Zeng J., Korsmeyer T.
Coventor, Inc., US
Keywords: droplet, inkjet, liquid disintegration, reduced-order modeling, simulation
Liquid disintegration includes the processes of formation of droplets and droplet fission. It is important in inkjet printing and in the miniaturization of biochemical analytical devices. This paper reports on an investigation of the mechanism of liquid disintegration via numerical simulation. The paper points out that the process is inherently multi-directional; droplet formation occurs only when the effect of the centripetal flow overcomes that of the axial flow. A reduced-order model for droplet pinch-off, based on this insight, is derived and validated by simulations. Reduced-order models for droplet production have been derived previously from a phenomenological approach. This study shows the inherent limitation of this approach compared to that presented here, based on tracing the evolution of the multi-directional momentums.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2004 NSTI Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: March 7, 2004
Pages: 259 - 262
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 0-9728422-7-6