Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation on pressure drop characteristic and mass transfer performance of gas–liquid flow in micro-channels

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Pressure drop characteristics and mass transfer performance of gas–liquid two-phase flow in micro-channels with different surface wettabilities were experimentally investigated. Side-entry T micro-channel mixers made of glass and polydimethylsiloxane were tested. Frictional pressure drop was found to decrease as the hydrophobicity of the channel surface increased. The flow patterns observed in the experiment were classified as slug flow and continuous gas phase flows. The modified Hagen–Poiseuille equation and Lockhart–Martinelli model were developed to predict the pressure drop for these two types of flow, respectively. The effect of surface wettability was heuristically incorporated in the present models which can correlate well the experimental results. Mass transfer performance was studied by the physical absorption of oxygen into de-ionized water. The results show that the volumetric mass transfer coefficients in hydrophobic micro-channels are generally higher than those in hydrophilic ones. The empirical correlations of overall volumetric mass transfer coefficients were proposed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

a :

Half width of the duct (m)

C :

Chisholm factor, dimensionless

Ca :

Capillary number in Eq. (4), dimensionless

Ca GL :

Capillary number based on liquid phase properties and sum of superficial gas and liquid phase, dimensionless

\( C_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }} \) :

Concentration of oxygen (mg/L)

\( C_{{{\text{O}}_{2} }}^{ * } \) :

Equilibrium concentration of dissolved oxygen (mg/L)

\( C_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{in}} \) :

Inlet concentration of dissolved oxygen (mg/L)

\( C_{{{\text{O}}_{ 2} }}^{\text{out}} \) :

Outlet concentration of dissolved oxygen (mg/L)

D H :

Hydraulic diameter defined by Eq. (2) (m)

d :

Depth of the micro-channel (m)

f :

Fanning friction factor, dimensionless

k L a :

Liquid side volumetric mass transfer coefficient (s−1)

L :

Length of the channel (m)

ΔP :

Total pressure drop (Pa)

ΔP a :

Acceleration pressure drop (Pa)

ΔP g :

Static pressure drop (Pa)

ΔP f :

Friction pressure drop (Pa)

Q :

Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)

R :

General dependent variable

Rs :

Channel resistance (Pa s/m3)

Re :

Reynolds number in Eq. (3), dimensionless

u :

Superficial velocity (m/s)

w :

Width of the micro-channel (m)

We :

Weber number in Eq. (5), dimensionless

X i :

General independent variable

x :

Gas mass flow rate to total mass flow rate in Eq. (13), dimensionless

α :

Void fraction of gas phase, dimensionless

β :

Duct aspect ratio (depth/width), dimensionless

γ :

Surface tension (N/m)

θ :

Contact angle of liquid phase on solid surface (°)

μ :

Viscosity (Pa s)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

τ :

Residence time (s)

C:

Continuous gas flow

G:

Gas phase

GL:

Gas–liquid interface

GS:

Gas–solid interface

L:

Liquid phase

LS:

Liquid–solid interface

S:

Slug flow

TP:

Gas–liquid two phase

References

  • Aubin J, Ferrando M, Jiricny V (2010) Current methods for characterising mixing and flow in microchannels. Chem Eng Sci 65:2065–2093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barajas AM, Panton RL (1993) The effects of contact angle on two-phase flow in capillary tubes. Int J Multiph Flow 19:337–346

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Beattie DRH, Whalley PB (1982) A simple two-phase flow frictional pressure drop calculation method. Int J Multiph Flow 8:83–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bretherton FP (1961) The motion of long bubbles in tubes. J Fluid Mech 10:166–168

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Chasanis P, Lautenschleger A, Kenig EY (2010) Numerical investigation of carbon dioxide absorption in a falling-film micro-contactor. Chem Eng Sci 65:1125–1133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen IY, Yang K-S, Wang C-C (2002) An empirical correlation for two-phase frictional performance in small diameter tubes. Int J Heat Mass Transf 45:3667–3671

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng J, Zhang Y, Pi PH, Lu LS, Tang Y (2011) Effect of gradient wetting surface on liquid flow in rectangular microchannels driven by capillary force and gravity: an analytical study. Int Commun Heat Mass Transf 38:1340–1343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm D (1967) A theoretical basis for the Lockhart–Martinelli correlation for two-phase flow. Int J Heat Mass Transf 10:1767–1778

