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Numerical Simulation of Non-Newtonian Droplet Formation under External Electric Field in a Microfluidic Device

Amiri, Nasir | 2017

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 50716 (08)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Mechanical Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Moosavi, Ali; Kazemzadeh Hannani, Siamak
  7. Abstract:
  8. Droplet formation and breakup processes are one of the important steps in many microfluidic devices with a wide range of biological and chemical applications. The purpose of this study is numerical simulation of non-Newtonian droplet formation under the influence of electric field in a microfluidic system. The innovation aspect of this project is the use of non-Newtonian fluid in this process, which, despite many applications in real issues, has been less studied, and in most of the previous researches, Newtonian fluid assumption has been used to simplify the solving. Also, simultaneously, the effects of an external electric field on this process were also studied. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as non-Newtonian droplet phase. To analyze the formation of droplets in a microfluidic T-junction, a numerical level set method with commercial software (COMSOL) was used. 2D and transient simulations were performed to study this process. Initially, the effect of changing the number of different parameters such as the input flow rates of both phases, the concentration of the droplet phase and the contact angle, on the size of the droplets and the formation time of the first droplet, was investigated. The results showed that the droplet size decreases with increasing droplet phase concentration. Then, by applying a voltage difference to the system, an electric field was created inside it. The results showed that the larger the electric field is, the size of the produced droplets also increases due to the direction of the forces it enters to the boundary
  9. Keywords:
  10. Numerical Method ; Microfluidic Devices ; Nonnewtonian Liquid Drops ; Droplet Formation ; Electrical Field ; External Electric Field

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