A review on design parameters of micro-fluidic system

Abstract

The area of micro fluidic system is a significant sub-component of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Many of these MEMS applications will require components of dynamic fluids, either of Newtonian or non-Newtonian characteristics to be pumped into micro-ducts. At such small scales this is a rather gigantic challenge. Some of the early reviews on micro-channel analysis, at the very basics liken micro-channel design (device design) to a macro channel design e.g. piping design. Reasonably, conventional fluid mechanic laws govern these design analysis; laws which are often violated in the micro-environment. This paper appraises the approximation of micro-fluid engineering to macro-fluid engineering and key parameters which contradict to conventional fluid laws. Subsequently this paper also discusses the role of micro-fluid analysis in design; specifically in bio- MEMS applications.