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cho J-H, Law BM, Rieutord F (2004) Dipole-dependent slip of Newtonian liquids at smooth solid hydrophobic surfaces. Phys Rev Lett 92:166102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi C-H, Westin KJA, Breuer KS (2003) Apparent slip flows in hydrophilic and hydrophobic microchannels. Phys Fluids 15:2897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churaev NV (1995) Contact angles and surface forces. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 58:87–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commenge J-M, Saber M, Falk L (2011) Methodology for multi-scale design of isothermal laminar flow networks. Chem Eng J 173:541–551

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dangla R, Lee S, Baroud CN (2011) Trapping microfluidic drops in wells of surface energy. Phys Rev Lett 107:124501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dukler AE, Wicks M III, Cleveland RG (1964) Frictional pressure drop in two-phase flow: B. An approach through similarity analysis. AIChE J 10:44–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hibara A, Iwayama S, Matsuoka S, Ueno M, Kikutani Y, Tokeshi M, Kitamori T (2005) Surface modification method of microchannels for gas–liquid two-phase flow in microchips. Anal Chem 77:943–947

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huh D, Kuo C-H, Grotberg JB, Takayama S (2009) Gas–liquid two-phase flow patterns in rectangular polymeric microchannels: effect of surface wetting properties. New J Phys 11:075034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kashid MN, Renken A, Kiwi-Minsker L (2011) Gas–liquid and liquid–liquid mass transfer in microstructured reactors. Chem Eng Sci 66:3876–3897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kawahara A, Chung PM-Y, Kawaji M (2002) Investigation of two-phase flow pattern, void fraction and pressure drop in a microchannel. Int J Multiph Flow 28:1411–1435

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Kreutzer MT, Kapteijn F, Moulijn JA, Kleijn CR, Heiszwolf JJ (2005) Inertial and interfacial effects on pressure drop of Taylor flow in capillaries. AIChE J 51:2428–2440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee HJ, Lee SY (2001) Pressure drop correlations for two-phase flow within horizontal rectangular channels with small heights. Int J Multiph Flow 27:783–796

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Lee CY, Lee SY (2008a) Pressure drop of two-phase plug flow in round mini-channels: influence of surface wettability. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 32:1716–1722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee CY, Lee SY (2008b) Influence of surface wettability on transition of two-phase flow pattern in round mini-channels. Int J Multiph Flow 34:706–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li HW, Zhou YL, Sun B, Yang Y (2010) Multi-scale chaotic analysis of the characteristics of gas–liquid two-phase flow patterns. Chin J Chem Eng 18(5):880–888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin S, Kwok CCK, Li R-Y, Chen Z-H, Chen Z-Y (1991) Local frictional pressure drop during vaporization for R-12 through capillary tubes. Int J Multiph Flow 17:95–102

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Liu DS, Wang SD (2008) Flow pattern and pressure drop of upward two-phase flow in vertical capillaries. Ind Eng Chem Res 47:243–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockhart RW, Martinelli RC (1949) Proposed correlation of data for isothermal two-phase, two-component flow in pipes. Chem Eng Prog 45:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma YG, Ji XY, Wang DJ (2011) Measurement and correlation of pressure drop for gas–liquid two-phase flow in rectangular microchannels. Chin J Chem Eng 18(6):940–947

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishima K, Hibiki T (1996) Some characteristics of air–water two-phase flow in small diameter vertical tubes. Int J Multiph Flow 22:703–712

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Moffat RJ (1988) Describing the uncertainties in experimental results. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 1:3–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morris CJ, Forster FK (2004) Oscillatory flow in microchannels: comparison of exact and approximate impedance models with experiments. Exp Fluids 36:928–937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nghe P, Terriac E, Schneider M, Li ZZ, Cloitre M, Abecassis B, Tabeling P (2011) Microfluidics and complex fluids. Lab Chip 11:788–794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Niu HN, Pan LW, Su HJ, Wang SD (2009) Flow pattern, pressure drop, and mass transfer in a gas–liquid concurrent two-phase flow microchannel reactor. Ind Eng Chem Res 48:1621–1628

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owen WL (1961) Two-phase pressure gradient. Int Dev Heat Transf Pt II. ASME, New York

  • Pehlivan K, Hassan I, Vaillancourt M (2006) Experimental study on two-phase flow and pressure drop in millimeter-size channels. Appl Therm Eng 26:1506–1514

