Tracking rare-isotope beams with microchannel plates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rogers, A. M.; Sanetullaev, A.; Lynch, W. G.

A system of two microchannel-plate detectors has been successfully implemented for tracking projectile-fragmentation beams. The detectors provide interaction positions, angles, and arrival Limes of ions at the reaction target. Furthermore, the current design is an adaptation of an assembly used for low-energy beams (~1.4 MeV/nucleon). In order to improve resolution in tracking high-energy heavy-ion beams, the magnetic field strength between the secondary-electron accelerating foil and the microchannel plate had to be increased substantially. Results from an experiment using a 37-MeV/nucleon 56Ni beam show that the tracking system can achieve sub-nanosecond timing resolution and a position resolution of ~1 mm formore » beam intensities up to 5 x 10 5 pps.« less

Application of atomic layer deposited microchannel plates to imaging photodetectors with high time resolution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Siegmund, O. H. W.; McPhate, J. B.; Tremsin, A. S.

Novel microchannel plates have been constructed using borosilicate glass micro-capillary array substrates with 20 mu m and 10 mu m pores and coated with resistive, and secondary electron emissive, layers by atomic layer deposition. Microchannel plates in 33 mm, 50 mm and 20 cm square formats have been made and tested. Although their amplification, imaging, and timing properties are comparable to standard glass microchannel plates, the background rates and lifetime characteristics are considerably improved. Sealed tube detectors based on the Planacon tube, and a 25 mm cross delay line readout tube with a GaN(Mg) opaque photocathode deposited on borosilicate microchannelmore » plates have been fabricated. Considerable progress has also been made with 20 cm microchannel plates for a 20 cm format sealed tube sensor with strip-line readout that is being developed for Cherenkov light detection.« less

Atomic layer deposition of alternative glass microchannel plates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

O'Mahony, Aileen, E-mail: aom@incomusa.com; Craven, Christopher A.; Minot, Michael J.

The technique of atomic layer deposition (ALD) has enabled the development of alternative glass microchannel plates (MCPs) with independently tunable resistive and emissive layers, resulting in excellent thickness uniformity across the large area (20 × 20 cm), high aspect ratio (60:1 L/d) glass substrates. Furthermore, the use of ALD to deposit functional layers allows the optimal substrate material to be selected, such as borosilicate glass, which has many benefits compared to the lead-oxide glass used in conventional MCPs, including increased stability and lifetime, low background noise, mechanical robustness, and larger area (at present up to 400 cm{sup 2}). Resistively stable, high gain MCPs are demonstratedmore » due to the deposition of uniform ALD resistive and emissive layers on alternative glass microcapillary substrates. The MCP performance characteristics reported include increased stability and lifetime, low background noise (0.04 events cm{sup −2} s{sup −1}), and low gain variation (±5%)« less

Modeling of a microchannel plate working in pulsed mode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Secroun, Aurelia; Mens, Alain; Segre, Jacques; Assous, Franck; Piault, Emmanuel; Rebuffie, Jean-Claude

1997-05-01

MicroChannel Plates (MCPs) are used in high speed cinematography systems such as MCP framing cameras and streak camera readouts. In order to know the dynamic range or the signal to noise ratio that are available in these devices, a good knowledge of the performances of the MCP is essential. The point of interest of our simulation is the working mode of the microchannel plate--that is light pulsed mode--, in which the signal level is relatively high and its duration can be shorter than the time needed to replenish the wall of the channel, when other papers mainly studied night vision applications with weak continuous and nearly single electron input signal. Also our method allows the simulation of saturation phenomena due to the large number of electrons involved, whereas the discrete models previously used for simulating pulsed mode might not be properly adapted. Here are presented the choices made in modeling the microchannel, more specifically as for the physics laws, the secondary emission parameters and the 3D- geometry. In a last part first results are shown.

Investigation of large format microchannel plate Z configurations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, O. H. W.; Coburn, K.; Malina, R. F.

1985-01-01

The performance of triplet (Z) stacks of microchannel plates (MCPs) has been studied as a part of the instrument development for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite mission. Relatively large MCPs with a 60-mm diameter and having a large 80:1 channel length to diameter (L:D) ratio were used in several configurations. The MCPs were used in the EUVE prototype imaging detector to provide more than 512 x 512 pixels with low image distortion (less than 1 percent). The gain and pulse height characteristics of the MCPs were examined, showing that both high gains (more than 2 x 10 to the 7th) and tight output pulse height distributions (less than 30 percent FWHM) may be achieved. Simple distribution techniques have also allowed low intrinsic background event rates (less than 0.15 events per sq cm/s) to be obtained. Variation of the quantum efficiency of the MCPs over the wavelength range 160-1216 A has been investigated for a range of angles of incidence. The effect of temperature variations on MCP operating characteristics has also been evaluated.

Experimental Setup and Commissioning of a Test Facility for Gain Evaluation of Microchannel-Plate Photomultipliers in High Magnetic Field at Jefferson Lab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bringley, Eric; Cao, Tongtong; Ilieva, Yordonka; Nadel-Turonski, Pawel; Park, Kijun; Zorn, Carl

2014-09-01

At the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) a research and development project for a Detector of Internally-Reflected Cherenkov light for the upcoming Electron Ion Collider is underway. One goal is the development of a compact readout camera that can operate in high magnetic fields. Small-size photon sensors, such as Microchannel-Plate Photomultipliers (MCP-PMT), are key components of the readout. Here we present our work to set up and commission a dedicated test facility at JLab where MCP-PMT gain is evaluated in magnetic fields of up to 5 T, and to develop a test procedure and analysis software to determine the gain. We operate the setup in a single-photon mode, where a light-emitting diode delivers photons to the sensor's photocathode. The PMT spectrum is measured with a flash Analog-to-Digital converter (fADC). We model the spectrum as a sum of an exponential background and a convolution of Poisson and Gaussian distributions of the pedestal and multiple photoelectron peaks, respectively. We determine the PMT's gain from the position of the single-photoelectron peak obtained by fitting the fADC spectrum to the model. Our gain uncertainty is <10%. The facility is now established and will have a long-lasting value for sensor tests and beyond-nuclear-physics applications.

Development and test of photon-counting microchannel plate detector arrays for use on space telescopes

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.

1976-01-01

The full sensitivity, dynamic range, and photometric stability of microchannel array plates(MCP) are incorporated into a photon-counting detection system for space operations. Components of the system include feedback-free MCP's for high gain and saturated output pulse-height distribution with a stable response; multi-anode readout arrays mounted in proximity focus with the output face of the MCP; and multi-layer ceramic headers to provide electrical interface between the anode array in a sealed detector tube and the associated electronics.

