Microfluidic sensors have been very effective for rapid, portable bioanalysis, such as in determining the pH of a sample. By simultaneously detecting multiple chemicals, the overall measurement performance can be greatly improved. One such method involves a series of parallel microchannels, each of which measures one individual agent. For unbiased readings, the flow rate in each channel should be approximately the same. In addition, the system needs a compact volume which reduces both the wasted channel space and the overall device cost. To achieve these conditions, a manifold was designed using a tapered power law, based on a concept derived for electronics cooling systems. This manifold features a single feed passage of varying diameter, eliminating the excess volume from multiple branch steps. The design was simulated using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which demonstrated uniform flow performance within 2.5% standard deviation. The design was further examined with microparticle image velocimetry (PIV), and the experimental flow rates were also uniform with approximately 10% standard deviation. Hence, the tapered power law can provide a uniform flow distribution in a compact package, as is needed in both this microfluidic sensor and in electronics cooling applications.
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February 2013
Research-Article
Uniform Flow Control for a Multipassage Microfluidic Sensor
Stephen A. Solovitz,
Stephen A. Solovitz
1
Assistant Professor
e-mail: stevesol@vancouver.wsu.edu
e-mail: stevesol@vancouver.wsu.edu
1Corresponding author.
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Jie Xu
Jie Xu
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Washington State University
Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
,Vancouver, WA 98686
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Stephen A. Solovitz
Assistant Professor
e-mail: stevesol@vancouver.wsu.edu
e-mail: stevesol@vancouver.wsu.edu
Jiheng Zhao
Graduate Student
Wei Xue
Assistant Professor
Jie Xu
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Washington State University
Vancouver, 14204 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
,Vancouver, WA 98686
1Corresponding author.
Manuscript received April 13, 2012; final manuscript received November 26, 2012; published online March 19, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Kendra Sharp.
J. Fluids Eng. Feb 2013, 135(2): 021101 (8 pages)
Published Online: March 19, 2013
Article history
Received:
April 13, 2012
Revision Received:
November 26, 2012
Citation
Solovitz, S. A., Zhao, J., Xue, W., and Xu, J. (March 19, 2013). "Uniform Flow Control for a Multipassage Microfluidic Sensor." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. February 2013; 135(2): 021101. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023444
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