Bubble formation in a step-emulsification microdevice: hydrodynamic effects in the cavity

Zhang, Zhiwei; Wang, Zhongdong; Bao, Fengrui; Fan, Mengyu; Jiang, Shanshan; Zhu, Chunying; Ma, Youguang; Fu, Taotao

doi:10.1016/j.jiec.2020.12.013

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…13,14 The droplet size is mainly influenced by the change in flow rates of the fluids, and thus a small flow rate fluctuation can lead to the deterioration in monodispersity of droplets. 15 As another droplet generation approach, step emulsification (SE) is different from the shear-based microfluidics, which is dominated by the interfacial tension. 16,17 Generally, in a step emulsification microfluidic device, the dispersed phase flows from a narrow/ shallow inlet channel into a continuous phase reservoir with large volume, during which it experiences a sudden enlargement in space of flow.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this kind of microfluidics, the shear force is critical in the evolution and breakup of interfaces 13,14 . The droplet size is mainly influenced by the change in flow rates of the fluids, and thus a small flow rate fluctuation can lead to the deterioration in monodispersity of droplets 15 . As another droplet generation approach, step emulsification (SE) is different from the shear‐based microfluidics, which is dominated by the interfacial tension 16,17 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Robust generation of monodisperse droplets using a microfluidic step emulsification device with triangular nozzle

Liu

et al. 2023

AIChE Journal

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In this work, the droplet generation process in the microfluidic step emulsification chip with a triangular nozzle (SE‐T) was investigated in the combination of visualization experiment and numerical simulation, through a comparison with a rectangular nozzle (SE‐R). The flow regimes, including dripping, dripping‐jetting transition, and jetting, were observed in the SE‐T, among which the dripping is the preferred flow regime to generate monodispersed droplet with corresponding C.V. (coefficient of variation) of the droplet size smaller than 1.9%. Compared with the SE‐R, the larger space and expanding structure of the triangular nozzle in the SE‐T enhance the wall wetting effects, which induces earlier appearance and accelerates shrinking of the neck. As a result, the SE‐T exhibits more robust droplet performance under the dripping regime, which produces the droplets with nearly unchanged size and higher monodispersity, especially little related to the variations of surfactant concentrations and dispersed phase flow rates.

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