A Microfluidic Rectifier: Anisotropic Flow Resistance at Low Reynolds Numbers

Alex Groisman and Stephen R. Quake
Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 094501 – Published 4 March 2004

Abstract

It is one of the basic concepts of Newtonian fluid dynamics that at low Reynolds number (Re) the Navier-Stokes equation is linear and flows are reversible. In microfluidic devices, where Re is essentially always low, this implies that flow resistance in microchannels is isotropic. Here we present a microfluidic rectifier: a microscopic channel of a special shape whose flow resistance is strongly anisotropic, differing by up to a factor of 2 for opposite flow directions. Its nonlinear operation at arbitrary small Re is due to non-Newtonian elastic properties of the working fluid, which is a 0.01% aqueous solution of a high molecular weight polymer. The rectifier works as a dynamic valve and may find applications in microfluidic pumps and other integrated devices.

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  • Received 17 September 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.92.094501

©2004 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Alex Groisman* and Stephen R. Quake

  • Department of Applied Physics, California Institute of Technology, MS 128-95, Pasadena, California 91125, USA

  • *Current address: Department of Physics, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
  • To whom correspondence should be addressed. Electronic address: quake@caltech.edu

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Issue

Vol. 92, Iss. 9 — 5 March 2004

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