The formation of micro droplets involved a complex mechanism deriving from the competition between the interfacial tension, viscous shearing and other counterparts. In the present study, a volume-of-fluid (VOF) method within FLUENT software was used to study the droplet formation in a T-junction microchannel. By varying the velocity of continuous phase, we got droplet formation in “squeezing” process, and the shifting to “dripping” regime at a critical Capillary number. The pressure and velocity changing in both regimes were investigated in detail, supporting the result that the squeezing was dominated by the upstream pressure rising and the dripping was driven by shearing force. The numerical results hold a good agreement with the previously experimental measurements using confocal micro-PIV system. Furthermore, the motion inside an emerging droplet was also studied, showing intricate circulation flow.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels collocated with 3rd Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting
August 1–5, 2010
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Conference Sponsors:
- Fluids Engineering Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-5450-1
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Numerical Study on Liquid Droplet Formation in T-Junction Microchannel Available to Purchase
Xiao-Bin Li,
Xiao-Bin Li
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Juan-Cheng Yang,
Juan-Cheng Yang
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Feng-Chen Li
Feng-Chen Li
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Search for other works by this author on:
Xiao-Bin Li
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Juan-Cheng Yang
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Feng-Chen Li
Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Paper No:
FEDSM-ICNMM2010-30460, pp. 1669-1675; 7 pages
Published Online:
March 1, 2011
Citation
Li, X, Yang, J, & Li, F. "Numerical Study on Liquid Droplet Formation in T-Junction Microchannel." Proceedings of the ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels collocated with 3rd Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting. ASME 2010 8th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels, and Minichannels: Parts A and B. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. August 1–5, 2010. pp. 1669-1675. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/FEDSM-ICNMM2010-30460
Download citation file:
23
Views
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Finite Element Simulations of Free Surface Flows With Surface Tension in Complex Geometries
J. Fluids Eng (September,2002)
Fluid Vibration Induced by High-Shear-Rate Flow in a T-Junction
J. Fluids Eng (August,2016)
Droplet Formation and Fission in Shear-Thinning/Newtonian Multiphase System Using Bilayer Bifurcating Microchannel
J. Heat Transfer (January,2018)
Related Chapters
Crack(s) in a Rod or a Plate by Energy Rate Analysis
The Stress Analysis of Cracks Handbook, Third Edition
Analysis of Components in VIII-2
Guidebook for the Design of ASME Section VIII Pressure Vessels, Third Edition
Well Control
Oilwell Drilling Engineering