Droplet generation in a microchannel with a controllable deformable wall

Optimizing pressure-driven pulsatile flows in microfluidic devices

“…Generally, during experiments in microfluidic devices made of PDMS, the channel walls can be deformed considerably depending on the channel dimensions, the PDMS mixture, and the applied pressure drop. [40][41][42][43] To evaluate the deformation of the channel during velocity measurements, we determine the width of a channel with a square cross-section of roughly 10 × 10 μm 2 at various positions along the flow direction, and in range of 0 ≤ p ≤ 1000 mbar.…”

Technological Development – Droplet as a Tool

“…In this way, the droplet generation can be regulated. These valves can be either off-chip 38,39 or integrated into the device design 40,41 . Off-chip valves directly affect the dispersed phase pressure by pulsating valves using a series of on-off signals, while the continuous phases are separately droplet size and frequency can be adjusted.…”

Damping hydrodynamic fluctuations in microfluidic systems

“…One of the most common rationales for using droplet-based systems is the ability to form monodisperse droplets. To understand the governing physics, earlier studies on droplet monodispersity focused on controlling the parameters that contribute to droplet size such as surfactant, wettability, flow rate ratio, interfacial tension, viscosity ratio, microchannel geometry and capillary number (Garstecki et al, 2006;Glawdel et al, 2012aGlawdel et al, , 2012bLee et al, 2009;Raj et al, 2016;van Steijn et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2015;Xu et al, 2008Xu et al, , 2006aXu et al, , 2006b. More recently, the contribution of flow sources to droplet formation dynamics has also been studied (Zeng et al, 2015a).…”