Liquid-liquid two-phase flow patterns in ultra-shallow straight and serpentine microchannels

Abstract

Water-butanol and water-hexane flows were visualized in ultra-shallow straight and serpentine microchannels with a cross-junction. At the inlet cross-junction, three major flow patterns including tubing/threading, dripping and jetting were mapped using the aqueous Capillary number versus the organic Weber number. Correspondingly, in the main microchannel, annular flow, slug flow and droplet flow were mapped using combined dimensionless numbers (Weber number times Ohnesorge number) of both phases. The flow pattern transitions were explained based on a force analysis, considering the phase flow rates, junction angle between the side feeding channels and the central feeding channel as well as aspect ratios. Compared to the straight microchannel, the dripping regime at the inlet junction and the slug flow occupy larger zones in serpentine microchannels because the centrifugal force tends to break up the organic annular core into slugs and droplets over the bends.