Numerical analysis of controlled droplet formation surrounded by shear-thinning fluid in a co-flow microfluidic device

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Hauptverfasser: Jammula, Manohar, Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2025
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author Jammula, Manohar
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
author_facet Jammula, Manohar
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
contents In this work, we used a coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) computational method for studying the generation of microdroplets in a two dimensional circular co-flow microfluidic device. The fundamental understanding of shear thinning behavior on controlled droplet formation in a microchannel is systematically investigated. Droplet generation and dynamics are controlled by altering the operating conditions and fluid properties, such as CMC solution concentration, both fluids flow rates, and interfacial tension. The droplet length, velocity, liquid film thickness, and formation frequency are quantitatively analyzed and presented in a non-dimensional form. The droplet length decreased with the flow rate and concentration of the CMC solution. However, the length of the droplet increased with dispersed phase flow rate and interfacial tension. From the set of simulation data, the flow regime maps and scaling relations are developed over a range of operating conditions. This work provides critical insights into the uniform and controlled droplet formation in shear-thinning fluids within a circular co flow microchannel, offering guidance for future innovations in the design and optimization of microfluidic systems for specific applications.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_11917
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Numerical analysis of controlled droplet formation surrounded by shear-thinning fluid in a co-flow microfluidic device
Jammula, Manohar
Sontti, Somasekhara Goud
Fluid Dynamics
In this work, we used a coupled level set and volume of fluid (CLSVOF) computational method for studying the generation of microdroplets in a two dimensional circular co-flow microfluidic device. The fundamental understanding of shear thinning behavior on controlled droplet formation in a microchannel is systematically investigated. Droplet generation and dynamics are controlled by altering the operating conditions and fluid properties, such as CMC solution concentration, both fluids flow rates, and interfacial tension. The droplet length, velocity, liquid film thickness, and formation frequency are quantitatively analyzed and presented in a non-dimensional form. The droplet length decreased with the flow rate and concentration of the CMC solution. However, the length of the droplet increased with dispersed phase flow rate and interfacial tension. From the set of simulation data, the flow regime maps and scaling relations are developed over a range of operating conditions. This work provides critical insights into the uniform and controlled droplet formation in shear-thinning fluids within a circular co flow microchannel, offering guidance for future innovations in the design and optimization of microfluidic systems for specific applications.
title Numerical analysis of controlled droplet formation surrounded by shear-thinning fluid in a co-flow microfluidic device
topic Fluid Dynamics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.11917