Particle Separation Efficiency Research Articles

Investigating Non-Newtonian Fluid Behavior in Hydrocyclones Via Computational Fluid Dynamics

Expert researchers examine complex patterns of pressure, viscosity, and velocity in a CFD study of viscoelastic food inside hydrocyclones to obtain a detailed grasp of particle behavior and fluid dynamics. Velocity profiles show how fluids and particles flow through the hydrocyclone in complex ways, while pressure distributions show where high and low pressure is found, regions that are critical for maximizing separation efficiency. Furthermore, the analysis of viscosity fluctuations clarifies the intricate relationship between fluid rheology and flow dynamics, providing information on how food's viscoelastic characteristics affect particle trajectories and separation efficiency. Utilizing this comprehensive examination, scientists hope to optimize the design and functioning parameters of the hydrocyclones, which will in turn improve the efficacy and efficiency of particle separation procedures in viscoelastic food solutions. This will ultimately lead to improvements in food processing technology and product quality. Researchers look into the impact of geometric elements on flow patterns and separation efficiency in addition to these characteristics, such as hydrocyclone size and inlet configurations. Additionally, they investigate how different operating parameters, such rotational speed and flow rate, affect how well the hydrocyclone handles viscoelastic food items. Through the integration of these complex analyses, researchers hope to create all encompassing models that can precisely forecast and optimize the behavior of viscoelastic food flows inside hydrocyclones, opening the door to improved process control and food sector product quality.

Tunable viscoelastic size-based particle separation in straight microchannels with triangular cross-sections

In recent years, viscoelastic particle manipulation within microfluidic systems has received much attention due to the ease with which micron-sized objects may be maneuvered and isolated on the basis of size. While several factors, including both fluid and particle properties, regulate the precise locations and trajectories of micron-sized species flowing along a microchannel, the role of channel cross-section shape is critical, since it directly influences the fluid velocity profile and thus the direction and magnitude of hydrodynamic forces. It is therefore surprising that this parameter has not been comprehensively investigated for cell-based separations, especially since most viscoelastic microfluidic systems are only able to efficiently sperate cells over limited size ranges. To address this shortcoming, we present a viscoelastic microfluidic system integrating a triangular cross-section microchannel, for efficient and tunable size-based separations of micron-sized species. We find that particle focusing patterns can be controlled by simple variation of volumetric flow rates, which allows for the efficient separation of particles and cells of variable size. To showcase the efficacy of the approach, we present a size-based separation of various blood components, including white blood cells, platelets, and rare cells. By quantifying the number of particles collected at the outlets, we achieve recovery efficiencies of over 98%.

Asymmetric thermal optofluidics based on plasmonic multilayered nanostructures

Manipulating thermo-convective fluid flow induced by plasmonic nanostructures under light illumination has garnered significant attention in various fields, such as biomedical sensing, particle trapping, and drug delivery. However, achieving symmetric optical manipulation of fluid flow encounters challenges in certain applications due to the inherent temporal and spatial symmetry in the energy transfer process. Here, a design of plasmonic nanostructures is proposed to achieve a platform for the asymmetric manipulation of thermally induced fluid flow in an optofluidic environment. The difference in fluid flow rate between forward and backward directions is due to the combined effect of the local asymmetry of the heat transfer in multilayer plasmonic nanostructure and nonreciprocity. The nonreciprocity originates from the violation of time-symmetry due to the temperature gradient-induced convection. We show that the asymmetric convective flow can also be achieved when the size of the plasmonic structure enlarges from nanometer to micrometer, and it can be used for efficient particle separation or transportation in microfluidic systems. Our findings expand the scope of optofluidic applications and stimulate the exploration of design approaches for optical devices.

Effect of Different Outlet Structure of Axial Flow Cyclone Separator in Drying Tower

The axial flow cyclone separator used in drying tower is characterized by the diameter of the dust outlet at the tail is larger than that of the cylinder, and the dust removal efficiency is increased by a series dust outlet. The numerical analysis of its separation characteristics is carried out by using the RSM model of CFD. The results show that the separation efficiency can be increased by appropriately increasing the diameter of the dust outlet, and the separation efficiency will not change when the diameter of the dust outlet increases to a certain value. When the insertion depth of the air outlet is reduced from 150mm to 100mm, the average separation efficiency of particles with a diameter of 15-30um is reduced by 4.5%. When the insertion depth of the air outlet is greater than the width of the dust outlet, the insertion depth has no effect on the dust removal efficiency. The tandem dust outlet and parallel dust outlet have the same separation effect on small particles, and the gas flow rate is equivalent to twice the gas flow rate of a single dust outlet. The average particle separation efficiency of 1 - 30um is increased by 16.5% compared with that of a single dust outlet. The flow velocity of the tandem dust outlet is higher than that of the parallel dust outlet.

