Experimental study of flow rate ratio effects on plug flow hydrodynamics in a T-junction rectangular microchannel
摘要
The influence of the flow rate ratio on plug hydrodynamics is investigated experimentally in a rectangular T-junction microchannel under different conditions, where water plugs are dispersed in a silicone oil carrier phase. The study examines plug length, generation frequency, velocity, and shape. The results show that the resultant forces at the junction, characterised by the two-phase capillary number CaTP, predominantly govern all plug characteristics. Under constant CaTP, the plug length increases linearly with the flow rate ratio, while the generation frequency remains within the range of 41–55 Hz. Plug velocity is primarily controlled by the liquid film thickness, which varies with the flow rate ratio, whereas plug shape is only weakly influenced by this parameter. These findings enhance understanding of two-phase plug flow in microchannels and provide valuable insights for controlling plug flow regimes in microelectronic cooling applications.