Fabien Jousse | PubMed Health

PubMed2006

Bifurcation of droplet flows within capillaries.

Flows of droplets through networks of microchannels differ significantly from the flow of simple fluids. Our report focuses on the paths of individual droplets through the simplest possible network: a channel that splits into two arms that subsequently recombine. This simple system exhibits complex patterns of flow: both periodic and irregular, depending on the frequency at which the drops are fed into the "loop." A numerical model explains these results and shows regions of regular patterns separated by regions of high complexity. Our results elicit new questions regarding the dynamics of flow of discrete elements of fluids through networks, and point to potential opportunities and difficulties in the design of integrated mini-laboratories operating on droplets.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Compact model for multi-phase liquid-liquid flows in micro-fluidic devices.

We present a compact model describing the laminar flow of viscous multiphase fluids in micro-channel networks. We apply this model to the flow of 2 immiscible fluids representing typically oil and water, in a network of micro-channels comprising one inlet for each fluid splitting into 2 branches meeting at a T-junction, where the 2 phases are combined before exiting the network through two outlets. This network is akin to an electrical "Wheatstone bridge" and represents a simplified interdigital micro-reactor, where the fluids to be mixed are separated into smaller branches and later re-combined together. We show from an analytical solution and a computational modelling that fluid flow inside this network is very sensitive to small differences in fluid resistance between the various branches of the network, which may lead to catastrophic error in fluid distribution between the various branches that can have a profound effect on mixing. These errors depend on the viscosity difference between the fluids, on the processing conditions, and also on the geometric resistance parameters of the various channels. Increasing the resistance of the distribution channels upstream of the fluid junctions allows minimisation of the distribution errors. Interaction between the fluids can also lead to transients that are orders of magnitude longer than the flooding time of the channels. This may be exploited to provide impedance-like terms in flui-logic operations.

Computer Simulation↗