On flow-blocking particle structures in microtubes

Sharp, Kendra V.; Adrian, Ronald J.

doi:10.1007/s10404-005-0043-x

Cited by 77 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Sharp and Adrian [4], by means of experiments in microtubes, observed blockage due to arch formation. The experiments were performed using liquids seeded with polystyrene beads at low volumetric concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Numerical investigation of channel blockage by flowing microparticles

2014

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a b s t r a c tThe dynamic formation of 3D structures of microparticle aggregates blocking the flow through straight microchannels is investigated by direct numerical simulation of the coupled motion of particles and fluid. We use the Force Coupling Method to handle simultaneously multibody hydrodynamic interactions of confined flowing suspension together with particle-particle and particle-wall surface interactions leading to adhesion and aggregation of particles. The basic idea of the Force Coupling Method relies on a multipole expansion of forcing terms (added to the Navier-Stokes equations) accounting for the velocity perturbation induced by the presence of particles in the fluid flow. When a particle reaches the wall or an attached particle, we consider that the adhesion is irreversible and this particle remains fixed. We investigate the kinetics of the microchannel blockage for several solid volumetric concentrations and different surface interaction forces. Many physical quantities such as the temporal evolution of the bulk permeability, capture efficiency, modification of the fluid flow and forces acting on attached particles are analyzed. We show that physical-chemical interactions, modeled by DLVO forces, are essential features which control the blockage dynamics and aggregate structure. IntroductionThe physics of transport, deposition, detachment and reentrainment of colloidal particles suspended in a fluid are of major interest in many areas of fluids engineering: fouling of heat exchangers, contamination of nuclear reactors, plugging of filtration membranes and occlusion of human veins, deposits in microelectronics and in the paper industry. In many solid/liquid separation processes such as micro-filtration or ultrafiltration of water, the limitation of the process performance is related to the fouling of filtration devices. To prevent or control the occurrence of fouling, it is necessary to achieve a better understanding of the respective roles of physical-chemical phenomena and hydrodynamic interactions in a confined suspension of particles. Non-hydrodynamic surface interactions and the adhesion of particles onto solid surfaces are the essential features to be modeled. However, mainly because of a complex interplay between the hydrodynamics of the flow, the physical-chemical properties of the filtered suspensions (often in a colloidal state) and the nature of the solid material, predicting fouling dynamics is still challenging.Different experimental techniques and numerical approaches have been developed to achieve new insights on the local structure of particle aggregates and the kinetics of blockage. Sharp and Adrian [4], by means of experiments in microtubes, observed blockage due to arch formation. The experiments were performed using liquids seeded with polystyrene beads at low volumetric concentration. They showed that a stable balance between the hydrodynamic forces and contact forces (mainly solid friction) between particles and the wall provokes the formation of arches. Wyss et al.[5] stu...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Numerical investigation of channel blockage by flowing microparticles

2014

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“…The shearing of confined dense colloidal suspensions shows the emergence of new structures not seen before [35]. The flow of granular media through hoppers [36,37] or suspensions through constricted micro-and nanofluidic devices [38,39,40,41] can jam and clog, costing time and money. Some studies examined the packing of granular particles in narrow silos, focusing on stresses between particles and the walls [42,43,44,45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Random close packing of disks and spheres in confined geometries

2009

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Studies of random close packing of spheres have advanced our knowledge about the structure of systems such as liquids, glasses, emulsions, granular media, and amorphous solids. When these systems are confined their structural properties change. To understand these changes we study random close packing in finite-sized confined systems, in both two and three dimensions. Each packing consists of a 50-50 binary mixture with particle size ratio 1.4. The presence of confining walls significantly lowers the overall maximum area fraction (or volume fraction in three dimensions). A simple model is presented which quantifies the reduction in packing due to wall-induced structure. This wall-induced structure decays rapidly away from the wall, with characteristic length scales comparable to the small particle diameter.

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“…According to the size distribution of particles in suspension, they concluded that deposit of particles leading to the microsystem clogging occurs through successive particle deposits, particle size exclusion, or through a combination of these effects. Sharp and Adrian [11], by means of experiments in microtubes, have observed blockage due to arches formation. The experiments were carried out with liquids seeded with polystyrene latex beads at very low volumetric concentration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental investigation of pore clogging by microparticles: Evidence for a critical flux density of particle yielding arches and deposits

Agbangla

Climent

Bacchin

2012

Separation and Purification Technology

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OATAO is an open access repository that collects the work of Toulouse researchers and makes it freely available over the web where possible. This is an author-deposited version published in : http://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/ Eprints ID : 6835 b s t r a c tPrediction of pore fouling by microparticles is still challenging and remains a difficult step to optimize membrane and filtration processes. The scientific issue consists in determining the relevant operation parameters controlling the capture of particles and the clogging of the filter. In this study, we have developed for a dead-end and cross-flow filtration a poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) device which allows direct observation of the clogging dynamics of microchannels (20 lm wide) by micrometric particles (5 lm diameter). The experiments highlight the formation of different 3D clogging patterns according to the filtration conditions (particle concentration, flowrate, particle flux density and physical-chemical conditions of suspension). Besides, we have determined under which specific conditions of filtration, the latex microparticles are captured and form arches, clusters or dendrites. For each type of structure, the temporal dynamics of the particle deposition are analyzed by means of the average thickness of deposit. The critical conditions for the formation of arches leading to deposit formation have been identified in term of a combination of operating conditions: the particle concentration and the particle velocity. A critical particle flux density yielding pore clogging is then observed and characterized. Studying these experimental results helps to identify pore clogging mechanisms: deposition, interception and bridging.

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On flow-blocking particle structures in microtubes

Cited by 77 publications

References 14 publications

Numerical investigation of channel blockage by flowing microparticles

Numerical investigation of channel blockage by flowing microparticles

Random close packing of disks and spheres in confined geometries

Experimental investigation of pore clogging by microparticles: Evidence for a critical flux density of particle yielding arches and deposits

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