Micro-droplet formation in non-Newtonian fluid in a microchannel |
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Authors: | Dongming Qiu Laura Silva Anna Lee Tonkovich Ravi Arora |
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Affiliation: | 1.Velocys, Inc.,Plain City,USA |
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Abstract: | Micro-droplet formation from an aperture with a diameter of micrometers is numerically investigated under the cross-flow conditions
of an experimental microchannel emulsification process. The process involves dispersing an oil phase into continuous phase
fluid through a microchannel wall made of apertured substrate. Cross-flow in the microchannel is of non-Newtonian nature,
which is included in the simulations. Micro-droplets of diameter 0.76–30 μm are obtained from the simulations for the apertures
of diameter 0.1–10.0 μm. The simulation results show that rheology of the bulk liquid flow greatly affects the formation and
size of droplets and that dispersed micro-droplets are formed by two different breakup mechanisms: in dripping regime and
in jetting regime characterized by capillary number Ca. Relations between droplet size, aperture opening size, interfacial
tension, bulk flow rheology, and disperse phase flow rate are discussed based on the simulation and the experimental results.
Data and models from literature on membrane emulsification and T-junction droplet formation processes are discussed and compared
with the present results. Detailed force balance models are discussed. Scaling factor for predicting droplet size is suggested. |
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