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http://dx.doi.org/10.5407/JKSV.2010.8.4.043

Droplet Bistability in Microchannel and its Application to Flow Control  

Lee, Beom-Joon (서울대학교 기계항공공학부)
Yoo, Jung-Yul (서울대학교 기계항공공학부)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization / v.8, no.4, 2010 , pp. 43-47 More about this Journal
Abstract
We demonstrate the droplet bistability in a microchannel which has two symmetric necks that operate as capillary valves. It is shown that there are certain flow conditions, determined by droplet velocity and droplet size, to achieve bistability. Droplet bistabililty allows simple but precise control of droplet at a bifurcation channel. Therefore, by an appropriate channel design to induce droplet bistability, we can distribute droplets at a junction passively in the manner of perfect alternation and perfect switching in the choice of the outlets.
Keywords
Droplet; Bistability; Microchannel;
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