Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a droplet generation in a double T-junction microchannel

Wenbo Han; Xueye Chen; Zengliang Hu; Kun Yang

doi:10.1117/1.JMM.17.2.025502

13 June 2018 Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a droplet generation in a double T-junction microchannel

Wenbo Han, Xueye Chen, Zengliang Hu, Kun Yang

Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS, Vol. 17, Issue 2, 025502 (June 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.17.2.025502

Abstract

With MEMS technology developing rapidly, the microfluidic droplet technology has been employed into many biological or chemical experiments. To satisfy the increasingly high demands in various applications of the microfluidic chips, the size of the droplet needs accurate control. We have designed and performed a three-dimensional numerical simulation of a droplet generation in a double T-junction microchannel by a level-set method in COMSOL5.0 for discussing the process of the droplet formation and the influences on the size of the droplet. We have studied out that the flow rate ratio, the continuous phase viscosity, the interfacial tension, and the contact angle influence the size of the droplet. The effective droplet diameter increases when the flow rate ratio and the interfacial tension increase. It decreases when the continuous phase viscosity and the contact angle increase.

Citation Download Citation

Wenbo Han, Xueye Chen, Zengliang Hu, and Kun Yang "Three-dimensional numerical simulation of a droplet generation in a double T-junction microchannel," Journal of Micro/Nanolithography, MEMS, and MOEMS 17(2), 025502 (13 June 2018). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JMM.17.2.025502

Received: 21 February 2018; Accepted: 24 May 2018; Published: 13 June 2018

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