• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2014

Here, we demonstrated the optimum design of pillar microstructure for efficient microdroplet merging. The microfluidic device mainly consisted of programmable microvalves and pillar microstructures. Based on the system, aqueous droplets were continuously generated at T-junction using actuating of integrated programmable microvalaves under the immiscible continuous fluid (mineral oil containing 0.5 wt% Span 80). The principle of merging process depended on the competitive correlation of hydraulic pressure of continuous phase and Laplace pressure of the droplet. We found that the design of the micropillars controls above two pressures. Finally, it was demonstrated that the microfluidic system could be able to efficient biochemical reaction. We expect that the microfluidic system is useful analytical or reaction tools in fundamental science, biotechnology, and chemical engineering.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.224-229
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• 2004

The objective of this work is not only to perform feasibility studies on the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) analysis for the capillary system design but also to provide an enhanced understanding of the autonomous capillary flow. The capillary flow is evaluated by means of the commercial CFD software of FLUENT, which includes the VOF (volume-of-fluid) model for multiphase flow analysis. The effect of wall adhesion at fluid interfaces in contact with rigid boundaries is considered in terms of static contact angle. Feasibility studies are first performed, including mesh-resolution influence on pressure profile, which has a sudden increase at the liquid/gas interface. Then we perform both 2D and 3D simulations and examine the transient nature of the capillary flow. Analytical solutions are also derived for simple cases and compared with numerical results. Through this work, essential information on the capillary system design is brought out. Our efforts and initial success in numerical description of the microfluidic capillary flows enhance the fundamental understanding of the autonomous capillary flow and will eventually pave the road for full-scale, computer-aided design of microfluidic networks.

• Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.887-893
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• 2005

The aggregability of red blood cells (RBCs) was determined by laser backscattering light analysis in a microfluidic channel. Available techniques for RBC aggregation often adopt a rotational Couette-flow using a bob-and-cup system for disaggregating RBCs, which causes the system to be complex and expensive. A disposable microfluidic channel and vibration generating mechanism were used in the proposed new detection system for RBC aggregation. Prior to measurement, RBC aggregates in a blood sample were completely disaggregated by the application of vibration-induced shear. With the present apparatus, the aggregation indexes of RBCs can be measured easily with small quantities of a blood sample. The measurements with the present aggregometer were compared with those of LORCA and the results showed a strong correlation between them. The aggregability of the defibrinogenated blood RBCs is markedly lower than that of the normal RBCs. The noble feature of this design is the vibration-induced disaggregation mechanism, which can incorporate the disposable element that holds the blood sample.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.1097-1102
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• 2003

In this paper, we used only PR as etching mask, while it used usually Cr/AU as etching mask, and in order to fabricate a photosensor has the increased sensitivity, we investigated on the sensitivity of general type and p-i-n type diode. we designed microchannel size width max 10um, min 5um depth max 10um, reservoir size max 100um, min 2mm. Fabrication of microfluidic devices in glass substrate by glass wet etching methods and glass to glass fusion bonding. The p-i-n diode has higher sensitivity than photodiode, Considering these results, we fabricated p-i-n diodes on the high resistive(4㏀$.$cm) wafer into rectangle and finger pattern and compared internal resistance of each pattern. The internal resistance of pin diode can be decreased by the application of finger pattern has parallel resistance structure from 571Ω to 393Ω.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.12a
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• pp.44-52
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• 2001

A micro-PIV(particle image velocimetry) measurement has been conducted to investigate flow fields in such microfluidic devices as microchannels and micronozzle. The present study employs a state-of-art micro-PIV system which consists of epi-fluorescence microscope, 620nm diameter fluorescent seed particles and an 8-bit megapixel CCD camera. Velocity vector fields with a resolution of $6.8\;\times\;6.8{\mu}m$ has been obtained, and the attention has been paid on the effect of varying measurement conditions of particle diameter and particle concentration on the resulting PIV results. In this study, the microfluidic elements were fabricated on plastic chips by means of MEMS processes and a subsequent molding process. Flow fields in a variety of microchannels as well as micronozzle have been investigated.

• Journal of computational fluids engineering
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.86-92
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• 2009

Nowadays, the development of microfluidic chip [i.e. biochip, micro-total analysis system ($\mu$-TAS) and LOC (lab-on-a-chip)] becomes more active, and the microchannels to deliver fluid by pressure or electroosmotic forces tend to be more complex like electronic circuits or networks. For a simple network of channels, we may calculate the pressure and the flow rate easily by using suitable formula. However, for complex network it is not handy to obtain such information with that simple way. For this reason, Graphic User Interface (GUI) program which can rapidly give required information should be necessary for microchip designers. In this paper, we present a GUI program developed in our laboratory and the simple theoretical formula used in the program. We applied our program to simple case and could get results compared well with other numerical results. Further, we applied our program to several complex cases and obtained reasonable results.

• Clean Technology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2015

Digital microfluidic electroporation system was used for the transformation of microalgae and we have obtained higher transformation efficiency and viability than that of conventional method. Key parameters of electroporation such as pulse voltage, number, and duration time were systematically investigated for two different microalgal strains with and without cell wall. We have found that cell wall does not always have negative effects on the gene transformation of microalgae. Parallel processing of proposed digital microfluidic electroporation was demonstrated together with on chip culture of microalgae.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2024

The SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) method is a type of 3D printing technique predicated on the transformation of liquid photocurable resin into a solid form through UV laser exposure, and its application is increasing in various fields. In this study, we conducted research to enhance the hydrophobicity and transparency of SLA 3D printing surfaces for microfluidic system production. The enhancement of surface hydrophobicity in SLA outputs was attainable through the application of hydrophobic coating methods, but the coating durability under different conditions varied depending on the type of hydrophobic coating. Additionally, to simultaneously achieve the required transparency and hydrophobic properties for the fabrication of microfluidic systems, we applied hydrophobic coatings to the proposed transparency enhancement method from prior research and compared the changes in contact angles. Teflon coating was proposed as a suitable hydrophobic coating method for the fabrication of microfluidic systems, given its excellent transparency and high coating durability in various environmental conditions, in comparison to titanium dioxide coating. Finally, we produced an Electrophoresis of Charged Droplet (ECD) chip, one of the digital microfluidics systems, using SLA 3D printing with the proposed Teflon coating method (Fluoropel 800). Droplet manipulation was successfully demonstrated with the fabricated chip, confirming the potential application of SLA 3D printing technology in the production of microfluidic systems.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.579-586
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• 2010

With the development of micrototal analysis systems (${\mu}TAS$), which is a result of enhancement of MEMS technology, rapid progress has been achieved in medical and biological research. The study of lab-on-a-chip (LOC) devices, which are types of ${\mu}TAS$ and which integrate the functions of mixing and analyzing tiny amounts of samples and reagents on one chip, has actively progressed. An LOC comprises microfluidic components such as micromixers and micropumps. Because the flow in a microfluidic system is generally laminar, it is very difficult to efficiently mix and feed fluid reagents. This paper presents the design and the method of fabrication of an MHD micropump for mixing fluids. By using this micropump, fluids are simultaneously mixed and pumped; this is achieved by coupling the Lorentz force and force exerted by an electric charge moving in an electric field.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.736-736
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• 2003