Pressure-Driven Transport of Particles through a Converging-Diverging Microchannel

Authors

Ye Ai, Old Dominion University
Sang W. Joo, Yeungnam UniversityFollow
Yingtao Jiang, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Xiangchun Xuan, Clemson University
Shizhi Qian, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-2009

Publication Title

Biomicrofluidics

Volume

3

Issue

2

First page number:

1

Last page number:

14

Abstract

Pressure-driven transport of particles through a symmetric converging-diverging microchannel is studied by solving a coupled nonlinear system, which is composed of the Navier–Stokes and continuity equations using the arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian finite-element technique. The predicted particle translation is in good agreement with existing experimental observations. The effects of pressure gradient, particle size, channel geometry, and a particle’s initial location on the particle transport are investigated. The pressure gradient has no effect on the ratio of the translational velocity of particles through a converging-diverging channel to that in the upstream straight channel. Particles are generally accelerated in the converging region and then decelerated in the diverging region, with the maximum translational velocity at the throat. For particles with diameters close to the width of the channel throat, the usual acceleration process is divided into three stages: Acceleration, deceleration, and reacceleration instead of a monotonic acceleration. Moreover, the maximum translational velocity occurs at the end of the first acceleration stage rather than at the throat. Along the centerline of the microchannel, particles do not rotate, and the closer a particle is located near the channel wall, the higher is its rotational velocity. Analysis of the transport of two particles demonstrates the feasibility of using a converging-diverging microchannel for passive (biological and synthetic) particle separation and ordering.

Keywords

Microchannels; Particles (Nuclear physics); Pressure; Transport theory

Disciplines

Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics | Engineering Physics | Fluid Dynamics | Mechanical Engineering | Other Mechanical Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

Copyright AIP Publishing used with permission

Repository Citation

Ai, Y., Joo, S. W., Jiang, Y., Xuan, X., Qian, S. (2009). Pressure-Driven Transport of Particles through a Converging-Diverging Microchannel. Biomicrofluidics, 3(2), 1-14.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/me_fac_articles/51