Size-selective separation of micro beads by utilizing secondary flow in a curved rectangular microchannel.
This paper presents a microscale benefit of a secondary flow obtained in a curved rectangular microchannel, which is generally unfavorable and negligible in conventional fluid flow. We have demonstrated the separation and sorting of micro beads by their size using secondary flow. The physical mechanism occurring in the size-selective separation was explained based on the numerical analysis of the characteristic velocity distribution on the cross-sectional plane normal to the main flow stream. The dynamic trajectories of micro beads of different sizes and materials are visualized and compared for the experimental demonstration. We also discuss the effects of both the shape uniformity of the micro beads and the inlet condition on the size-selective separation.
Yoon
Dong Hyun
DH
School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Geumjeong-Gu, Busan 609-735, South Korea.
Ha
Jin Bong
JB
Bahk
Yoen Kyung
YK
Arakawa
Takahiro
T
Shoji
Shuichi
S
Go
Jeung Sang
JS