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Bubble dynamics in microchannels. I. Single microchannel.

Author(s) : LEE P. C., TSENG F. G., PAN C.

Type of article: Article

Summary

This article experimentally explores bubble dynamics in a single trapezoid microchannel with a hydraulic diameter of 41.3 µm. The fabrication process of the microchannel employs a silicon bulk micromachining and anodic bounding process. Bubble nucleation, growth, departure size, and frequency are observed using a high speed digital camera and analyzed by the Image-Pro. The results of the study indicate that bubble nucleation in the microchannel may be predicted from the classical model with microsized cavities and the bubble typically grows with a constant rate from 0.13 to 7.08 µm/ms. Some cases demonstrate an extraordinarily high growth rate from 72.8 to 95.2 µm/ms. The size of bubble departure from the microchannel wall is found to be governed by surface tension and drag of bulk flow and may be fairly correlated by a modified form of Levy equation. The bubble frequency in the microchannel is comparable to that in an ordinary sized channel. The traditional form of frequency-departure-diameter relationship seems to be inexistent in the microchannel of this study (see also this bulletin, reference 2005-1143).

Details

  • Original title: Bubble dynamics in microchannels. I. Single microchannel.
  • Record ID : 2005-1142
  • Languages: English
  • Source: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer - vol. 47 - n. 25
  • Publication date: 2004/12

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