Multiphase flow and control of fluid path in microsystems

Miniaturized chemical-systems are expected to have advantages of handling, portability, cost, speed, reproducibility and safety. Control of fluid path in small channels between processes in a chemical/biological network is crucial for connecting process elements. We show complete separation of individual phases (phase routing) from two-phase gas-liquid and liquid-liquid (aqueous-organic) mixtures on microscale. To provide for robust interfacing of operations in a network, we demonstrate this ability over a wide range of two-phase flow conditions, including transient ones. Enabled by the technique for complete separation of individual phases from two-phase mixtures, we show mixing of liquids by introduction of a passive gas-phase and demonstrate integration of mixing, reaction and phase separation on a single platform. Additionally, we use the principles developed for phase routing to design microfluidic valves that do not rely on elastic deformation of material. Such valves can be used in a variety of chemical environments, where polymer-based deformable materials would fail.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Jhunjhunwala, Manish

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Klavs F. Jensen.

• Chemical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/37456

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/37456