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Péclet number (Pe) - Nishanth Saldanha: Difference between revisions
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Péclet number (Pe) - Nishanth Saldanha (view source)
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== Applications to Microfluidics == | == Applications to Microfluidics == | ||
[[Image:Tsensor.jpeg|150px|right|thumbnail|'''Figure 2''' Diffusion dominated mixing that occurs in a T-sensor makes it useful in florescence based analytical tests. The analyte (in blue) diffuses with the species in the channel as a function of the length of the middle channel.]] | [[Image:Tsensor.jpeg|150px|right|thumbnail|'''Figure 2''' Diffusion dominated mixing that occurs in a T-sensor makes it useful in florescence based analytical tests. The analyte (in blue) diffuses with the species in the channel as a function of the length of the middle channel. [5: http://faculty.washington.edu/yagerp/microfluidicstutorial/tsensor/tsensor.htm]] | ||
The low inertial forces present within many microfluidic setups, due to low velocity and length scales, often yield low Reynolds number flows <sup>[4]</sup>: low levels of turbulence can also be expected in these flow regimes. Thus convection is not prevalent in microfluidic setups, unless they are purposely induced. Most mixing that do occur in these devices occur due to diffusion [4]. Diffusion induced mixing is much slower than convective mixing, with mixing times in different order of magnitude. [4] | The low inertial forces present within many microfluidic setups, due to low velocity and length scales, often yield low Reynolds number flows <sup>[4]</sup>: low levels of turbulence can also be expected in these flow regimes. Thus convection is not prevalent in microfluidic setups, unless they are purposely induced. Most mixing that do occur in these devices occur due to diffusion [4]. Diffusion induced mixing is much slower than convective mixing, with mixing times in different order of magnitude. [4] | ||
In units where quick mixing is not desired, such as many analytical tests or separation systems, low Pe is ideal. T-sensors, as shown in figure 2, are an example of a class of analytical devices that benefit from low Pe. T-sensors are used in many competitive immunoassays, where antigen and antibody are input into the T-sensor. Given the known diffusion pattern that are expected, as shown in figure 1, any deviation from this pattern indicate antibody binding. T-sensors can also be used in simpler cases, such as to quantify the diffusivities of the analyte and reaction kinetics since the effects of turbulence are neutered [4]. Separation is also possible without the use of membranes in | In units where quick mixing is not desired, such as many analytical tests or separation systems, low Pe is ideal. T-sensors, as shown in figure 2, are an example of a class of analytical devices that benefit from low Pe. T-sensors are used in many competitive immunoassays, where antigen and antibody are input into the T-sensor. Given the known diffusion pattern that are expected, as shown in figure 1, any deviation from this pattern indicate antibody binding. T-sensors can also be used in simpler cases, such as to quantify the diffusivities of the analyte and reaction kinetics since the effects of turbulence are neutered [4]. Separation is also possible without the use of membranes in microfluidics, due to low Pe, as evidenced by the H filter, shown in figure 3 | ||
The molecules dissolved in the liquid also have an effect on Pe. Larger species (proteins for example) have lower diffusion constants than salt ions (by three orders of magnitude in um^2/s). These differences in diffusivities can be taken advantage of in separation systems, as shown by the H-filter by Squires and Quake. Essentially, species with lower diffusivities will not travel as far as species with higher diffusivities. Thus, separation can be achieved in a 'H' shaped channel, where a mixture will enter on the ends of the 'H' and a separation will occur such that the low mass specie will exit the bottom of the same side, while the lighter specie will traverse the middle section of the H onto the other side. Such a device can also help with buffer exchange or to separate non motile sperm from motile sperm, for example | The molecules dissolved in the liquid also have an effect on Pe. Larger species (proteins for example) have lower diffusion constants than salt ions (by three orders of magnitude in um^2/s). These differences in diffusivities can be taken advantage of in separation systems, as shown by the H-filter by Squires and Quake. Essentially, species with lower diffusivities will not travel as far as species with higher diffusivities. Thus, separation can be achieved in a 'H' shaped channel, where a mixture will enter on the ends of the 'H' and a separation will occur such that the low mass specie will exit the bottom of the same side, while the lighter specie will traverse the middle section of the H onto the other side. Such a device can also help with buffer exchange or to separate non motile sperm from motile sperm, for example | ||