Optimizing the position resolution of a Z-stack microchannel plate resistive anode detector for low intensity signals

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wiggins, B. B.; Richardson, E.; Siwal, D.

A method for achieving good position resolution of low-intensity electron signals using a microchannel plate resistive anode detector is demonstrated. Electron events at a rate of 7 counts s{sup −1} are detected using a Z-stack microchannel plate. The dependence of position resolution on both the distance and the potential difference between the microchannel plate and resistive anode is investigated. Using standard commercial electronics, a measured position resolution of 170 μm (FWHM) is obtained, which corresponds to an intrinsic resolution of 157 μm (FWHM)

Batch production of microchannel plate photo-multipliers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Frisch, Henry J.; Wetstein, Matthew; Elagin, Andrey

In-situ methods for the batch fabrication of flat-panel micro-channel plate (MCP) photomultiplier tube (PMT) detectors (MCP-PMTs), without transporting either the window or the detector assembly inside a vacuum vessel are provided. The method allows for the synthesis of a reflection-mode photocathode on the entrance to the pores of a first MCP or the synthesis of a transmission-mode photocathode on the vacuum side of a photodetector entrance window.

Pilot Production of Large Area Microchannel Plates and Picosecond Photodetectors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Minot, M.; Adams, B.; Abiles, M.; Bond, J.; Craven, C.; Cremer, T.; Foley, M.; Lyashenko, A.; Popecki, M.; Stochaj, M.; Worstell, W.; Elam, J.; Mane, A.; Siegmund, O.; Ertley, C.

2016-09-01

Pilot production performance is reported for large area atomic layer deposition (ALD) coated microchannel plates (ALD-GCA-MCPs) and for Large Area Picosecond Photodetectors (LAPPD™) which incorporate them. "Hollowcore" glass capillary array (GCA) substrates are coated with ALD resistive and emissive layers to form the ALDGCA- MCPs, an approach that facilitates independent selection of glass substrates that are mechanically stronger and that have lower levels of radioactive alkali elements compared to conventional MCP lead glass, reducing background noise[1,2,3,4]. ALD-GCA-MCPs have competitive gain ( 104 each or 107 for a chevron pair ), enhanced lifetime and gain stability (7 C cm-2 of charge extraction), reduced background levels (0.028 events cm-2 sec-1) and low gamma-ray detection efficiency. They can be fabricated in large area (20cm X 20 cm) planar and curved formats suitable for use in high radiation environment applications, including astronomy, space instrumentation, and remote night time sensing. The LAPPD™ photodetector incorporates these ALD-GCA-MCPs in an all-glass hermetic package with top and bottom plates and sidewalls made of borosilicate float glass. Signals are generated by a bi-alkali Na2KSb photocathode, amplified with a stacked chevron pair of ALD-GCA-MCPs. Signals are collected on RF strip-line anodes integrated into to the bottom plates which exit the detector via pin-free hermetic seals under the side walls [5]. Tests show that LAPPDTMs have electron gains greater than 107, submillimeter spatial resolution for large (multiphoton) pulses and several mm for single photons, time resolution less than 50 picoseconds for single photons, predicted resolution less than 5 picoseconds for large pulses, high stability versus charge extraction[6], and good uniformity for applications including astrophysics, neutron detection, high energy physics Cherenkov light detection, and quantum-optical photon-correlation experiments.

The parameterization of microchannel-plate-based detection systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gershman, Daniel J.; Gliese, Ulrik; Dorelli, John C.; Avanov, Levon A.; Barrie, Alexander C.; Chornay, Dennis J.; MacDonald, Elizabeth A.; Holland, Matthew P.; Giles, Barbara L.; Pollock, Craig J.

2016-10-01

The most common instrument for low-energy plasmas consists of a top-hat electrostatic analyzer (ESA) geometry coupled with a microchannel-plate-based (MCP-based) detection system. While the electrostatic optics for such sensors are readily simulated and parameterized during the laboratory calibration process, the detection system is often less well characterized. Here we develop a comprehensive mathematical description of particle detection systems. As a function of instrument azimuthal angle, we parameterize (1) particle scattering within the ESA and at the surface of the MCP, (2) the probability distribution of MCP gain for an incident particle, (3) electron charge cloud spreading between the MCP and anode board, and (4) capacitive coupling between adjacent discrete anodes. Using the Dual Electron Spectrometers on the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission as an example, we demonstrate a method for extracting these fundamental detection system parameters from laboratory calibration. We further show that parameters that will evolve in flight, namely, MCP gain, can be determined through application of this model to specifically tailored in-flight calibration activities. This methodology provides a robust characterization of sensor suite performance throughout mission lifetime. The model developed in this work is not only applicable to existing sensors but also can be used as an analytical design tool for future particle instrumentation.

Second generation large area microchannel plate flat panel phototubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ertley, C. D.; Siegmund, O. H. W.; Jelinsky, S. R.; Tedesco, J.; Minot, M. J.; O'Mahony, A.; Craven, C. A.; Popecki, M.; Lyashenko, A. V.; Foley, M. R.

2016-07-01

Very large (20 cm × 20 cm) flat panel phototubes are being developed which employ novel microchannel plates (MCPs). The MCPs are manufactured using borosilicate microcapillary arrays which are functionalized by the application of resistive and secondary emissive layers using atomic layer deposition (ALD). This allows the operational parameters to be set by tailoring sequential ALD deposition processes. The borosilicate substrates are robust, including the ability to be produced in large formats (20 cm square). ALD MCPs have performance characteristics (gain, pulse amplitude distributions, and imaging) that are equivalent or better than conventional MCPs. They have low intrinsic background (0.045 events cm-2 sec-1)., high open area ratios (74% for the latest generation of borosilicate substrates), and stable gain during >7 C cm-2 charge extraction after preconditioning (vacuum bake and burn-in). The tube assemblies use a pair of 20 cm × 20 cm ALD MCPs comprised of a borosilicate entrance window, a proximity focused bialkali photocathode, and a strip-line readout anode. The second generation design employs an all glass body with a hot indium seal and a transfer photocathode. We have achieved >20% quantum efficiency and good gain uniformity over the 400 cm2 field of view, spatial resolution of <1 cm and obtained event timing accuracy of close to 100 ps FWHM.

