https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2011-11078-7
Regular Article
Droplet breakup in an asymmetric microfluidic T junction
School of Mechanical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Azadi Avenue, PO Box 11365-9567, Tehran, Iran
* e-mail: a_bedram@yahoo.com
** e-mail: moosavi@sharif.edu
Received:
26
January
2011
Revised:
19
May
2011
Accepted:
5
July
2011
Published online:
8
August
2011
Breakup of non-uniform droplets in an asymmetric T junction consisting of an inlet channel and two different-size outlet channels has been investigated numerically. Also, an analytical approach in the limit of the lubrication approximation has been extended to provide some analytical relations to study the system and verify the numerical results. Parameters that are important in the performance of the system have been determined and discussed. Our results indicate that smaller droplets can be produced by increasing the capillary number. As the geometry becomes symmetric the pressure drop decreases. Our results also reveal that the breakup time and the pressure drop for this system are smaller than the previous suggested method for producing non-uniform droplets, i.e., a uniform size T junction with different-length outlet channels.
© EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, 2011