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Modelling double emulsion formation in planar flow-focusing microchannels

Wang, Ningning; Semprebon, Ciro; Liu, Haihu; Zhang, Chuhua; Kusumaatmaja, Halim

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Authors

Ningning Wang

Ciro Semprebon

Haihu Liu

Chuhua Zhang



Abstract

Double emulsion formation in a hierarchical flow-focusing channel is systematically investigated using a free-energy ternary lattice Boltzmann model. A three-dimensional formation regime diagram is constructed based on the capillary numbers of the inner ( ), middle ( ) and outer ( ) phase fluids. The results show that the formation diagram can be classified into periodic two-step region, periodic one-step region, and non-periodic region. By varying and in the two-step formation region, different morphologies are obtained, including the regular double emulsions, decussate regimes with one or two alternate empty droplets, and structures with multiple inner droplets contained in the continuous middle phase thread. Bidisperse behaviours are also frequently encountered in the two-step formation region. In the periodic one-step formation region, scaling laws are proposed for the double emulsion size and for the size ratio between the inner droplet and the overall double emulsion. Furthermore, we show that the interfacial tension ratio can greatly change the morphologies of the obtained emulsion droplets, and the channel geometry plays an important role in changing the formation regimes and the double emulsion sizes. In particular, narrowing the side inlets or the distance between the two side inlets promotes the conversion from the two-step formation regime to the one-step formation regime.

Citation

Wang, N., Semprebon, C., Liu, H., Zhang, C., & Kusumaatmaja, H. (2020). Modelling double emulsion formation in planar flow-focusing microchannels. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 895, Article A22. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2020.299

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 9, 2020
Online Publication Date May 20, 2020
Publication Date Jul 25, 2020
Deposit Date Apr 15, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Journal of Fluid Mechanics
Print ISSN 0022-1120
Electronic ISSN 1469-7645
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 895
Article Number A22
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2020.299
Related Public URLs http://arxiv.org/abs/1906.01034

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