Date of Award

8-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Legacy Department

Mechanical Engineering

Committee Chair/Advisor

Tallapragada, Phanindra

Committee Member

Ramasubramanian, Melur

Committee Member

Martinez-Duarte, Rodrigo

Abstract

Since the beginning of microfluidics, the ability to control motion of particles in microchannels has always been fascinating. Microfluidic techniques such as dielectrophoresis, magnetophoresis rely on externally applied fields to separate particles while others like hydrophoresis and deterministic lateral displacement depend on low Reynolds number operation for particle manipulation. One of these techniques is inertial focusing of particles in microchannels. The particles and channel interact to cause lateral migration of particles to equilibrium positions within channel cross-section in flow regime where inertia and viscosity of fluid are finite. Inertial focusing has wide range of applications in fields of chemical synthesis, biological analysis, multiphase flows, cell biology and many more. This thesis presents the study of inertial focusing of particles in spiral microchannels. Particle focusing in curved channel depends on number of parameters such as channel cross section, curvature of channel, size and shape of particles and flow parameters like channel Reynolds number. Effect of some of above mentioned parameters on inertial focusing of particles have been discussed in detail in this thesis. Effect of curvature of channel on inertial focusing in spiral channels has been studied. Microchannels with square and rectangular cross-section are considered in this study. Study of hydrodynamic focusing of particles in non-Newtonian fluid in curved channel is performed. The results are compared with those obtained for inertial focusing of particles in Newtonian fluids in spiral microchannel. The understanding of different factors influencing the particle behavior in spiral channels can be used to develop new and improved technologies in biomedical applications.

Included in

Engineering Commons

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