Taylor bubble flow distribution in multi cross-branched microchannels: a numerical investigation

Abstract: A two-dimensional numerical study has been carried out to investigate the phase distribution of Taylor bubble flow in multi cross-branched microchannels along with the bubble breakup behavior at two junctions. A new design is put forward which is composed of a flow-focusing inlet section for the formation of bubbles and two bubble breakup junctions composed of a cross-junction and a T-junction. Glycerine and Nitrogen gas were used as the continuous phase and dispersed phase, respectively for the study. The study was carried out for different geometrical parameters such as the width of branch channels (wB = 100 μm to 300 μm), the width of the second main channel (wS = 100 μm to 400 μm), and the angle of branch channels (θ = 60° to 120°). In the study of bubble breakup behavior, the progression of the bubble breakup phenomenon and the distribution of total pressure in the flow field is analyzed at both junctions. The results reveal that the breakup type that occurs at the cross-junction was always the same but at the T-junction, along with the same bubble breakup type two other types of the non-breakup phenomenon were observed under different cases. From this study, it was observed that the difference in phase distribution characteristics was significant with changes in geometries. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].