Characteristics of the travelling speed of droplet flow splitting in bifurcated minichannel networks

IF 2.5 4区工程技术 Q2 INSTRUMENTS & INSTRUMENTATION

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Pub Date : 2025-10-06 DOI:10.1007/s10404-025-02848-x

Kui He, Liangzhen Zhang, Yilin Zhan, Ya Ge, Zhaochuan Chen, Si-Min Huang

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Abstract

The splitting modes of droplet flow in bifurcated minichannel networks are valuable for distributing them in various microfluidics chemical applications and have been widely studied. Previously, predictions of the splitting modes relied on the models of hydraulic flow resistance. This paper presents an experimental study on the correlation between droplet splitting modes and droplet travelling speed characteristics in various minichannel networks. A high-speed camera and machine vision algorithm were used to measure the instantaneous travelling speed of droplets at the inlet and arms of the networks. Five typical splitting modes are identified: bypass splitting, breakup splitting, random splitting, uniform splitting and oscillating splitting. The characteristics of the droplet speed corresponding to different splitting modes are studied and understood by analyzing their varying features and correlations. The results show that splitting modes can be correlated to droplet travelling speed characteristics. This research focuses on how to identify and monitor droplet splitting modes at T-junctions, which relies solely on local visual features of several droplets. It lays the foundation for regulating different splitting modes in the future.

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分岔小通道网络中液滴流动分裂的传播速度特征

分岔微通道网络中液滴流动的分裂模式在各种微流体化学应用中具有重要的分布价值，并得到了广泛的研究。以前，劈裂模式的预测依赖于水力流动阻力模型。本文对不同微通道网络中液滴分裂模式与液滴运动速度特性之间的关系进行了实验研究。使用高速摄像机和机器视觉算法测量液滴在网络入口和臂部的瞬时移动速度。确定了五种典型的分裂模式：旁路分裂、破裂分裂、随机分裂、均匀分裂和振荡分裂。通过分析不同劈裂模式下液滴速度的变化特征和相关性，研究和理解了不同劈裂模式下液滴速度的变化特征。结果表明，分裂模式与液滴运动速度特性之间存在一定的关联。本研究的重点是如何识别和监测t型路口的液滴分裂模式，该模式仅依赖于几个液滴的局部视觉特征。为今后调整不同的分裂模式奠定了基础。

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来源期刊

Microfluidics and Nanofluidics 工程技术-纳米科技

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

3.60%

发文量

审稿时长

2 months

期刊介绍： Microfluidics and Nanofluidics is an international peer-reviewed journal that aims to publish papers in all aspects of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip science and technology. The objectives of the journal are to (1) provide an overview of the current state of the research and development in microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices, (2) improve the fundamental understanding of microfluidic and nanofluidic phenomena, and (3) discuss applications of microfluidics, nanofluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. Topics covered in this journal include: 1.000 Fundamental principles of micro- and nanoscale phenomena like, flow, mass transport and reactions 3.000 Theoretical models and numerical simulation with experimental and/or analytical proof 4.000 Novel measurement & characterization technologies 5.000 Devices (actuators and sensors) 6.000 New unit-operations for dedicated microfluidic platforms 7.000 Lab-on-a-Chip applications 8.000 Microfabrication technologies and materials Please note, Microfluidics and Nanofluidics does not publish manuscripts studying pure microscale heat transfer since there are many journals that cover this field of research (Journal of Heat Transfer, Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, etc.).