Asymmetrical breakup and size distribution of droplets in a branching microfluidic T-junction

Pengcheng Ma; Taotao Fu; Chunying Zhu; Youguang Ma

Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.36, No.1, 21-29, January, 2019

DOI10.1007/s11814-018-0165-y Export Citation

Asymmetrical breakup and size distribution of droplets in a branching microfluidic T-junction

Pengcheng Ma, Taotao Fu^†, Chunying Zhu, and Youguang Ma^†

State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China

E-mail:,

The breakup and distribution of droplets at a branching T-junction were investigated experimentally by a high-speed camera. The effects of two-phase flow rates, two-phase Reynolds number and capillary number of the dispersed phase on droplet volume distribution were studied. The results indicated that the volume distribution ratio λ decreases first and then increases with the increase of two-phase flow ratio Qd/Qc. Similarly, as the Reynolds number Rec of the continuous phase increases, the volume distribution ratio λ also decreases at first and then increases. The increase of Reynolds number Red of the dispersed phase would lead to a reduction in the volume distribution ratio λ. Moreover, the increase of the capillary number Cad of dispersed phase could result in an increase in the volume distribution ratio λ. Correlations for predicting the volume distribution ratio were proposed, and the calculated results show good agreement with experimental data.

Keywords:Microchannel;Droplet;Breakup;Distribution;Interface

[References]

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Fu TT, Ma YG, Li HZ, AIChE J., 60(5), 1920 (2014)
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Moritani T, Yamada M, Seki M, Microfluid. Nanofluid., 11, 601 (2011)
Chen JF, Wang SF, Cheng S, Chem. Eng. Sci., 84, 706 (2012)
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Kim J, Won J, Song S, Biomicrofluidics, 8, 054105 (2014)
Lignel S, Salsac AV, Drelich A, Leclerc E, Pezron I, Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem. Eng. Asp., 531, 164 (2017)
Du W, Fu TT, Zhu CY, Ma YG, Li HZ, AIChE J., 62(1), 325 (2016)
Fu TT, Ma YG, Funfschilling D, Li HZ, Chem. Eng. Sci., 66(18), 4184 (2011)

[Referenced By]

[1] Song H, Tice JD, Ismagilov RF, Angew. Chem., 115, 792 (2003)

[2] Min SK, Lee BM, Hwang JH, Ha SH, Shin HS, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 29(3), 392 (2012)

[3] Santos J, Trujillo-Cayado LA, Calero N, Alfaro MC, Munoz J, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 36, 90 (2016)

[4] Boogar RS, Gheshlaghi R, Mahdavi MA, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 30(1), 45 (2013)

[5] Hwang JW, Choi JH, Choi B, Lee G, Lee SW, Koo YM, Chang WJ, Korean J. Chem. Eng., 33(1), 57 (2016)

[6] Cubaud T, Ho CM, Phys. Fluids, 16, 4575 (2004)

[7] Link DR, Anna SL, Weitz DA, Stone HA, Phys. Rev. Lett., 92, 054503 (2004)

[8] Leshansky AM, Pismen LM, Phys. Fluids, 21, 023303 (2009)

[9] Belloul M, Engl W, Colin A, Panizza P, Ajdari A, Phys. Rev. Lett., 102, 194502 (2009)

[10] Parthiban P, Khan SA, Lab Chip, 12, 582 (2012)

[11] Jose BM, Cubaud T, Microfluid. Nanofluid., 12, 687 (2012)

[12] Jullien MC, Ching MJTM, Cohen C, Menetrier L, Tabeling P, Phys. Fluids, 21, 072001 (2009)

[13] Hoang DA, Portela LM, Kleijn CR, Kreutzer MT, van Steijn V, J. Fluid Mech., 717 (2013)

[14] Chen B, Li G, Wang W, Wang P, Appl. Therm. Eng., 88, 94 (2015)

[15] Yong YM, Li S, Yang C, Yin XL, Chin. J. Chem. Eng., 21(5), 463 (2013)

[16] Bedram A, Moosavi A, Eur. Phys. J. E, 34, 78 (2011)

[17] Samie M, Salari A, Shafii MB, Phys. Rev. E, 87, 053003 (2013)

[18] Fu TT, Ma YG, Li HZ, AIChE J., 60(5), 1920 (2014)

[19] Wang XD, Zhu CY, Fu TT, Ma YG, Chem. Eng. Sci., 111, 244 (2014)

[20] Wang XD, Zhu CY, Fu TT, Ma YG, AIChE J., 61(3), 1081 (2015)

[21] Moritani T, Yamada M, Seki M, Microfluid. Nanofluid., 11, 601 (2011)

[22] Chen JF, Wang SF, Cheng S, Chem. Eng. Sci., 84, 706 (2012)

[23] Liu YC, Sun WC, Wang SF, Chem. Eng. Sci., 158, 267 (2017)

[24] Kim J, Won J, Song S, Biomicrofluidics, 8, 054105 (2014)

[25] Lignel S, Salsac AV, Drelich A, Leclerc E, Pezron I, Colloids Surf. A: Physicochem. Eng. Asp., 531, 164 (2017)

[26] Du W, Fu TT, Zhu CY, Ma YG, Li HZ, AIChE J., 62(1), 325 (2016)

[27] Fu TT, Ma YG, Funfschilling D, Li HZ, Chem. Eng. Sci., 66(18), 4184 (2011)