Effect of rib shapes on droplet generation in a T-junction microchannel

Abstract Microfluidic technology is attracting the attention from researchers and is currently applied in many fields such as biology, pharmaceuticals and chemistry. This technology is considered to have many advantages over traditional methods, including time saving, sample volume reduction and cost effectiveness. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of rib shapes on droplet generation process in a T-junction microchannel. By using a three-dimensional (3D) laminar model with the Volume Of Fluid (VOF) based on ANSYS FLUENT software, numerical models of T-junction with rib was proposed to predict fluid phenomena at the microscale. This study showed that the droplet size could be affected by the flow rate of continuous phase and flow rate of dispersed phase. In addition, the rib shapes in T-junction significantly impacted the droplet size, which helps to optimize the droplet generation. These small ribs of different shapes can be manufactured by using photolithography techniques. These results will therefore contribute significantly to the fabrication of high-precision microfluidic devices. The ability to control the droplet size in a T-junction through rib shapes not only improves the efficiency and reliability of microfluidic systems but also extends the potential for new significant applications in various scientific fields. In conclusion, this research not only highlights the advantages of this technology but also lays the foundation for further exploration of the optimization and performance enhancement of microfluidic devices. The insights gained from this study into the relationship between rib shapes and droplet generation were important contributions to the design and manufacturing of next-generation microfluidic devices.