Generation of microdroplets in T-junction devices by pulsed fluid flow: Simulation studies

Autor: G. Umesh, M. N. Satyanarayan, K. Sripadaraja
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: ISSS Journal of Micro and Smart Systems. 10:103-117
ISSN: 2509-7997
2509-7989
Popis: We present an investigation on microdroplet generation and trapping by simulation of two-phase liquid flow in a T-junction microfluidic device using the CFD package in ANSYS. In this study, the flowrate of the continuous phase liquid is kept constant, whereas that of the dispersed phase liquid is pulsed between zero and 0.1 μl/s. We have observed a new regime of droplet generation, wherein droplets are generated in pairs. When the pulse duration is high (on-time = 6.5 ms), a pair of droplets are generated per pulse when a surfactant is added at a concentration of 1% or more. For smaller pulse duration (3.25 ms), a single droplet is generated per pulse irrespective of the concentration of the surfactant. Smaller droplets can be generated by reducing the width of the side channel in the device. We have also observed that the inclusion of a small pinhole ahead of the microwell ensures trapping of the droplets in the microwell over a larger range of flowrates indicating the positive role of the pinhole in the trapping process.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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