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Design of microfluidic channel networks with specified output flow rates using the CFD-based optimization method

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Abstract

We report an effective, easy-to-use, computational fluid dynamics-based optimization method for designing purely resistive microfluidic networks with desired flow rates at user-specified outlets. The detailed topology and shape of the microchannel networks are obtained by minimizing the fluidic resistance of channels under a fixed driving flow rate at the inlet. This proposed method allows flexibility in setting up the relative positions among the inlet and outlets so that the layout of channel networks can be compactly adjusted based on the specific design requirements.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51275504, 51405465, 51605124, 51675506), Science and Technology Development Plan of Jilin Province (No. 20140519007JH), Scientific Research Foundation of Hainan University (No. Kyqd1569).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, 570228, People’s Republic of China

    Teng Zhou

  2. Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130033, People’s Republic of China

    Teng Zhou, Tong Liu, Yongbo Deng, Limin Chen & Zhenyu Liu

  3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA

    Shizhi Qian

Authors
  1. Teng Zhou
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  2. Tong Liu
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  3. Yongbo Deng
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  4. Limin Chen
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  5. Shizhi Qian
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  6. Zhenyu Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhenyu Liu.

Additional information

This article is part of the topical collection “2016 International Conference of Microfluidics, Nanofluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip, Dalian, China” guest edited by Chun Yang, Carolyn Ren and Xiangchun Xuan.

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Zhou, T., Liu, T., Deng, Y. et al. Design of microfluidic channel networks with specified output flow rates using the CFD-based optimization method. Microfluid Nanofluid 21, 11 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-016-1842-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-016-1842-y

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