CFD simulation and analysis of emulsion droplet formation from straight-through microchannels.

摘要: We recently proposed a technique for preparing monodisperse emulsions with coefficient of variation below 5% from silicon array micrometer-sized channels perpendicular to the plate surface, named straight-through microchannel (MC). This study involved three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations calculate formation an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion droplet MCs circular and elliptic cross sections. The CFD results demonstrated that oil phase passed through exceeding threshold aspect ratio between 3 3.5 was cut off spontaneously into small diameter approximately 40 microm. Sufficient space water at channel exit had be maintained successful formation. shrinkage neck inside caused increased pressure difference velocity value near neck. values drastically changed, instantaneously just before completion process triggered by gradually inflating phase. findings obtained in this paper provide useful numerical visual information about phenomena MCs. were verified experimental results, showing approach can help design suitable structure.