Deformation of a compound droplet in a wavy constricted channel

Controlling and adjusting the size and shape of compound droplets is of increasing interest in manufacturing applications using microfluidic channels of complicated geometry. Using numerical simulation in the evolution of computer science with the ability to expand the scope of research and optimize costs is a current research trend. We here provide a numerical simulation analysis of the dynamics of a compound droplet travelling in a circular and sinusoidal-wave tube. The simulations were performed with variations of the Reynolds number, capillary number, droplet size, and channel geometry. It follows that the capillary number strongly impacts the dynamics of the droplet, and the alternation of breakup and finite deformation modes. The deformation increases and the droplet is stretched along the centerline of the channel as the Reynolds number increases. Increasing the length of the wavy region makes the droplet more deformed and enhance its breakup. Regime diagrams based on some of these parameters are also plotted.

Automated summary

This study provides a numerical simulation analysis of the dynamics of a compound droplet in circular and sinusoidal-wave tubes. It reveals that the capillary number strongly affects the droplet dynamics and the breakup modes. The droplet deformation increases and it is stretched along the centerline as the Reynolds number increases, while increasing the length of the wavy region enhances the deformation and breakup of the droplet. Regime diagrams based on some of these parameters are plotted as well.