A Microfluidic Rectifier: Anisotropic Flow Resistance at Low Reynolds Numbers
- Creators
- Groisman, Alex
- Quake, Stephen R.
Abstract
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.
Additional Information
©2004 The American Physical Society (Received 17 September 2003; published 4 March 2004)Files
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 6870
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:GROprl04
- Created
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2006-12-30Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-08Created from EPrint's last_modified field