Exercise Microfluidics 1: Effects and Phenomena SS 2016

Dr. Nils Paust, Prof. Roland Zengerle

Due: 14.07.2016 Name: ______________ Matrikel Nr: _____________

Exercise 9 (SS 2016): Scaling Laws

Exercise 1 (12P)
a) In centrifugal microfluidics among others the following forces have a prominent
role: Centrifugal force, Euler force, Coriolis force, Capillary pressure and viscous
dissipation. Given is the model system depicted in Figure 1 in which a quadratic
channel is continuously fed with water by a radially inward positioned reservoir.
The water can be transported through the channel by different forces. In a first
case, assume that the channel is almost empty at the beginning (t=0) and that the
only driving force is the capillary pressure of the liquid in the channel. I.e. at the
interface between reservoir and channel, the water has already wetted the
channel walls but not yet started to fill the channel. Use the Washburn-equation
to calculate the filling-time for the channel. The advancing contact angle between
water and channel-wall shall be 80. How long does it take till the channel is
completely filled? How long does it take if the channel is half filled at the beginning
(t=0) ? (3P) Use the channel dimensions given in Figure 1. Take into account that
the expressions for the fluidic resistance and capillary pressure of a rectangular
channel are different from the expressions for circular channel cross-sections.
b) Derive the dimensionless form of the equation for the flow speed in the channel
analogous to the lecture and determine the time-constant that characterizes the
filling speed. (3P)
c) Assume in a second case that the position of the outlet of the reservoir remains
constant but all other dimensions (length, width depth) of the channels are scaled
by a common factor F. Assume that the outlet is still attached to the outlet of the
channel after this channel scaling. How does the capillary pressure of the
meniscus inside the channel scale with F? (1P). Now assume that the channel is
completely filled with liquid and that the reservoir continuously provides liquid to
the channel while the system follows a series of rotation frequencies. Assume that
the pressure at the outlet of the reservoir corresponds to atmospheric pressure at
all times. How does the centrifugal pressure scale with F in leading order ? (1P).
How about the Euler pressure (1P), the viscous dissipation (1P) and the Coriolis
pressure? (2P)

Note: This exercise sheet comprises 12 points in total. To achieve full points, it is
required to show the whole calculation in a comprehensible manner. Exercises
are only accepted after the lecture (before the exercise class) with this sheet on
the front page including full name and Matrikel-Nr.. Subsequent pages have to
be firmly attached to the first page and have to be labelled with the Matrikel-Nr..
Responsible for this exercise is:
Ingmar Schwarz; Tel.: 0761/20373250, Room: 103-EG Anbau first office on the right
side after the glass door. E-Mail: Ingmar.Schwarz@hsg-imit.de
If you have any questions or problems, please feel free to contact me.

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