A numerical study on the dynamics of droplet formation in a microfluidic double T-junction

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4916228
• Publication Date: 2015-03-24T18:35:13Z
• Authors: Ich-Long Ngo; Trung-Dung Dang; Chan Byon; Sang Woo Joo
• Keywords: Surface-area-to-volume ratio; Volume fraction

In this study, droplet formations in microfluidic double T-junctions (MFDTD) are investigated based on a two-dimensional numerical model with volume of fluid method. Parametric ranges for generating alternating formation (ADF) identified. A physical background responsible the ADF is suggested by analyzing dynamical stability flow system. Since phase discrepancy between dispersed flows mainly caused non-symmetrical breaking merging droplet, regime becomes at appropriate conditions. addition, effects channel geometries studied terms relative width. The predicted results show that region shifted toward lower capillary numbers when width ratio less than unity. size increases increase ratio. When reaches unity, droplets can be formed very high water fraction (wf = 0.8). MFDTD depends significantly viscosity ratio, and decreases understanding underlying physics phenomenon useful many applications, including nanoparticle synthesis different concentrations, hydrogel bead generation, cell transplantation biomedical therapy.