Numerical simulation of droplet formation in a microchannel device
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Date
2013
Authors
Rojas-Solórzano, L.
Rodríguez Granado, Katherine V.
Anna, Shelley L.
Verma, Salman
Journal Title
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Abstract
The formation of droplets is a phenomenon with particular importance in
the development of industrial emulsions. The quality of these compounds
is associated with droplet size and stability over time. Anna et al. (2003)
developed a methodology named ¨flow focusing¨ to improve droplet
formation processes for engineering applications. In this work,
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) based techniques are used to assess
the capacity of a pseudo-2D numerical model to reproduce water droplets
formation within silicon oil, as obtained in Anna et al.’s experiments.
Average time of droplet onset obtained via numerical analysis was 1.5 times
larger than observed experimentally, whereas droplets convection velocity
and diameter predictions differed by 40-45% and 60%, respectively.
Nevertheless, calculated velocity profiles downstream the discharge slot
reproduced the expected free-jet shear layer according to outer/inner flow
ratio.
Description
Keywords
microfluidics, microchannel, droplet formation, CFD
Citation
Katherine V. Rodríguez Granado, Shelley L. Anna, Luis R. Rojas-Solórzano and Salman Verma. 2013. Numerical simulation of droplet formation in a microchannel device. The International Journal of Multiphysics.