High resolution, two-dimensional imaging, microchannel plate detector for use on a sounding rocket experiment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bush, Brett C.; Cotton, Daniel M.; Siegmund, Oswald H.; Chakrabarti, Supriya; Harris, Walter; Clarke, John

1991-01-01

We discuss a high resolution microchannel plate (MCP) imaging detector to be used in measurements of Doppler-shifted hydrogen Lyman-alpha line emission from Jupiter and the interplanetary medium. The detector is housed in a vacuum-tight stainless steel cylinder (to provide shielding from magnetic fields) with a MgF2 window. Operating at nominal voltage, the four plate configuration provides a gain of 1.2 x 10 exp 7 electrons per incident photon. The wedge-and-strip anode has two-dimensional imaging capabilities, with a resolution of 40 microns FWHM over a one centimeter diameter area. The detector has a high quantum efficiency while retaining a low background rate. A KBr photocathode is used to enhance the quantum efficiency of the bare MCPs to a value of 35 percent at Lyman-alpha.

Image intensifier gain uniformity improvements in sealed tubes by selective scrubbing

DOEpatents

Thomas, S.W.

1995-04-18

The gain uniformity of sealed microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPIs) is improved by selectively scrubbing the high gain sections with a controlled bright light source. Using the premise that ions returning to the cathode from the microchannel plate (MCP) damage the cathode and reduce its sensitivity, a HeNe laser beam light source is raster scanned across the cathode of a microchannel plate image intensifier (MCPI) tube. Cathode current is monitored and when it exceeds a preset threshold, the sweep rate is decreased 1000 times, giving 1000 times the exposure to cathode areas with sensitivity greater than the threshold. The threshold is set at the cathode current corresponding to the lowest sensitivity in the active cathode area so that sensitivity of the entire cathode is reduced to this level. This process reduces tube gain by between 10% and 30% in the high gain areas while gain reduction in low gain areas is negligible. 4 figs.

Image intensifier gain uniformity improvements in sealed tubes by selective scrubbing

DOEpatents

Thomas, Stanley W.

1995-01-01

The gain uniformity of sealed microchannel plate image intensifiers (MCPIs) is improved by selectively scrubbing the high gain sections with a controlled bright light source. Using the premise that ions returning to the cathode from the microchannel plate (MCP) damage the cathode and reduce its sensitivity, a HeNe laser beam light source is raster scanned across the cathode of a microchannel plate image intensifier (MCPI) tube. Cathode current is monitored and when it exceeds a preset threshold, the sweep rate is decreased 1000 times, giving 1000 times the exposure to cathode areas with sensitivity greater than the threshold. The threshold is set at the cathode current corresponding to the lowest sensitivity in the active cathode area so that sensitivity of the entire cathode is reduced to this level. This process reduces tube gain by between 10% and 30% in the high gain areas while gain reduction in low gain areas is negligible.

Effects of 1-MeV gamma radiation on a multi-anode microchannel array detector tube

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Bybee, R. L.

1979-01-01

A multianode microchannel array (MAMA) detector tube without a photocathode was exposed to a total dose of 1,000,000 rads of 1-MeV gamma radiation from a Co-60 source. The high-voltage characteristic of the microchannel array plate, average dark count, gain, and resolution of pulse height distribution characteristics showed no degradation after this total dose. In fact, the degassing of the microchannels induced by the high radiation flux had the effect of cleaning up the array plate and improving its characteristics.

Analogue saturation limit of single and double 10 mm microchannel plate photomultiplier tubes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Milnes, J. S., E-mail: james.milnes@photek.co.uk; Conneely, T. M.; Horsfield, C. J.

Photek are a well-established supplier of microchannel plate (MCP) photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) to the inertial confinement fusion community. The analogue signals produced at the major inertial confinement fusion facilities cover many orders of magnitude, therefore understanding the upper saturation limit of MCP-PMTs to large low rate signals takes on a high importance. Here we present a study of a single and a double MCP-PMT with 10 mm diameter active area. The saturation was studied for a range of optical pulse widths from 4 ns to 100 ns and at a range of electron gain values: 10{sup 3} to 10{sup 4}more » for the single and 10{sup 4} to 10{sup 6} for the double. We have shown that the saturation level of ∼1.2 nC depends only on the integrated charge of the pulse and is independent of pulse width and gain over this range, but that the level of charge available in deep saturation is proportional to the operating gain.« less

Microchannel plate EUV detectors for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, O. H. W.; Malina, R. F.; Coburn, K.; Werthimer, D.

1984-01-01

The design and operating characteristics of the prototype imaging microchannel plate (MCP) detector for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Satellite are discussed. It is shown that this detector has achieved high position resolution performance (greater than 512 x 512 pixels) and has low (less than one percent) image distortion. In addition, the channel plate scheme used has tight pulse height distributions (less than 40 percent FWHM) for UV radiation and displays low (less than 0.2 cnt/sq cm-s) dark background counting rates. Work that has been done on EUV filters in relation to the envisaged filter and photocathode complement is also described.

Designing a chevron unit for a microelectronic position-sensitive detector with two microchannel plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kosulya, A. V.; Verbitskii, V. G.

2017-09-01

The dependence of the transverse section of an electron beam on the distance between plates and on the accelerating potential difference is determined for a chevron unit of a microelectronic position-sensitive detector (MPSD) with two microchannel plates. The geometry of the MPSD chevron unit is designed and optimized.

Novel fabrication method of microchannel plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yi, Whikun; Jeong, Taewon; Jin, Sunghwan; Yu, SeGi; Lee, Jeonghee; Kim, J. M.

2000-11-01

We have developed a novel microchannel plate (MCP) by introducing new materials and process technologies. The key features of our MCP are summarized as follows: (i) bulk alumina as a substrate, (ii) the channel location defined by a programmed-hole puncher, (iii) thin film deposition by electroless plating and/or sol-gel process, and (iv) an easy fabrication process suitable for mass production and a large-sized MCP. The characteristics of the resulting MCP have been evaluated with a high input current source such as a continuous electron beam from an electron gun and Spindt-type field emitters to obtain information on electron multiplication. In the case of a 0.28 μA incident beam, the output current enhances ˜170 times, which is equal to 1% of the total bias current of the MCP at a given bias voltage of 2600 V. When we insert a MCP between the cathode and the anode of a field emission display panel, the brightness of luminescent light increases 3-4 times by multiplying the emitted electrons through pore arrays of a MCP.