АНАЛИЗ ПРОЧНОСТНЫХ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИК И ВАРИАТИВНОГО ИСПОЛНЕНИЯ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ ГИДРОЦИКЛОНА ДЛЯ СОВЕРШЕНСТВОВАНИЯ ЕГО КОНСТРУКЦИИ

Promising directions for improving the efficiency of pyrite cinder separation for their further use in the production of Portland cement are considered. The object of the study is a digital model of a modified hydrocyclone with a separation area in the working area, which allows for precise separation of particles. The purpose of the study is to identify the appropriate design parameters of a modified hydrocyclone during strength calculations and variable execution of its model. Computer modeling of hydrodynamic processes during the creation of new equipment allows for an analysis of its operability, strength calculations and variable design of the device at the design stage, which is currently relevant. The changes in the efficiency of particle separation in a modified hydrocyclone depending on the varying geometric parameters in the working area of the apparatus are considered. The influence of the thickness of the sheets of the parts of the separation area has been studied and important aspects affecting the operating conditions of the device have been identified. Optimization of the geometry of the holes in the separating area of the hydrocyclone is proposed in order to capture more particles of the required fraction (size 60 microns or less). The resulting modified hydrocyclone design based on HCC-360-10 has significant application potential in various industries, including ore dressing, cement, petroleum, chemical industry and energy. The use of such a design can lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption, increased productivity and improved product quality. A method for static calculation of the strength of the separation region of a modified hydrocyclone using the finite element method in a CAD/CAE system is presented.

New development of compact magnetic separator for on-site material screening in various geological survey

AbstractMagnetic separation has been recognized as a valuable technique for extracting or separating target materials from mixed heterogeneous particles. In conventional geological research, it has been used to separate ferro- and ferri-magnetic minerals such as Fe–Ni metal, magnetite and ilmenite. Recently, a mixture of diamagnetic and weak paramagnetic particles has been successfully separated into groups of different materials using a compact magnetic circuit; however, the resolution was not sufficiently high to analyze various heterogeneous particles studied in geological research. Here, we show that the resolution has remarkably improved by developing new magnetic separator. Accordingly, the separation efficiency of particles due to magnetic translation increased by a factor of ~ 2.5, and two different materials were definitely resolved when their variance of the magnetic susceptibility exceeded ~ 2 × 10−7 emu/g; previously, limit of the resolution was above 7 × 10–7 emu/g. We also established the orbit simulation program in magnetic and gravitational field, which accurately predicted the actual trajectory due to magnetic translation. The improved separation resolution of the new separator has significantly increased the range of solid materials that can be magnetically separated, and the range of applications has been considerably expanded to include the matrix of primitive meteorites, surface soils of solid planets and satellites, volcanic ash and sedimentary rocks. The newly developed device is compact and requires little electric power, allowing on-site material screening in various geological research.

Numerical simulation on gas-solid separation characteristics of in-situ pyrolysis products of tar-rich coal

ABSTRACT Tar-rich coal holds the potential to substitute the supply of oil-gas resources. The in-situ pyrolysis contributes to efficient resource utilization and can potentially achieve net-zero CO2 emissions. However, it is challenging to efficiently separate oil-gas resources, which are predominated by tar, from multiphase products of in-situ pyrolysis of tar-rich coal. Additionally, the difference in fluid properties yields significant influences on separation performance, while the understanding of the separation characteristics of high-viscosity fluid remains insufficient. In this study, the separation process of pyrolysis products from tar-rich coal was investigated using the computational fluid dynamics simulation approach. The flow field, pressure drop, separation efficiency and distribution characteristics were analyzed. The simulation results indicate that the volute cyclone separator exhibits commendable separation efficiency, exceeding 98%. Meanwhile, in handling tars containing a high concentration of light oil, the separator demonstrates remarkable adaptability. The separation efficiency of solid particles decreases from 89% to 83% when the system contains a high content of pitch. The particle diameter exerts great influence on the flow field. The separation efficiencies are 99% and 0.37%, respectively, when the particle sizes are selected as 0.1 mm and 0.001 mm. In the scope of this study, the optimal working conditions of the cyclone separator were determined, which provides data support for improving the separation efficiency and recovery rate of the oil-gas resources.

