Capturing of particles in suspension flow through a micro cross-shaped channel

Capturing of microscale particles through microfluidics has been a flourishing research area in chemical and biological engineering applications. This work follows our previous report (Zhang et al., AIChE J., vol. 66, 2019, e16822) by using micro plane laser-induced fluorescence (mu PLIF) and high-speed photography technology to study the flow of a diluted suspension of buoyant particles in a micro cross-shaped channel at 30=Re=350. Particular attention is paid to particle accumulation behaviors caused by vortex breakdown within the steady engulfment flow and vortex shedding flow. Three particle capture modes are identified in accumulation regions including the particle chain mode, the steady and unsteady particle cluster mode at 100=Re=300. Multiple stable equilibrium orbits formed by captured particles in accumulation regions are attributed to the axial force balance. In addition, perturbations in particle trajectories induced by the vortex shedding flow or particleparticle interactions contribute to the particle release.

Automated summary

This study investigates the behavior of microscale particles in a microchannel using microfluidic technology. The research reveals different particle accumulation behaviors, including particle chain mode and particle cluster mode, in steady engulfment flow and vortex shedding flow. Perturbations in particle trajectories induced by vortex shedding flow or particle-particle interactions contribute to particle release.