastille significantly increased the mean salivary flow rate by 8.03 g/10 min compared to the mean changes after chewing the control product (+ 3.71 g/10 min; p < 0.0001). The mean score of dry mouth was significantly alleviated by the pastille (− 19.9 ± 17.9 mm) compared to the control product (− 3.3 ± 18.1 mm). No difference between the two products was seen regarding the saliva surface tension. Gum arabic was present in the saliva of all investigated subjects for up to 10 min after sucking the pastille. Conclusions The pastille was well tolerated and effective in increasing the salivary flow rate and reducing mouth dryness after sucking. These results were in line with the detection of the main ingredient, gum arabic, in saliva for up to 10 min after sucking the pastille. Trial registration German Register Clinical Trials (Deutsches Register Klinische Studien, DRKS) DRKS-ID: DRKS00017393, Registered 29 May 2019, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial. HTML&TRIAL_ID = DRKS00017393.

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