Effect of T-Shaped Micro-Channel Structure Dimension on Formation of Micro-Liquid-Columns Formed by Vertical-Shear-Flow

Effects of T-shaped micro-channel structure sizes on the formation of micro-liquid column formed by vertical-shear-flow were studied. The method of CFD based on VOF (Volume of Fluid) model was used in the computation. H2O and C5H3 were used as continuous-phase and as dispersed-phase. Interface-tracking method was used to get data of the two phases. The size parameters include crossing angle (∠β), width ratio of vertical channel and main channel (W2/W1), depth ratio of vertical channel and main channel (D2/D1), depth-width ratio of main channel (D1/W1). The above parameters affect the forming time of micro-liquid columns, the order of importance is D2/D1,∠β, D1/W1, W2/W1; And for the length, the order is∠β, D2/D1, D1/W1, W2/W1. For the shortest forming time, the optimized parameters of ∠β, D2/D1, D1/W1 and W2/W1 are 90°, 1.00, 1.00 and 1.60. To get the shortest micro-liquid columns, the optimized parameters of ∠β, D2/D1, D1/W1 and W2/W1 are 60°, 1.00, 1.00 and 1.60.