Numerical study on performance optimization and flow mechanism of a new cyclone separator

This study proposed a new cyclone separator, using a designed nozzle inside the traditional cyclone separator, which significantly improved the efficiency of separating fine particles while maintaining an essentially unchanged pressure drop. Firstly, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to compare the flow characteristics of the new cyclone separator with those of the traditional cyclone separator. On this basis, this study comprehensively investigated the pressure drop and separation efficiency of two separators under varying working conditions. The new separator achieved a separation efficiency for particles with a particle size of 1 μm that was approximately 45% higher than that of the traditional separator when the inlet velocity was 2–10 m/s. Besides, the pressure drop of the cyclone separator remained unchanged while the separation efficiency increased by 46% at an inlet flow rate of 2 m/s. The influence of the outlet area of the nozzle inside the new cyclone separator on the separation efficiency and pressure drop was analyzed, and the outlet area of the nozzle with the best overall performance was determined. It was found that the overall performance of the new cyclone separator is optimal when the nozzle outlet area is S/f = 2 cm. Finally, an energy-saving cyclone separator with high separation efficiency was developed through an in-depth study of the variation of particle motion configuration with time. It is worth noting that this study provides a guidance for the flow field analysis and geometry optimization of new gas-solid separators, not limited to cyclone separators.

Particulate filtration by cryogenic condensation using a high efficiency Stairmand cyclone separator

This paper describes the synergy of a high-efficiency Stairmand cyclonic separator and the phenomenon of condensation generated by the low temperatures of the mixture of liquid nitrogen and ethanol, to increase the separation efficiency on particles with diameters of 1 μm, 45 μm, 75 μm, 150 μm and 250 μm. The cyclone separator adds the phenomenon of condensation, generating a film of liquid water on its internal walls. The film of liquid water causes a loss of kinetic energy in the particles, reducing their speed and becoming stuck. Al2O3 particles and pozzolana rock particles are used to perform the particle separation experimental tests. A computational fluid dynamics analysis using the second order RSM model is incorporated to describe the fluid dynamic behavior of the particles within the separator cyclone. The results in computational fluid dynamics show the agglomeration of larger diameter particles near the internal walls. Using condensation as a phase change generated by cryogenic mixing results in an overall particle separation efficiency of 76.00 %, standing for an increment of 70.14 % in comparison to a conventional high-efficiency Stairmand separator cyclone.Technological innovation: Particles, filtration, separation, condensation, cryogenic.

Enhancing particle focusing: a comparative experimental study of modified square wave and square wave microchannels in lift and Dean vortex regimes

Serpentine microchannels are known for their effective particle focusing through Dean flow-induced rotational effects, which are used in compact designs for size-dependent focusing in medical diagnostics. This study explores square serpentine microchannels, a geometry that has recently gained prominence in inertial microfluidics, and presents a modification of square wave microchannels for improved particle separation and focusing. The proposed modification incorporates an additional U-shaped unit to convert the square wave microchannel into a non-axisymmetric structure, which enhances the Dean flow and consequently increases the Dean drag force. Extensive experiments were conducted covering a wide range of Reynolds numbers and particle sizes (2.45 µm to 12 µm). The particle concentration capability and streak position dynamics of the two structures were compared in detail. The results indicate that the modified square-wave microchannel exhibits efficient particle separation in the lower part of the Dean vortex-dominated regime. With increasing Reynolds number, the particles are successively focused into two streaks in the lift force-dominated regime and into a single streak in the Dean vortex-dominated regime, in this modified square wave geometry. These streaks have a low standard deviation around a mean value. In the Dean vortex-dominated regime, the location of the particle stream is highly dependent on the particle size, which allows good particle separation. Particle focusing occurs at lower Reynolds numbers in both the lift-dominated and lift/Dean drag-dominated regions than in the square wave microchannel. The innovative serpentine channel is particularly useful for the Dean drag-dominated regime and introduces a unique asymmetry that affects the particle focusing dynamics. The proposed device offers significant advantages in terms of efficiency, parallelization, footprint, and throughput over existing geometries.

