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Vortex generation in a microfluidic chamber with actuations

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Abstract

Due to low Reynolds number flow, it is always challenging to generate vortex in a microfluidic structure. This paper presents an experimental study on vortex generation under a fluid flow in a resonator-shaped microfluidic chamber incorporated with PZT actuations. The vortex development is visualized by tracing fluorescent dye in the flow and characterized under various experimental conditions, including the actuation voltage, actuation frequency and flowrate. It is demonstrated that given an actuation frequency and flowrate, large scale vortices can be generated inside the microfluidic chamber and fully controlled by the actuation voltage. A frequency window is identified, in which the vortex generation is possible.

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Acknowledgments

This project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Singapore. Xiaopeng Shang gratefully acknowledges the research scholarship from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Republic of Singapore

    X. P. Shang, X. G. Cui, X. Y. Huang & C. Yang

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  1. X. P. Shang
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  2. X. G. Cui
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  3. X. Y. Huang
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  4. C. Yang
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Correspondence to X. Y. Huang.

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Shang, X.P., Cui, X.G., Huang, X.Y. et al. Vortex generation in a microfluidic chamber with actuations. Exp Fluids 55, 1758 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-014-1758-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00348-014-1758-9

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