A microfluidic rectifier: Anisotropic flow resistance at low Reynolds numbers
A microfluidic rectifier: Anisotropic flow resistance at low Reynolds numbers
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DOI：
10.1103/physrevlett.92.094501
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发表时间：
2004-03-05
影响因子：
8.6
通讯作者：
Quake, SR
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Groisman, A;Quake, SR
牛顿流体动力学的基本概念之一是，在低雷诺数 (Re) 下，纳维-斯托克斯方程是线性的并且流动是可逆的。在微流体装置中，Re 基本上总是很低，这意味着微通道中的流动阻力是各向同性的。在这里，我们提出了一种微流体整流器：一种特殊形状的微观通道，其流阻具有强烈的各向异性，相对流向的差异高达 2 倍。其在任意小的 Re 下的非线性操作是由于工作流体的非牛顿弹性特性，该工作流体是高分子量聚合物的 0.01% 水溶液。该整流器作为动态阀工作，可以在微流体泵和其他集成设备中找到应用。
It is one of the basic concepts of Newtonian fluid dynamics that at low Reynolds number (Re) the Navier-Stokes equation is linear and flows are reversible. In microfluidic devices, where Re is essentially always low, this implies that flow resistance in microchannels is isotropic. Here we present a microfluidic rectifier: a microscopic channel of a special shape whose flow resistance is strongly anisotropic, differing by up to a factor of 2 for opposite flow directions. Its nonlinear operation at arbitrary small Re is due to non-Newtonian elastic properties of the working fluid, which is a 0.01% aqueous solution of a high molecular weight polymer. The rectifier works as a dynamic valve and may find applications in microfluidic pumps and other integrated devices.