Numerical simulation of gas-solid flow in a cyclone separator with additional inlet

In this study, an additional inlet was added to the gas-solid cyclone separator to enhance the separation efficiency. Four different heights were tested, including 0.95D, 1.4D, 1.5D, and 1.95D (D is the diameter of the cylindrical section). The investigation involved two inlet flow conditions: increasing and dividing the inlet flow rate. The finite volume method and Reynolds stress turbulence model were used to solve the averaged Navier–Stokes equations, whereas the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach and discrete phase model (DPM) were applied to track particles with a uniform diameter of 0.5–1.8 microns as the discrete phase. Owing to the low Stokes number and small and low-volume-fraction particles, a one-way coupling method was employed between air and the particles. The addition of an additional inlet reduced the static pressure in the center and downstream areas and increased the reverse flow velocity at the end of the cyclone. The installation of an additional inlet at 0.95D had the most positive effect on the separation efficiency, with an increase of 28.8% in the increasing flow rate case and 19.6% in the dividing flow rate case compared with the cyclone without an additional inlet. Furthermore, the increase in the separation efficiency of the submicron particles was greater than that of the larger particles in both flow distribution cases.

CFD structural design of an intake air louver for low pressure drop and high large particle separation efficiency

Due to the inadequate separation efficiency of current louver used in industrial, commercial, and residential buildings in separating large particle, leading to clogging of subsequent high-efficiency filters and increased fan energy consumption. Therefore, it is essential to increase separation efficiency of large particle for fresh air intake to reduce the burden on the filter. In this study, a novel louver has higher large particle separation efficiency with lower pressure drop was developed based on experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. The effect of different structural parameters (number, length and location of dustproof hooks) and inlet air velocity on separation efficiency and pressure drop was evaluated. Results showed that mentioned factors could pose important impacts on pressure drop and separation efficiency. With the increase of inlet air velocity from 2.3 m/s to 2.8 m/s, the separation efficiency of the louver was decreased from 80.3 % to 57.3 %, while the pressure drop of the louver was increased from 11.1 Pa to 13.9 Pa. In addition, when inlet air velocity was 2.8 m/s, compared with the commercial louver, the pressure drop of louver was reduced by 89.5 %, the large particle separation efficiency was increased by 158.6 %.

Flow resistance and particle separation efficiency of a rectangular-spoke rotating disk: Influence of spoke configuration and number

How to effectively separate oily particles before they enter exhaust ducts and thus reduce their accumulation has always been a challenge. This paper proposed a general rotating disk with three different spoke configurations, namely, straight spoke (SS), backward-curved spoke (BCS), forward-curved spoke (FCS), and compared their airflow characteristics and capture performance in a specified exhaust duct. Affected by the divergence effect, the BCS disk has the highest flow resistance (ΔP) and lowest separation efficiency, while the FCS disk has the lowest ΔP and highest efficiency due to the convergence effect. Subsequently, two refining methods were applied to the disks with the three spoke configurations to improve the particle separation efficiency. The FCS disk consistently maintains the highest separation efficiency (ηp), e.g., 0.83 and 0.70 for 5 μm particles at 3000 rpm under equal refining and gradient refining methods, respectively. When being refined equally, the quality factor (QF) of the FCS disk increases with the rotating speed, reaching 0.038 Pa−1 at 3000 rpm, almost equivalent to the initial QF of the fiber filter and spacer fabric, significantly higher than that of the SS disk (0.026 Pa−1) and the BCS disk (0.024 Pa−1). When gradient refining is used, however, the maximum QFs of SS, BCS, and FCS disks appear at 2200, 1800, and 2600 rpm, respectively, thus making the gradient refining method economical only at a lower rotating speed. Finally, on the base of the area under curve index and the straight linear cluster method, the applicability of disks with different spoke configurations in a residential kitchen, which is a typical scenario for collecting oily particles in civilian buildings, was evaluated. Gradient-refined SS disk, equal-refined FCS disk, and equal-refined SS disk can meet the requirements of maximum exhaust attenuation. The gradient-refined SS disk and equal-refined FCS disk have the highest quality, with ηp reaching 0.61 and 0.48, respectively. The findings can provide solid support for the design of rotating disks to separate oily particles, especially in residential kitchens.

Flow-Rate-Insensitive Plasma Extraction by the Stabilization and Acceleration of Secondary Flow in the Ultralow Aspect Ratio Spiral Channel.

Although microfluidic devices have made remarkable strides in blood cell separation, there is still a need for further development and improvement in this area. Herein, we present a novel ultralow aspect ratio (H/W = 1:36) spiral channel microfluidic device with ordered micro-obstacles for sheathless and flow-rate-insensitive blood cell separation. By introducing ordered micro-obstacles into the spiral microchannels, reduced magnitude fluctuations in secondary flow across different loops can be obtained through geometric confinement. As a result, the unique Dean-like secondary flow can effectively enhance the separation efficiency of particles in different sizes ranging from 3 to 15 μm. Compared to most existing microfluidic devices, our system offers several advantages of easy manufacturing, convenient operation, long-term stability, highly efficient performance (up to 99.70% rejection efficiency, including platelets), and most importantly, insensitivity to cell sizes as well as flow rates (allowing for efficient separation of different-sized blood cells in a wide flow rate from 1.00 to 2.50 mL/min). The unique characteristics, such as ultralow aspect ratio, sequential micro-obstacles, and controlled secondary flow, make our device a promising solution for practical plasma extraction in biomedical research and clinical applications.

Optimal Parameter Configuration of a Microfluidic Chip for High-Throughput, Label-Free Circulating Tumor Cell Separation and Enrichment Based on Inertial Focusing

To simply, quickly, and efficiently separate circulating tumor cells from blood has always been an enormous challenge. Leveraging the principle of inertial focusing, we here designed a simply structured microfluidic chip that maintained excellent CTC separation efficiency with high robustness and low velocity sensitivity across a broad velocity range. The parameter configuration of the chip was systematically examined, especially the most influential parameters such as the arc radius and arc angle. With optimal parameters, the designed chip achieved an outstanding particle separation efficiency of 99.8% and, more importantly, enabled the efficient separation and enrichment of CTCs in blood samples. This design can be readily integrated with other functional modules for further sample processing, serving as a promising tool for cancer diagnosis and therapeutics.

Study on motion characteristics of filamentous biomass particles in a cyclone separator

Cyclone separators are important equipment for biomass transportation and separation. At present, the separation mechanism of particles with special shapes is rarely explored. A mutable filamentous particle was established to simulate the separation process of biomass materials. Firstly, comparing the simulateded results with the experimental images. Further comparison of the simulation results with the experimental airflow tangential velocity to verify the calculation model. This study explores the separation characteristics and forces acting on filamentous biomass particles through computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and discrete element method (DEM). The distribution characteristics of airflow are also described in detail. The research results indicate that after 0.8 s, the filamentous biomass particles are separated stably in the cyclone separator and form a particle vortex line on the conical wall. The higher the inlet gas velocity, the lower the separation efficiency of filamentous biomass particles. The inlet gas velocity is 4.9 m/s, and the separation efficiency of filamentous biomass particles reaches 98.7%. The total force acting on the filamentous biomass particles gradually decreases after a sharply increase at 0.2 s, and it no longer changes after 0.5 s. The airflow vortex in a cyclone separator is composed of an internal vortex and an external vortex. The tangential velocity of the internal vortex varies approximately linearly. The internal vortex of the cyclone separator has a negative pressure area, which can lead to a decrease in the separation efficiency of filamentous biomass particles. These conclusions provide valuable theoretical guidance for the process and separation of biomass materials.

