Splitting of droplet with different sizes inside a symmetric T-junction microchannel using an electric field

Ehsan Fattahi,Keivan Fallah

doi:10.1038/s41598-022-07130-6

Ehsan Fattahi, Keivan Fallah

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07130-6

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Abstract

In the current study, droplets dynamics under an asymmetric electric field in a T-junction are numerically studied using COMSOL Multi-physics software. The effect of different factors such as dimensionless length of mother droplet (L*), Capillary number (Ca), and electric capillary number (Cae) are investigated on the breakup process in symmetric T-junctions. Two novel patterns of droplets, namely, hybrid asymmetric splitting mode and sorting patterns, have been observed by imposing an electric field in one branch of the microchannel. It is also concluded that using an electric field is a promising strategy to reach droplets with arbitrary sizes and control over the splitting ratio of daughter droplets precisely in a T- junction by adjusting the electric field strength. After a certain electric capillary number (left. {Ca_{e} } right|_{Sorting}), the mother droplet does not breakup and is sorted on the side of the branch that the electric field imposes. Furthermore, left. {Ca_{e} } right|_{Sorting} increases with the increment of L* and Ca.

Highlights

In the current study, droplets dynamics under an asymmetric electric field in a T-junction are numerically studied using COMSOL Multi-physics software
The deformation of a static droplet under the electric field is examined to validate the application of the electric field
Due to the one-sided electric field in the symmetric T-junction, a new flow regime is revealed, which we introduce as Hybrid Asymmetric Splitting Mode (HASM)

Summary

Introduction

Droplets dynamics under an asymmetric electric field in a T-junction are numerically studied using COMSOL Multi-physics software. The primary disadvantage of this strategy is that a different process is needed to separate the generated small and large droplets after producing in which move together along the channel. They proposed another available strategy for droplet breakup with different sizes by using a T-junction with different arms. Ménétrier-Deremble and T abeling[20] experimentally investigated the asymmetric breakup of droplets in a λ-junction microchannel with arbitrary angles. They reported that the breakup volume ratio depends on the flow geometry only and is independent of the fluid characteristics and the flow conditions. Bedram et al.[26] numerically investigated the asymmetric breakup of droplets in

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