Breakup of elongated droplets in microfluidic T-junctions

Cees Haringa, Conrad de Jong, Duong A. Hoang, Luis M. Portela, Chris R. Kleijn, Michiel T. Kreutzer, and Volkert van Steijn
Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 024203 – Published 28 February 2019

Abstract

We show experimentally, and explain theoretically, what velocity is needed to break an elongated droplet entering a microfluidic T-junction. Our experiments on short droplets confirm previous experimental and theoretical work that shows that the critical velocity for breakup scales with the inverse of the length of the droplet raised to the fifth power. For long elongated droplets that have a length about thrice the channel width, we reveal a drastically different scaling. Taking into account that a long droplet remains squeezed between the channel walls when it enters a T-junction, such that the gutters in the corners of the channel are the main route for the continuous phase to flow around the droplet, we developed a model that explains that the critical velocity for breakup is inversely proportional to the droplet length. This model for the transition between breaking and nonbreaking droplets is in excellent agreement with our experiments.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 15 October 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevFluids.4.024203

©2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Fluid Dynamics

Authors & Affiliations

Cees Haringa*, Conrad de Jong*, Duong A. Hoang, Luis M. Portela, Chris R. Kleijn, Michiel T. Kreutzer, and Volkert van Steijn

  • Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands

  • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
  • v.vansteijn@tudelft.nl

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 4, Iss. 2 — February 2019

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review Fluids

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×