Numerical assessment of hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics for mixed electroosmotic and pressure-driven flow through a wavy microchannel with patchwise surface heterogeneity

Author(s):  
Kasavajhula Naga Vasista ◽  
Sumit Kumar Mehta ◽  
Sukumar Pati

The micromixing of two fluids plays a vital role in lab-on-a-chip devices. For obtaining better mixing efficiency, we propose a micromixer using patchwise surface potential heterogeneity and wavy wall. We numerically investigate the hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics for flow through a microchannel with a straight top wall and wavy bottom wall. The primary flow is actuated by an external pressure-gradient and patches are placed at the top wall with positive zeta potential, such that the reversed electroosmotic actuation forms the recirculation zones close to the top wall. The streamlines, flow velocity, recirculation zone velocity, species concentration, flow rate, and mixing efficiency are investigated by varying the relative pressure-gradient strength, Debye parameter, zeta potential and wavy surface amplitude. Two different configurations are considered by placing the patches at the top wall, opposite to the peaks and valleys of the bottom wavy surface, respectively. It reveals that the recirculation zone velocity increases with the increase in both Debye parameter and surface amplitude, whereas it decreases with relative pressure-gradient strength near the patch surfaces. The flow rate decreases with the increase in zeta potential and we also identify the values of zeta potential for chocking of flow in the microchannel. It reveals that the mixing efficiency monotonically increases with surface amplitude, and the variation with zeta potential is non-monotonic. We also identify the range of zeta potential for which the value of mixing efficiency is higher than 90% for different configurations of the channel.

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 72
Author(s):  
Suresh Kumar Thappeta ◽  
S. Murty Bhallamudi ◽  
Venu Chandra ◽  
Peter Fiener ◽  
Abul Basar M. Baki

Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed for different flow rates and various geometrical parameters of step-pools in steep open channels to gain insight into the occurrence of energy loss and its dependence on the flow structure. For a given channel with step-pools, energy loss varied only marginally with increasing flow rate in the nappe and transition flow regimes, while it increased in the skimming regime. Energy loss is positively correlated with the size of the recirculation zone, velocity in the recirculation zone and the vorticity. For the same flow rate, energy loss increased by 31.6% when the horizontal face inclination increased from 2° to 10°, while it decreased by 58.6% when the vertical face inclination increased from 40° to 70°. In a channel with several step-pools, cumulative energy loss is linearly related to the number of step-pools, for nappe and transition flows. However, it is a nonlinear function for skimming flows.


1994 ◽  
Vol 279 ◽  
pp. 177-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alden M. Provost ◽  
W. H. Schwarz

Intuition and previous results suggest that a peristaltic wave tends to drive the mean flow in the direction of wave propagation. New theoretical results indicate that, when the viscosity of the transported fluid is shear-dependent, the direction of mean flow can oppose the direction of wave propagation even in the presence of a zero or favourable mean pressure gradient. The theory is based on an analysis of lubrication-type flow through an infinitely long, axisymmetric tube subjected to a periodic train of transverse waves. Sample calculations for a shear-thinning fluid illustrate that, for a given waveform, the sense of the mean flow can depend on the rheology of the fluid, and that the mean flow rate need not increase monotonically with wave speed and occlusion. We also show that, in the absence of a mean pressure gradient, positive mean flow is assured only for Newtonian fluids; any deviation from Newtonian behaviour allows one to find at least one non-trivial waveform for which the mean flow rate is zero or negative. Introduction of a class of waves dominated by long, straight sections facilitates the proof of this result and provides a simple tool for understanding viscous effects in peristaltic pumping.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (17n18) ◽  
pp. 2697-2703 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. P. ZHAO ◽  
X. Y. GAO ◽  
D. J. GAO

The movement of particles in electrorheological (ER) fluids is analyzed by means of molecular dynamic simulations. We found that the velocity profile of particles can be divided into two zones. One zone near electrodes where particles' velocity profiles change periodically like "breathing type" is called transition zone. The other in the middle of two electrodes where particles move smoothly like a plug is called "plug zone". In addition, the relationship between volume flow rate and relative pressure gradient is simulated out. Factors such as volume flow rate, critical electric field, critical pressure gradient and response time of shutting up were also analyzed respectively.


2002 ◽  
Vol 465 ◽  
pp. 237-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. GRAHAM ◽  
J. J. L. HIGDON

Numerical computations are employed to study the phenomenon of oscillatory forcing of flow through porous media. The Galerkin finite element method is used to solve the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations to determine the unsteady velocity field and the mean flow rate subject to the combined action of a mean pressure gradient and an oscillatory body force. With strong forcing in the form of sinusoidal oscillations, the mean flow rate may be reduced to 40% of its unforced steady-state value. The effectiveness of the oscillatory forcing is a strong function of the dimensionless forcing level, which is inversely proportional to the square of the fluid viscosity. For a porous medium occupied by two fluids with disparate viscosities, oscillatory forcing may be used to reduce the flow rate of the less viscous fluid, with negligible effect on the more viscous fluid. The temporal waveform of the oscillatory forcing function has a significant impact on the effectiveness of this technique. A spike/plateau waveform is found to be much more efficient than a simple sinusoidal profile. With strong forcing, the spike waveform can induce a mean axial flow in the absence of a mean pressure gradient. In the presence of a mean pressure gradient, the spike waveform may be employed to reverse the direction of flow and drive a fluid against the direction of the mean pressure gradient. Owing to the viscosity dependence of the dimensionless forcing level, this mechanism may be employed as an oscillatory filter to separate two fluids of different viscosities, driving them in opposite directions in the porous medium. Possible applications of these mechanisms in enhanced oil recovery processes are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-41
Author(s):  
Wenguang Li