Development of fast-timing microchannel plate photomultiplier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Junqi

2017-09-01

Planar microchannel plate photomultipliers (MCP-PMTs) with bialkali photocathodes are able to achieve single photon detection with excellent time (picosecond) and spatial (millimeter) resolution. They have recently drawn great interests in experiments requiring time of flight (TOF) measurement and/or Cherenkov imaging. The Argonne MCP-PMT detector group has recently designed and fabricated 6 cm × 6 cm MCP-PMTs. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) method is used to grow resistive and secondary emission layers to functionalize the glass capillary array. Initial characterization indicates that these MCP-PMTs exhibits a transit-time spread of 57 psec at single photoelectron detection mode and of 27 psec at multi photoelectron mode ( 100 photoelectrons). The MCP-PMTs were also tested at Fermilab test beam facility for its particle detection performance and rate capability, showing high rate capability up to 75 kHz/cm2 , higher than the requirement for future electron-ion collider (EIC) experiment. A recent magnetic field test at ANL g-2 magnetic facility shows that the gain of MCP-PMT does not degrade until 0.75 Tesla, comparable to the current commercially available MCP-PMTs. Further improvement of its magnetic field performance is currently under developing by reducing the MCP pore size and spacing between inside components. The progress on the MCP-PMT development at ANL will be presented and discussed in the presentation.

System and method for optically locating microchannel positions

DOEpatents

Brewer, Laurence R.; Kimbrough, Joseph; Balch, Joseph; Davidson, J. Courtney

2001-01-01

A system and method is disclosed for optically locating a microchannel position. A laser source generates a primary laser beam which is directed at a microchannel plate. The microchannel plates include microchannels at various locations. A back-reflectance beam detector receives a back-reflected beam from the plate. The back-reflected beam is generated when the primary beam reflects off of the plate. A photodiode circuit generates a trigger signal when the back-reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating a presence of the microchannel. The method of the present invention includes the steps of generating a primary beam, directing the primary beam to a plate containing a microchannel, receiving from the plate a back-reflected beam generated in response to the primary beam, and generating a trigger signal when the back-reflected beam exceeds a predetermined threshold which corresponds to a presence of the microchannel.

Oscillatory electroosmotic flow in a parallel-plate microchannel under asymmetric zeta potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peralta, M.; Arcos, J.; Méndez, F.; Bautista, O.

2017-06-01

In this work, we conduct a theoretical analysis of the start-up of an oscillatory electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a parallel-plate microchannel under asymmetric zeta potentials. It is found that the transient evolution of the flow field is controlled by the parameters {R}ω , {R}\\zeta , and \\bar{κ }, which represent the dimensionless frequency, the ratio of the zeta potentials of the microchannel walls, and the electrokinetic parameter, which is defined as the ratio of the microchannel height to the Debye length. The analysis is performed for both low and high zeta potentials; in the former case, an analytical solution is derived, whereas in the latter, a numerical solution is obtained. These solutions provide the fundamental characteristics of the oscillatory EOFs for which, with suitable adjustment of the zeta potential and the dimensionless frequency, the velocity profiles of the fluid flow exhibit symmetric or asymmetric shapes.

Microchannel plate detector and methods for their fabrication

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elam, Jeffrey W.; Mane, Anil U.; Peng, Qing

A multi-component tunable resistive coating and methods of depositing the coating on the surfaces of a microchannel plate (MCP) detector. The resistive coating composed of a plurality of alternating layers of a metal oxide resistive component layer and a conductive component layer composed of at least one of a metal, a metal nitride and a metal sulfide. The coating may further include an emissive layer configured to produce a secondary electron emission in response to a particle interacting with the MCP and a neutron-absorbing layer configured to respond to a neutron interacting with the MCP.

The development and test of ultra-large-format multi-anode microchannel array detector systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.

1984-01-01

The specific tasks that were accomplished with each of the key elements of the multi-anode microchannel array detector system are described. The modes of operation of position-sensitive electronic readout systems for use with high-gain microchannel plates are described and their performance characteristics compared and contrasted. Multi-anode microchannel array detector systems with formats as large as 256 x 1024 pixels are currently under evaluation. Preliminary performance data for sealed ultraviolet and visible-light detector tubes show that the detector systems have unique characteristics which make them complementary to photoconductive array detectors, such as CCDs, and superior to alternative pulse-counting detector systems employing high-gain MCPs.

Hybrid slab-microchannel gel electrophoresis system

DOEpatents

Balch, Joseph W.; Carrano, Anthony V.; Davidson, James C.; Koo, Jackson C.

1998-01-01

A hybrid slab-microchannel gel electrophoresis system. The hybrid system permits the fabrication of isolated microchannels for biomolecule separations without imposing the constraint of a totally sealed system. The hybrid system is reusable and ultimately much simpler and less costly to manufacture than a closed channel plate system. The hybrid system incorporates a microslab portion of the separation medium above the microchannels, thus at least substantially reducing the possibility of non-uniform field distribution and breakdown due to uncontrollable leakage. A microslab of the sieving matrix is built into the system by using plastic spacer materials and is used to uniformly couple the top plate with the bottom microchannel plate.

Position and time resolution measurements with a microchannel plate image intensifier: A comparison of monolithic and pixelated CeBr3 scintillators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ackermann, Ulrich; Eschbaumer, Stephan; Bergmaier, Andreas; Egger, Werner; Sperr, Peter; Greubel, Christoph; Löwe, Benjamin; Schotanus, Paul; Dollinger, Günther

2016-07-01

To perform Four Dimensional Age Momentum Correlation measurements in the near future, where one obtains the positron lifetime in coincidence with the three dimensional momentum of the electron annihilating with the positron, we have investigated the time and position resolution of two CeBr3 scintillators (monolithic and an array of pixels) using a Photek IPD340/Q/BI/RS microchannel plate image intensifier. The microchannel plate image intensifier has an active diameter of 40 mm and a stack of two microchannel plates in chevron configuration. The monolithic CeBr3 scintillator was cylindrically shaped with a diameter of 40 mm and a height of 5 mm. The pixelated scintillator array covered the whole active area of the microchannel plate image intensifier and the shape of each pixel was 2.5·2.5·8 mm3 with a pixel pitch of 3.3 mm. For the monolithic setup the measured mean single time resolution was 330 ps (FWHM) at a gamma energy of 511 keV. No significant dependence on the position was detected. The position resolution at the center of the monolithic scintillator was about 2.5 mm (FWHM) at a gamma energy of 662 keV. The single time resolution of the pixelated crystal setup reached 320 ps (FWHM) in the region of the center of the active area of the microchannel plate image intensifier. The position resolution was limited by the cross-section of the pixels. The gamma energy for the pixel setup measurements was 511 keV.