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pohorecki R (2007) Effectiveness of interfacial area for mass transfer in two-phase flow in microreactors. Chem Eng Sci 62:6495–6498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roudet M, Loubiere K, Gourdon C, Cabassud M (2011) Hydrodynamic and mass transfer in inertial gas–liquid flow regimes through straight and meandering millimetric square channels. Chem Eng Sci 66:2974–2990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao N, Gavriilidis A, Angeli P (2010) Mass transfer during Taylor flow in microchannels with and without chemical reaction. Chem Eng J 160:873–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sobieszuk P, Pohorecki R (2010) Gas-side mass transfer coefficients in a falling film microreactor. Chem Eng Process 49:820–824

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su HJ, Niu HN, Pan LW, Wang SD, Wang AJ, Hu YK (2010) The characteristics of pressure drop in microchannels. Ind Eng Chem Res 49:3830–3839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tan J, Lu YC, Xu JH, Luo GS (2012) Mass transfer performance of gas–liquid segmented flow in microchannels. Chem Eng J 181–182:229–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tostado CP, Xu JH, Luo GS (2011) The effects of hydrophilic surfactant concentration and flow ratio on dynamic wetting in a T-junction microfluidic device. Chem Eng J 171:1340–1347

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tretheway D, Meinhart C (2002) Apparent fluid slip flows at hydrophobic microchannel walls. Phys Fluids 14:L9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Triplett KA, Ghiaasiaan SM, Abdel-Khalik SI, LeMouel A, McCord BN (1999) Gas–liquid two-phase flow in microchannels. Part II: void fraction and pressure drop. Int J Multiph Flow 25:395–410

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Ungar EK, Cornwell JD (1992) Two-phase pressure drop of ammonia in small diameter horizontal tubes. AIAA 17th Aerospace Ground Testing Conference. Nashville, TN, July 6–8

  • van Baten JM, Krishna R (2004) CFD simulations of mass transfer from Taylor bubbles rising in circular capillaries. Chem Eng Sci 65:2535–2545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Yong YM, Fan P, Yu GZ, Yang C, Mao Z-S (2012) Flow regime transition for concurrent gas–liquid flow in micro-channels. Chem Eng Sci 69:578–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warnier MJF, de Croon MHJM, Rebrov EV, Schouten JC (2010) Pressure drop of gas–liquid Taylor flow in round micro-capillaries for low to intermediate Reynolds numbers. Microfluid Nanofluid 8:33–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitesides GM (2011) What comes next? Lab Chip 11:191–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamada T, Hong C, Greroty OJ (2011) Experimental investigations of liquid flow in rib-patterned microchannel with different surface wettability. Microfluid Nanofluid 11:45–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue J, Chen GW, Yuan Q (2004) Pressure drops of single and two-phase flows through T-type microchannel mixers. Chem Eng J 102:11–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue J, Chen GW, Yuan Q, Luo LA, Gonthier Y (2007) Hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics in gas–liquid flow through a rectangular microchannel. Chem Eng Sci 62:2096–2108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yue J, Boichot R, Luo LA, Gonthier Y, Chen GW, Yuan Q (2010) Flow distribution and mass transfer in a parallel microchannel contactor integrated with constructal distributors. AIChE J 56:298–317

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao C-X, Middelberg APJ (2011) Two-phase microfluidic flows. Chem Eng Sci 66:1394–1411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao YC, Su YH, Chen GW, Yuan Q (2010) Effect of surface properties on the flow characteristics and mass transfer performance in microchannels. Chem Eng Sci 65:1563–1570

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial supports from 973 Program (2009CB623406), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20990224, 21206166), the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (21025627), 863 Project (2012AA03A606) and CAS Program for Cross & Cooperative Team of the Science & Technology Innovation are gratefully acknowledged. The authors thank Professor Xiaolong Yin at Colorado School of Mines for his useful discussions on this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Xi Wang, Yumei Yong, Chao Yang, Zai-Sha Mao & Dandan Li

Authors
  1. Xi Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yumei Yong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chao Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zai-Sha Mao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Dandan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chao Yang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wang, X., Yong, Y., Yang, C. et al. Investigation on pressure drop characteristic and mass transfer performance of gas–liquid flow in micro-channels. Microfluid Nanofluid 16, 413–423 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-013-1226-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-013-1226-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation