Asymmetric Breakup of a Single Droplet through a Y-Junction Microchannel
with Non-Uniform Flow Rate
Abstract
In this paper, the asymmetric breakup dynamics of an isolated water
droplet through a Y-junction microchannel with non-uniform outlet flow
rates are numerically investigated under a wide range of capillary
number (0.01 < Ca < 0.3), outlet flow ratio (1
< λ < 11), and initial droplet volume (0.7
< V* < 4.0). Four distinct breakup regimes, namely,
Obstructed-Obstructed breakup, Obstructed-Tunnel breakup, Tunnel-Tunnel
breakup, and Non-breakup, were recognized. The effects of the important
parameters on the breakup characteristics are quantitatively determined,
and the correlations are fitted to predict the breakup threshold. As per
the results, the evolution of neck thickness is significantly influenced
by the outlet flow-rate ratio and capillary number but is less dependent
on the initial droplet volume. A series of correlations are proposed
under various Ca and V* values to describe the variation in the volume
ratio of daughter droplets based on the exponential law.