Microchannel plate cross-talk mitigation for spatial autocorrelation measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lipka, Michał; Parniak, Michał; Wasilewski, Wojciech

2018-05-01

Microchannel plates (MCP) are the basis for many spatially resolved single-particle detectors such as ICCD or I-sCMOS cameras employing image intensifiers (II), MCPs with delay-line anodes for the detection of cold gas particles or Cherenkov radiation detectors. However, the spatial characterization provided by an MCP is severely limited by cross-talk between its microchannels, rendering MCP and II ill-suited for autocorrelation measurements. Here, we present a cross-talk subtraction method experimentally exemplified for an I-sCMOS based measurement of pseudo-thermal light second-order intensity autocorrelation function at the single-photon level. The method merely requires a dark counts measurement for calibration. A reference cross-correlation measurement certifies the cross-talk subtraction. While remaining universal for MCP applications, the presented cross-talk subtraction, in particular, simplifies quantum optical setups. With the possibility of autocorrelation measurements, the signal needs no longer to be divided into two camera regions for a cross-correlation measurement, reducing the experimental setup complexity and increasing at least twofold the simultaneously employable camera sensor region.

Hybrid slab-microchannel gel electrophoresis system

DOEpatents

Balch, J.W.; Carrano, A.V.; Davidson, J.C.; Koo, J.C.

1998-05-05

A hybrid slab-microchannel gel electrophoresis system is described. The hybrid system permits the fabrication of isolated microchannels for biomolecule separations without imposing the constraint of a totally sealed system. The hybrid system is reusable and ultimately much simpler and less costly to manufacture than a closed channel plate system. The hybrid system incorporates a microslab portion of the separation medium above the microchannels, thus at least substantially reducing the possibility of non-uniform field distribution and breakdown due to uncontrollable leakage. A microslab of the sieving matrix is built into the system by using plastic spacer materials and is used to uniformly couple the top plate with the bottom microchannel plate. 4 figs.

High-reliability GaAs image intensifier with unfilmed microchannel plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bender, Edward J.; Estrera, Joseph P.; Ford, C. E.; Giordana, A.; Glesener, John W.; Lin, P. P.; Nico, A. J.; Sinor, Timothy W.; Smithson, R. H.

1999-07-01

Current GaAs image intensifier technology requires that the microchannel plate (MCP) have a thin dielectric film on the side facing the photocathode. This protective coating substantially reduces the amount of outgassing of ions and neutral species from the microchannels. The prevention of MCP outgassing is necessary in order to prevent the `poisoning' of the Cs:O surface on the GaAs photocathode. Many authors have experimented with omitting the MCP coating. The results of such experiments invariably lead to an intensifier with a reported useful life of less than 100 hours, due to contamination of the Cs:O layer on the photocathode. Unfortunately, the MCP film is also a barrier to electron transport within the intensifier. Substantial enhancement of the image intensifier operating parameters is the motivation for the removal of the MCP film. This paper presents results showing for the first time that it is possible to fabricate a long lifetime image intensifier with a single uncoated MCP.

Note: A timing micro-channel plate detector with backside fast preamplifier

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Wei; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049; School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000

2014-03-15

A timing micro-channel plate detector with a backside double-channel fast preamplifier was developed to avoid distortion during signal propagation from the anode to the preamplifier. The mechanical and electronic structure is described. The detector including its backside preamplifier is tested by a {sup 241}Am α-source and a rise time of ∼2 ns with an output background noise of 4 mV{sub rms} was achieved.

A novel ZVS high voltage power supply for micro-channel plate photomultiplier tubes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pei, Chengquan; Tian, Jinshou; Liu, Zhen; Qin, Hong; Wu, Shengli

2017-04-01

A novel resonant high voltage power supply (HVPS) with zero voltage switching (ZVS), to reduce the voltage stress on switching devices and improve conversion efficiency, is proposed. The proposed HVPS includes a drive circuit, a transformer, several voltage multiplying circuits, and a regulator circuit. The HVPS contains several secondary windings that can be precisely regulated. The proposed HVPS performed better than the traditional resistor voltage divider, which requires replacing matching resistors resulting in resistor dispersibility in the Micro-Channel Plate (MCP). The equivalent circuit of the proposed HVPS was established and the operational principle analyzed. The entire switching element can achieve ZVS, which was validated by a simulation and experiments. The properties of this HVPS were tested including minimum power loss (240 mW), maximum power loss (1 W) and conversion efficiency (85%). The results of this research are that the proposed HVPS was suitable for driving the micro-channel plate photomultiplier tube (MCP-PMT). It was therefore adopted to test the MCP-PMT, which will be used in Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment II in China.

Calibration of a microchannel plate based extreme ultraviolet grazing incident spectrometer at the Advanced Light Source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bakeman, M. S.; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720; Tilborg, J. van

We present the design and calibration of a microchannel plate based extreme ultraviolet spectrometer. Calibration was performed at the Advance Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). This spectrometer will be used to record the single shot spectrum of radiation emitted by the tapered hybrid undulator (THUNDER) undulator installed at the LOASIS GeV-class laser-plasma-accelerator. The spectrometer uses an aberration-corrected concave grating with 1200 lines/mm covering 11-62 nm and a microchannel plate detector with a CsI coated photocathode for increased quantum efficiency in the extreme ultraviolet. A touch screen interface controls the grating angle, aperture size, and placementmore » of the detector in vacuum, allowing for high-resolution measurements over the entire spectral range.« less

Comparative lifetesting results for microchannel plates in windowless EUV photon detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Malina, R. F.; Coburn, K. R.

1984-01-01

Microchannel plates (MCPs) from seven manufacturers were subjected to a series of tests to determine their suitability for the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite. Comparative data are presented for sixteen MCP tandem pairs with channel length to diameter ratios (l/d) ranging from 40:1 to 60:1 and for two saturable (curved channel) MCPs with l/d's of 80:1. Results for MCPs with funnelled channel throats are also discussed. Properties of the MCPs which were monitored include: background count rate, output charge pulse height distribution (PHD), modal gain, PHD full width half maximum (FWHM), and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photon quantum efficiency. Five detectors were chosen for further lifetime testing consisting of a mild bake to 100 C, and charge extraction to 0.01 coulombs, repeated high voltage cycling and reexposure to one atmosphere conditions. The results of these tests and their implications for the flight detectors are discussed. Erratic events in the detector background were recorded, probably due to field emission from high voltage surfaces or the absorption of water vapor into the electrode following exposure to air. The steps taken to control the detector background are discussed.

Absolute and angular efficiencies of a microchannel-plate position-sensitive detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gao, R. S.; Gibner, P. S.; Newman, J. H.; Smith, K. A.; Stebbings, R. F.