Obstructive jaundice in the biliary tract can infect blood and result in mortality with a high rate. Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) with catheters is a useful solution discharging the obstructive jaundice. However, the elements of fluid mechanics showing clinical performance of a PTBD catheter have been documented little so far. In the article, empirical relationships between bile flow rate and pressure gradient in PTBD catheters were studied in terms of equivalent friction factor for the first time. Firstly, an equivalent friction factor in a catheter was raised and determined based on existing in vitro experimental data of bile flow through the catheters with different materials, various inner diameters and lengths under various pressure differences. Then, an empirical correlation of bile flow rate through a catheter was established based on pressure gradient, inner diameter and bile viscosity. The correlation was used to identify effects of catheter inner diameter and bile viscosity on the bile flow rate under the physiological bile pressure difference across obstructed common bile ducts. The feature of minor hydraulic losses in the catheters was clarified, too. The proposed equivalent friction factor was proportional to Reynolds number in a power of -0.654 in comparison with a power of -1 for the fully developed laminar flow in circular pipes. The bile flow rate through a catheter was proportional to inner diameter, kinematic viscosity, and pressure gradient in the powers of 3.2, -0.5 and 0.74, respectively. The minor hydraulic losses could be significant when Reynolds number was greater than 100.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fırat Kıyıcı ◽  
Mustafa Perçin

Abstract This experimental study investigates the effect of confinement ratio (CR) on the flow field of a counter-rotating radial-radial swirler. Two-dimensional two-component (2D2C) particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements are performed at the mid-plane of the jet. Four different confinement ratios (i.e., 10.4, 23.4, 41.6 and unconfined) are considered at a swirl number of 1.2. The results reveal the presence of a central toroidal recirculation zone (CTRZ) in all cases extending inside the jet which indicates the existence of an adverse pressure gradient. For the unconfined swirling jet, the recirculation zone is small in size and exists at the exit of the jet. For the CR = 41.6 case, on the other hand, there exist two separate recirculation zones with the first one being similar to the unconfined case in terms of size and axial position, while the second one being larger in size and positioned at a more downstream location. Variation of the axial velocity along the centerline of the jet for this case indicates the presence of an adverse pressure gradient only in the close-jet region correlated with the first recirculation zone. For the smaller CR values, a single massive CTRZ emerges. This leads to increase in the expansion angle of the swirling jet as the CR decreases. Correspondingly, the radial velocity at the jet exit increases. For the confined cases with a single recirculation zone, the length and the width to cross-section ratio increase with the CR. On the other hand, the ratio of the reverse flow rate to total mass flow rate decreases with increasing CR values.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-130
Author(s):  
Krasimir Kalev

AbstractA schematic diagram of a hydraulic drive system is provided to stabilize the speed of the working body by compensating for volumetric losses in the hydraulic motor. The diagram shows the inclusion of an originally developed self-adjusting choke whose flow rate in the inlet pressure change range tends to reverse - with increasing pressure the flow through it decreases. Dependent on the hydraulic characteristics of the hydraulic motor and the specific operating conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.Sh. Nasibullayev ◽  
E.Sh Nasibullaeva ◽  
O.V. Darintsev

The flow of a liquid through a tube deformed by a piezoelectric cell under a harmonic law is studied in this paper. Linear deformations are compared for the Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions on the contact surface of the tube and piezoelectric element. The flow of fluid through a deformed channel for two flow regimes is investigated: in a tube with one closed end due to deformation of the tube; for a tube with two open ends due to deformation of the tube and the differential pressure applied to the channel. The flow rate of the liquid is calculated as a function of the frequency of the deformations, the pressure drop and the physical parameters of the liquid.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3404
Author(s):  
Majid Hejazian ◽  
Eugeniu Balaur ◽  
Brian Abbey

Microfluidic devices which integrate both rapid mixing and liquid jetting for sample delivery are an emerging solution for studying molecular dynamics via X-ray diffraction. Here we use finite element modelling to investigate the efficiency and time-resolution achievable using microfluidic mixers within the parameter range required for producing stable liquid jets. Three-dimensional simulations, validated by experimental data, are used to determine the velocity and concentration distribution within these devices. The results show that by adopting a serpentine geometry, it is possible to induce chaotic mixing, which effectively reduces the time required to achieve a homogeneous mixture for sample delivery. Further, we investigate the effect of flow rate and the mixer microchannel size on the mixing efficiency and minimum time required for complete mixing of the two solutions whilst maintaining a stable jet. In general, we find that the smaller the cross-sectional area of the mixer microchannel, the shorter the time needed to achieve homogeneous mixing for a given flow rate. The results of these simulations will form the basis for optimised designs enabling the study of molecular dynamics occurring on millisecond timescales using integrated mix-and-inject microfluidic devices.


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