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Convective and diffusive particle transport in channels of periodic cross-section: comparison with experiment

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Abstract

This paper compares the results of a theoretical model with published experimental data investigating the potential use of a drift ratchet as a particle transport device. The drift ratchet of interest here involves the oscillation of a particle-laden fluid through a periodically shaped tube, combined with an exploitation of the Brownian motion of the small particles. Our theoretical results support the experimental evidence that, at these scales, the ratchet effect is not the predominant mechanism for facilitating particle transport. Rather, the tube geometry (but not orientation) and the form of the applied oscillating pressure gradient are the primary characteristics which determine the effectiveness of a device for particle transport. In particular, we find that transport is enhanced in a saw-tooth tube in comparison with a straight, cylindrical tube.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (Grant Number DP1096282). We are grateful to the anonymous referees whose comments helped to improve this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Phenomics and Bioinformatics Research Centre, School of Information Technology and Mathematical Sciences, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    B. H. Bradshaw-Hajek, N. Islam, S. J. Miklavcic & L. R. White

  2. Mathematics Discipline, Science, Engineering and Technology School, Khulna University, Khulna, 9208, Bangladesh

    N. Islam

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  1. B. H. Bradshaw-Hajek
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  2. N. Islam
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  3. S. J. Miklavcic
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  4. L. R. White
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Correspondence to B. H. Bradshaw-Hajek.

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Bradshaw-Hajek, B.H., Islam, N., Miklavcic, S.J. et al. Convective and diffusive particle transport in channels of periodic cross-section: comparison with experiment. J Eng Math 111, 1–13 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10665-017-9950-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10665-017-9950-6

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