1984-01-01

This paper presents a characterization of a commercially available position-sensitive detector of energetic ions and neutrals. The detector consists of two microchannel plates followed by a resistive position-encoding anode. The work includes measurement of absolute efficiencies of H(+), He(+), and O(+) ions in the energy range between 250 and 5000 eV, measurement of relative detection efficiencies as a function of particle impact angle, and a simple method for accurate measurement of the time at which a particle strikes the detector.

Determination of the laser intensity applied to a Ta witness plate from the measured X-ray signal using a pulsed micro-channel plate detector

DOE PAGES

Pickworth, L. A.; Rosen, M. D.; Schneider, M. B.; ...

2017-04-14

The laser intensity distribution at the surface of a high-Z material, such as Ta, can be deduced from imaging the self-emission of the produced x-ray spot using suitable calibration data. This paper presents a calibration method which uses the measured x-ray emissions from laser spots of di erent intensities hitting a Ta witness plate. The x-ray emission is measured with a micro-channel plate (MCP) based x-ray framing camera plus filters. Data from di erent positions on one MCP strip or from di erent MCP assemblies are normalized to each other using a standard candle laser beam spot at 1x10 14more » W/cm 2 intensity. The distribution of the resulting dataset agrees with results from a pseudo spectroscopic model for laser intensities between 4 and 15x10 13 W/cm 2. The model is then used to determine the absolute scaling factor between the experimental results from assemblies using two di erent x-ray filters. The data and model method also allows unique calibration factors for each MCP system and each MCP gain to be compared. We also present simulation results investigating alternate witness plate materials (Ag, Eu and Au).« less

Determination of the laser intensity applied to a Ta witness plate from the measured X-ray signal using a pulsed micro-channel plate detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pickworth, L. A.; Rosen, M. D.; Schneider, M. B.

The laser intensity distribution at the surface of a high-Z material, such as Ta, can be deduced from imaging the self-emission of the produced x-ray spot using suitable calibration data. This paper presents a calibration method which uses the measured x-ray emissions from laser spots of di erent intensities hitting a Ta witness plate. The x-ray emission is measured with a micro-channel plate (MCP) based x-ray framing camera plus filters. Data from di erent positions on one MCP strip or from di erent MCP assemblies are normalized to each other using a standard candle laser beam spot at 1x10 14more » W/cm 2 intensity. The distribution of the resulting dataset agrees with results from a pseudo spectroscopic model for laser intensities between 4 and 15x10 13 W/cm 2. The model is then used to determine the absolute scaling factor between the experimental results from assemblies using two di erent x-ray filters. The data and model method also allows unique calibration factors for each MCP system and each MCP gain to be compared. We also present simulation results investigating alternate witness plate materials (Ag, Eu and Au).« less

T-load microchannel array and fabrication method

DOEpatents

Swierkowski, Stefan P.

2000-01-01

A three-dimensional (3-D) T-load for planar microchannel arrays for electrophoresis, for example, which enables sample injection directly onto a plane perpendicular to the microchannels' axis, at their ends. This is accomplished by forming input wells that extend beyond the ends of the microchannel thereby eliminating the right angle connection from the input well into the end of the microchannel. In addition, the T-load input well eases the placement of electrode in or adjacent the well and thus enables very efficient reproducible electrokinetic (ek) injection. The T-load input well eliminates the prior input well/microchannel alignment concerns, since the input well can be drilled after the top and bottom microchannel plates are bonded together. The T-load input well may extend partially or entirely through the bottom microchannel plate which enables more efficient gel and solution flushing, and also enables placement of multiple electrodes to assist in the ek sample injection.

Microfabrication of microchannels for fuel cell plates.

PubMed

Jang, Ho Su; Park, Dong Sam

2010-01-01

Portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, cellular phones, etc., are being widely used, and they increasingly need cheap, efficient, and lightweight power sources. Fuel cells have been proposed as possible power sources to address issues that involve energy production and the environment. In particular, a small type of fuel-cell system is known to be suitable for portable electronic devices. The development of micro fuel cell systems can be achieved by the application of microchannel technology. In this study, the conventional method of chemical etching and the mechanical machining method of micro end milling were used for the microfabrication of microchannel for fuel cell separators. The two methods were compared in terms of their performance in the fabrication with regards to dimensional errors, flatness, straightness, and surface roughness. Following microchannel fabrication, the powder blasting technique is introduced to improve the coating performance of the catalyst on the surface of the microchannel. Experimental results show that end milling can remarkably increase the fabrication performance and that surface treatment by powder blasting can improve the performance of catalyst coating.

Microfabrication of Microchannels for Fuel Cell Plates

PubMed Central

Jang, Ho Su; Park, Dong Sam

2010-01-01

Portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, cellular phones, etc., are being widely used, and they increasingly need cheap, efficient, and lightweight power sources. Fuel cells have been proposed as possible power sources to address issues that involve energy production and the environment. In particular, a small type of fuel-cell system is known to be suitable for portable electronic devices. The development of micro fuel cell systems can be achieved by the application of microchannel technology. In this study, the conventional method of chemical etching and the mechanical machining method of micro end milling were used for the microfabrication of microchannel for fuel cell separators. The two methods were compared in terms of their performance in the fabrication with regards to dimensional errors, flatness, straightness, and surface roughness. Following microchannel fabrication, the powder blasting technique is introduced to improve the coating performance of the catalyst on the surface of the microchannel. Experimental results show that end milling can remarkably increase the fabrication performance and that surface treatment by powder blasting can improve the performance of catalyst coating. PMID:22315533

Low noise and conductively cooled microchannel plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feller, W. B.

1990-01-01

Microchannel plate (MCP) dynamic range has recently been enhanced for both very low and very high input flux conditions. Improvements in MCP manufacturing technology reported earlier have led to MCPs with substantially reduced radioisotope levels, giving dramatically lower internal background-counting rates. An update is given on the Galileo low noise MCP. Also, new results in increasing the MCP linear counting range for high input flux densities are presented. By bonding the active face of a very low resistance MCP (less than 1 megaohm) to a substrate providing a conductive path for heat transport, the bias current limit (hence, MCP output count rate limit) can be increased up to two orders of magnitude. Normal pulse-counting MCP operation was observed at bias currents of several mA when a curved-channel MCP (80:1) was bonded to a ceramic multianode substrate; the MCP temperature rise above ambient was less than 40 C.

Applicability of micro-channel plate followed by phosphor screen to charged particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Himura, H., E-mail: himura@kit.ac.jp; Nakata, S.; Sanpei, A.

