• Journal of the Korean Society of Visualization
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.43-47
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• 2010

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.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2008.11b
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• pp.2696-2699
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• 2008

Microfluidic chips have been frequently utilized to perform biochemical analysis, like cell culture, because they reduce the consumptions of analytes and reagents and automate multi-step analysis processes. It is often critical to monitor temperature in a microchannel for the analyses in order to control a reaction condition of bio or chemical molecules. We propose a novel method to monitor temperature of a microchannel flow by using polydiacetylene (PDA), a conjugated polymer, that has a unique property to transform its color from visible blue to fluorescent red by thermal stress. We inject PDA sensor droplets generated by hydrodynamic instability into a microchannel with a microheater incorporated on the channel bottom. Also, we change the channel temperature by providing the different electric power to the microheater. The results show that the florescence intensity of PDA sensor droplets linearly increases in response to the flow temperature increase within a certain range.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1844-1852
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• 2001

Recent developments in microfluidic devices based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technique find many practical applications, which include electronic chip cooling devices, power MEMS devices, micro sensors, and bio-medical devices among others. For the design of such micro devices, flows characteristics inside a microchannel have to be clarified which exhibit somewhat different characteristics compared to conventional flows in a macrochannel. In the present study microchannels of various hydraulic diameters are fabricated on a silicon wafer to study the pressure drop characteristics. The effect of abrupt contraction and expansion is also studied. It is found from the results that the friction factor in a straight microchannel is about 15% higher than that in a conventional macrochannel, and the loss coefficients in abrupt expansion and contraction are about 10% higher than that obtained through conventional flow analysis.

• Journal of Advanced Marine Engineering and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.272-281
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• 2007

A numerical simulation on nitrogen gas flow in a long parallel plate microchannel was performed to obtain the effect of compressibility and rarefaction on gaseous flow in microchannels. The simulation was based on steady. two dimensional compressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations with noslip and first order slip boundary conditions. The channel was $1.2{\mu}m$ deep and $3000{\mu}m$ long. The Reynolds numbers were in the range of order from $10^{-2}$ to $10^{-1}$. So the flow was assumed to be laminar. The computations were performed on various pressure ratios. The outlet pressure was fixed to atmospheric pressure. The outlet Knudsen number was 0.0585, consequently the flow was in the slip flow regime. The computations were performed with the assumption of isothermal channel walls. The results were compared with the experimental data. The agreement was good.

• 한국가시화정보학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.12a
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• pp.107-110
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• 2005

In this study a newly designed and electro-osmotic micro-mixer is proposed. This design is comprised of a channel and metal electrodes attached in the local side wall surface, To investigate the flow patterns a numerical method is employed. To obtain the flow patterns numerical computation are performed by using a commercial code, CFD-ACE. The fluid-flow solutions are then cast into studying the characteristics of stirring with aid the Mixing index. Focus is given the effect on the electro osmotic flow characteristics under the curvature variation in the microchannel with the local of the electric field

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.12a
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• pp.107-114
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• 2003

The influence of property difference in refraction index on micro PIV measurement of two-fluid flow in a microchannel was analyzed. The difference of measurement planes in two fluids would bring misunderstanding of the physics. The objective-imaging system for two-fluid flow measurement was presented, and the condition for measurement of valid velocity profile across two-fluid interface was derived. A micro PIV experimental system was set up to measure two-fluid flow inside a Y-shape microchannel. Under the conditions, three cases of two-fluid flow of glycerol solutions at different concentration (${\phi}$), e.g., (${\phi}=0\;and\;{\phi}=0.2,\;{\phi}=0.1\;and\;{\phi}=0.5,\;{\phi}=0\;and\;{\phi}=0.6$, were measured. Close agreement of experimental and numerical results was found.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.08a
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• pp.179-183
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• 2006

Surface roughness is present in most of the microfluidic devices due to the microfabrication techniques. This paper presents lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) results for laminar flow in a microchannel with surface roughness. The surface roughness is modeled by an array of rectangular modules placed on top and bottom side of a parallel-plate channel. In this study, LBGK D2Q9 code in lattice Boltzmann Method is used to simulate flow field for low Reynolds number in a micro-channel. The effects of relative surface roughness, roughness distribution, roughness size and the results are presented in the form of the product of friction factor and Reynolds number. Finally, a significant increase in Poiseuille number is detected as the surface roughness is considered, while the effect of roughness on the microflow field depends on the surface roughness.

• Proceedings of the KSME Conference
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• 2007.05b
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• pp.2666-2671
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• 2007

This work presents microchannel heat sink shape optimization procedure using Kriging method. Design variables relating to microchannel width, depth and fin width are selected, and thermal resistance has been taken as objective function. Design points are selected through a three-level fractional factorial design of sampling method. Navier-Stokes and energy equations for laminar flow and conjugate heat transfer are solved at these design points using a finite volume solver. Solutions are carefully validated with experimental results. Using the numerically evaluated objective function, a surrogate model (Kriging) is constructed and optimum point is searched by sequential quadratic programming. The process of shape optimization greatly improves the thermal performance of microchannel heat sink under constant pumping power.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.733-740
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• 2007

Microchannel heat sink shape optimization is performed using Kriging method. Design variables relating to microchannel width, depth and fin width are selected, and thermal resistance has been taken as objective function. Design points are selected through a three-level fractional factorial design of sampling method. Navier-Stokes and energy equations for laminar flow and conjugate heat transfer are solved at these design points using a finite volume solver. Solutions are carefully validated with experimental results. Using the numerically evaluated objective function, a surrogate model (Kriging) is constructed and optimum point is searched by sequential quadratic programming. The process of shape optimization greatly improves the thermal performance of microchannel heat sink under constant pumping power.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.585-588
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• 2008

Thermal mixing phenomena in a Y-type microchannel were investigated using a micro-PIV. Two inlet reservoirs of the microchannel were controlled individually so that the characteristics of thermal mixing in the channel with temperature difference were compared with those without the difference. The velocity field in the mixing process was measured using the micro-PIV system that includes an ICCD (Intensified CCD) camera. The mixing area and uniformity were also analyzed. It is observed that the flow fluctuation in spanwise direction is induced by temperature difference, which enhances mixing process in microchannels.