CFD elucidation of microscopic particles in a low-volumetric classifier towards effects of Stokes number and density ratio

Due to health concerns, a device that separates soot particles based on their size is commonly used to monitor the concentration of soot particles in ambient air. This numerical study aimed to observe particle flow characteristics in low-volumetric separators and assess their performance under recommended operating conditions. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique, specifically the Discrete Particle Model (DPM) approach, was utilized to analyze the behavior of particles and calculate their velocities. The investigation focused on small harmful particles with sizes of 1 µm, 10 µm, and 20 µm. Three volumetric flow rates close to the manufacturer's suggestion, 10 l/min, 15 l/min, and 20 l/min, were examined to evaluate particle separation efficiency in the low-volumetric impact separator. The study revealed that the operating flow rate and the Stokes numbers of the particles significantly impacted the particle behavior, vorticity strength, and the efficiency of particle classification within the separator. The residence time of particles inside the impact chamber was identified as an important factor for assessing separation performance, as it is crucial to monitor and control the key parameters to optimize the separation process. The investigation recommended a flow rate of 15 l/min for efficient impact separation of the particles (PM1, PM10, PM20). The current classifying percentage for particles smaller than PM10 was approximately 70%. Therefore, future work will investigate the effects of the impact chamber's internal configurations to enhance the separator's efficiency, where the modified structure could be explored and recommended.

Enrichment and separation of recombinant adeno-associated virus particles by aqueous two-phase extraction

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been widely employed as a popular gene therapy vector. However, current methods for its separation and purification exhibit numerous limitations. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG)/salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was utilized as an efficient and environmentally-benign approach to separate AAV. The separation efficiency of AAV particles from other cellular components was investigated using various ATPS compositions. The effects of PEG molecular weight, types of phase-forming salts, and concentrations of different components were tested and compared. The optimal separation conditions were determined to be 17 % (w/w) PEG 600, 16 % (w/w) sodium citrate, and 15 % (w/w) crude cell lysate. The AAV particles were predominantly enriched in the interphase, while the impurities were observed in the top and bottom phases. High AAV recovery (>99 %) and efficient impurity removal (>95 %) were achieved. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize and verify the separated AAV particles. The results indicated that aqueous two-phase extraction possesses a robust capability for the enrichment and separation of AAV particles directly from crude cell lysates, and it shows promising potential for the separation of other viral particles.

Effect of back pressure on gas-solid distribution characteristics of cyclone distributor applied in powdered coal-fired circulating fluidized bed combustion system

The cyclone distributor is an essential part of the powdered-coal-fired circulating fluidized bed (PC-CFB) combustion system, and its gas-solid distribution characteristics are significantly affected by the back pressure of the lower outlet. A four-way coupling method using a dense discrete phase model (DDPM) was adopted to simulate the cyclone distributor. The results indicate that the effect of the back pressure on the axial gas velocity is more pronounced compared to that on the tangential gas velocity. With the increase in the back pressure, the particle separation efficiency decreases monotonically, while the rate of change gradually increases. Meanwhile, the gas separation efficiency increases as the back pressure becomes higher. Furthermore, increasing back pressure improves the particle concentration at the outlets of the cyclone distributor. To maintain high particle separation efficiency and ensure the safe operation of the boiler, it is recommended to set the back pressure between 1000 Pa and 2000 Pa.

Particle Separation in a Microchannel with a T-Shaped Cross-Section Using Co-Flow of Newtonian and Viscoelastic Fluids.

In this study, we investigated the particle separation phenomenon in a microchannel with a T-shaped cross-section, a unique design detailed in our previous study. Utilizing a co-flow system within this T-shaped microchannel, we examined two types of flow configuration: one where a Newtonian fluid served as the inner fluid and a viscoelastic fluid as the outer fluid (Newtonian/viscoelastic), and another where both the inner and outer fluids were Newtonian fluids (Newtonian/Newtonian). We introduced a mixture of three differently sized particles into the microchannel through the outer fluid and observed that the co-flow of Newtonian/viscoelastic fluids effectively separated particles based on their size compared with Newtonian/Newtonian fluids. In this context, we evaluated and compared the particle separation efficiency, recovery rate, and enrichment factor across both co-flow configurations. The Newtonian/viscoelastic co-flow system demonstrated a superior efficiency and recovery ratio when compared with the Newtonian/Newtonian system. Additionally, we assessed the influence of the flow rate ratio between the inner and outer fluids on particle separation within each co-flow system. Our results indicated that increasing the flow rate ratio enhanced the separation efficiency, particularly in the Newtonian/viscoelastic co-flow configuration. Consequently, this study substantiates the potential of utilizing a Newtonian/viscoelastic co-flow system in a T-shaped straight microchannel for the simultaneous separation of three differently sized particles.