2016-06-15

This paper experimentally investigates the applicability of a micro-channel plate (MCP) followed by a phosphor screen to charged particles along with a calibration method for estimating the acceptable limit of input particle flux and appropriate operation parameters of a particular MCP. For the first time, plasmas consisting of only lithium ions are injected into the MCP. Despite large ion numbers (N{sub i}) on the order of ≃10{sup 7}, no deterioration in the effective gain (αG) of the MCP owing to an excess amount of the extracted charge occurs in a certain range of the amplifier voltage (ΔU{sub M}) applied tomore » the MCP. The measured αG nearly agrees with the expected value. However, once ΔU{sub M} exceeds a limit value, αG eventually begins to saturate. This is also verified in experiments using pure electron plasmas. An appropriate range of ΔU{sub M} is presented to avoid saturation and, finally, derive N{sub i} directly from the secondary electron current outputted from the MCP only after the indispensable calibration.« less

Collimator application for microchannel plate image intensifier resolution improvement

DOEpatents

Thomas, S.W.

1996-02-27

A collimator is included in a microchannel plate image intensifier (MCPI). Collimators can be useful in improving resolution of MCPIs by eliminating the scattered electron problem and by limiting the transverse energy of electrons reaching the screen. Due to its optical absorption, a collimator will also increase the extinction ratio of an intensifier by approximately an order of magnitude. Additionally, the smooth surface of the collimator will permit a higher focusing field to be employed in the MCP-to-collimator region than is currently permitted in the MCP-to-screen region by the relatively rough and fragile aluminum layer covering the screen. Coating the MCP and collimator surfaces with aluminum oxide appears to permit additional significant increases in the field strength, resulting in better resolution. 2 figs.

Collimator application for microchannel plate image intensifier resolution improvement

DOEpatents

Thomas, Stanley W.

1996-02-27

A collimator is included in a microchannel plate image intensifier (MCPI). Collimators can be useful in improving resolution of MCPIs by eliminating the scattered electron problem and by limiting the transverse energy of electrons reaching the screen. Due to its optical absorption, a collimator will also increase the extinction ratio of an intensifier by approximately an order of magnitude. Additionally, the smooth surface of the collimator will permit a higher focusing field to be employed in the MCP-to-collimator region than is currently permitted in the MCP-to-screen region by the relatively rough and fragile aluminum layer covering the screen. Coating the MCP and collimator surfaces with aluminum oxide appears to permit additional significant increases in the field strength, resulting in better resolution.

Recent developments with microchannel-plate PMTs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lehmann, A.; Böhm, M.; Britting, A.; Eyrich, W.; Pfaffinger, M.; Uhlig, F.; Belias, A.; Dzhygadlo, R.; Gerhardt, A.; Götzen, K.; Kalicy, G.; Krebs, M.; Lehmann, D.; Nerling, F.; Patsyuk, M.; Peters, K.; Schepers, G.; Schmitt, L.; Schwarz, C.; Schwiening, J.; Traxler, M.; Zühlsdorf, M.; Düren, M.; Etzelmüller, E.; Föhl, K.; Hayrapetyan, A.; Kröck, B.; Merle, O.; Rieke, J.; Schmidt, M.; Wasem, T.; Cowie, E.; Keri, T.; Achenbach, P.; Cardinali, M.; Hoek, M.; Lauth, W.; Schlimme, S.; Sfienti, C.; Thiel, M.

2017-12-01

Microchannel-plate (MCP) PMTs are the favored photon sensors for the DIRC detectors of the PANDA experiment at FAIR. Until recently the main drawback of MCP-PMTs were serious aging effects which led to a limited lifetime due to a rapidly decreasing quantum efficiency (QE) of the photo cathode (PC) as the integrated anode charge (IAC) increased. In the latest models of PHOTONIS and Hamamatsu an innovative atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique is applied to overcome these limitations. During the last five years comprehensive aging tests with ALD coated MCP-PMTs were performed and the results were compared to tubes treated with other techniques. The QE in dependence of the IAC was measured as a function of the wavelength and the position across the PC. For the best performing tubes the lifetime improvement in comparison to the older MCP-PMTs is a factor of > 50 based on an IAC of meanwhile > 10 C /cm2 . In addition, the performance results of a new 2-in. ALD coated MCP-PMT prototype from Hamamatsu with a very high position resolution (128×6 anode pixels) is presented and the first conclusions from investigations concerning the PC aging mechanism will be discussed.

Characteristics of square pore and low noise microchannel plate stacks. [for x-ray astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; Marsh, Daniel; Stock, Joseph; Gaines, Geoffrey

1992-01-01

An evaluation is conducted of several square-pore microchannel plates (MCPs) with either 25- or 85-micron diameter pores and 80:1 or 50:1 channel length/diameter ratio. Flat field measurements show that the 25-micron-pored MCPs, unlike those with 85-micron pores, exhibit periodic modulation; this may be due to the MCP stacking configurations. Attention is given to the relative quantum detection efficiency advantages of the two MCPs.

Droplet-based magnetic bead immunoassay using microchannel-connected multiwell plates (μCHAMPs) for the detection of amyloid beta oligomers.

PubMed

Park, Min Cheol; Kim, Moojong; Lim, Gun Taek; Kang, Sung Min; An, Seong Soo A; Kim, Tae Song; Kang, Ji Yoon

2016-06-21

Multiwell plates are regularly used in analytical research and clinical diagnosis but often require laborious washing steps and large sample or reagent volumes (typically, 100 μL per well). To overcome such drawbacks in the conventional multiwell plate, we present a novel microchannel-connected multiwell plate (μCHAMP) that can be used for automated disease biomarker detection in a small sample volume by performing droplet-based magnetic bead immunoassay inside the plate. In this μCHAMP-based immunoassay platform, small volumes (30-50 μL) of aqueous-phase working droplets are stably confined within each well by the simple microchannel structure (200-300 μm in height and 0.5-1 mm in width), and magnetic beads are exclusively transported into an adjacent droplet through the oil-filled microchannels assisted by a magnet array aligned beneath and controlled by a XY-motorized stage. Using this μCHAMP-based platform, we were able to perform parallel detection of synthetic amyloid beta (Aβ) oligomers as a model analyte for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This platform easily simplified the laborious and consumptive immunoassay procedure by achieving automated parallel immunoassay (32 assays per operation in 3-well connected 96-well plate) within 1 hour and at low sample consumption (less than 10 μL per assay) with no cumbersome manual washing step. Moreover, it could detect synthetic Aβ oligomers even below 10 pg mL(-1) concentration with a calculated detection limit of ∼3 pg mL(-1). Therefore, the μCHAMP and droplet-based magnetic bead immunoassay, with the combination of XY-motorized magnet array, would be a useful platform in the diagnosis of human disease, including AD, which requires low consumption of the patient's body fluid sample and automation of the entire immunoassay procedure for high processing capacity.

