Abstract
Passive pumping using gravity-driven flow is a fascinating approach for microfluidic systems. When designing a passive pumping system, generated flow rates should be known precisely. While reported models used to estimate the flow rates do not usually consider capillary forces, this paper shows that their exclusion is unrealistic in typical gravity-driven systems. Therefore, we propose a new analytical model to estimate the generated flow rates. An extensive set of measurements is used to verify that the proposed model provides a remarkably more precise approximation of the real flow rates compared to the previous models. It is suggested that the developed model should be used when designing a gravity-driven pumping system.
Translated title of the contribution | Modeling and Experimental Characterization of Pressure Drop in Gravity-Driven Microfluidic Systems |
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Original language | English |
Article number | 021105 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-8 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Fluids Engineering: Transactions of the ASME |
Volume | 137 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 8 Oct 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2015 |
Publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- analytical
- gravity-driven
- microfluidic
- modeling
- passive pump
Publication forum classification
- Publication forum level 1
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Control and Systems Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering