Abstract
A model was developed for the analysis of steady and unsteady bubble generation frequencies in a microfluidic flow-focusing device. In both cases, the generation frequency depends on the downstream influence of bubbles created by the flow-focusing device, which provides a source of feedback. For steady-state generation of bubbles, this feedback explains the relationships among frequency, gas pressure and liquid flow rate in our experiments as well as gives a physical explanation for previously observed frequency relations. The role of feedback is also exploited to explain unsteady behaviour; we develop a numerical model and analytical expressions that agree with experimental measurements.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 2131-2143 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
| Volume | 366 |
| Issue number | 1873 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 28 2008 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- General Engineering
- General Physics and Astronomy
- General Mathematics
Keywords
- Feedback
- Flow focusing
- Microfluidics