Two-dimensional photon-counting detector arrays based on microchannel array plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Bybee, R. L.

1975-01-01

The production of simple and rugged photon-counting detector arrays has been made possible by recent improvements in the performance of the microchannel array plate (MCP) and by the parallel development of compatible electronic readout systems. The construction of proximity-focused MCP arrays of novel design in which photometric information from (n x m) picture elements is read out with a total of (n + m) amplifier and discriminator circuits is described. Results obtained with a breadboard (32 x 32)-element array employing 64 charge-sensitive amplifiers are presented, and the application of systems of this type in spectrometers and cameras for use with ground-based telescopes and on orbiting spacecraft discussed.

Extreme ultraviolet quantum efficiency of opaque alkali halide photocathodes on microchannel plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, O. H. W.; Everman, E.; Vallerga, J. V.; Lampton, M.

1988-01-01

Comprehensive measurements are presented for the quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of the microchannel plate materials CsI, KBr, KCl, and MgF2, over the 44-1800 A wavelength range. QDEs in excess of 40 percent are achieved by several materials in specific wavelength regions of the EUV. Structure is noted in the wavelength dependence of the QDE that is directly related to the valence-band/conduction-band gap energy and the onset of atomic-like resonant transitions. A simple photocathode model allows interpretation of these features, together with the QDE efficiency variation, as a function of illumination angle.

Microchannel plate special nuclear materials sensor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feller, W. B.; White, P. L.; White, P. B.; Siegmund, O. H. W.; Martin, A. P.; Vallerga, J. V.

2011-10-01

Nova Scientific Inc., is developing for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO SBIR #HSHQDC-08-C-00190), a solid-state, high-efficiency neutron detection alternative to 3He gas tubes, using neutron-sensitive microchannel plates (MCPs) containing 10B and/or Gd. This work directly supports DNDO development of technologies designed to detect and interdict nuclear weapons or illicit nuclear materials. Neutron-sensitized MCPs have been shown theoretically and more recently experimentally, to be capable of thermal neutron detection efficiencies equivalent to 3He gas tubes. Although typical solid-state neutron detectors typically have an intrinsic gamma sensitivity orders of magnitude higher than that of 3He gas detectors, we dramatically reduce gamma sensitivity by combining a novel electronic coincidence rejection scheme, employing a separate but enveloping gamma scintillator. This has already resulted in a measured gamma rejection ratio equal to a small 3He tube, without in principle sacrificing neutron detection efficiency. Ongoing improvements to the MCP performance as well as the coincidence counting geometry will be described. Repeated testing and validation with a 252Cf source has been underway throughout the Phase II SBIR program, with ongoing comparisons to a small commercial 3He gas tube. Finally, further component improvements and efforts toward integration maturity are underway, with the goal of establishing functional prototypes for SNM field testing.

OPTOELECTRONICS, FIBER OPTICS, AND OTHER ASPECTS OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS: Time analyzing image converter with a microchannel plate at the input

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dashevskiĭ, B. E.; Podvyaznikov, V. A.; Prokhorov, A. M.; Chevokin, V. K.

1989-08-01

An image converter with interchangeable photocathodes was used in tests on a microchannel plate employed as a photoemitter. The image converter was operated in the linear slit-scanning regime. This image converter was found to be a promising tool for laser plasma diagnostics.

Optimization of high count rate event counting detector with Microchannel Plates and quad Timepix readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tremsin, A. S.; Vallerga, J. V.; McPhate, J. B.; Siegmund, O. H. W.

2015-07-01

Many high resolution event counting devices process one event at a time and cannot register simultaneous events. In this article a frame-based readout event counting detector consisting of a pair of Microchannel Plates and a quad Timepix readout is described. More than 104 simultaneous events can be detected with a spatial resolution of 55 μm, while >103 simultaneous events can be detected with <10 μm spatial resolution when event centroiding is implemented. The fast readout electronics is capable of processing >1200 frames/sec, while the global count rate of the detector can exceed 5×108 particles/s when no timing information on every particle is required. For the first generation Timepix readout, the timing resolution is limited by the Timepix clock to 10-20 ns. Optimization of the MCP gain, rear field voltage and Timepix threshold levels are crucial for the device performance and that is the main subject of this article. These devices can be very attractive for applications where the photon/electron/ion/neutron counting with high spatial and temporal resolution is required, such as energy resolved neutron imaging, Time of Flight experiments in lidar applications, experiments on photoelectron spectroscopy and many others.

Microchannel plate detector technology potential for LUVOIR and HabEx

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegmund, O. H. W.; Ertley, C.; Vallerga, J. V.; Schindhelm, E. R.; Harwit, A.; Fleming, B. T.; France, K. C.; Green, J. C.; McCandliss, S. R.; Harris, W. M.

2017-08-01

Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have been the detector of choice for ultraviolet (UV) instruments onboard many NASA missions. These detectors have many advantages, including high spatial resolution (<20 μm), photon counting, radiation hardness, large formats (up to 20 cm), and ability for curved focal plane matching. Novel borosilicate glass MCPs with atomic layer deposition combine extremely low backgrounds, high strength, and tunable secondary electron yield. GaN and combinations of bialkali/alkali halide photocathodes show promise for broadband, higher quantum efficiency. Cross-strip anodes combined with compact ASIC readout electronics enable high spatial resolution over large formats with high dynamic range. The technology readiness levels of these technologies are each being advanced through research grants for laboratory testing and rocket flights. Combining these capabilities would be ideal for UV instruments onboard the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR) and the Habitable Exoplanet Imaging Mission (HABEX) concepts currently under study for NASA's Astrophysics Decadal Survey.

Imaging characteristics of the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer microchannel plate detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vallerga, J. V.; Kaplan, G. C.; Siegmund, O. H. W.; Lampton, M.; Malina, R. F.

1989-01-01

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) satellite will conduct an all-sky survey over the wavelength range from 70 A to 760 A using four grazing-incidence telescopes and seven microchannel-plate (MCP) detectors. The imaging photon-counting MCP detectors have active areas of 19.6 cm2. Photon arrival position is determined using a wedge-and-strip anode and associated pulse-encoding electronics. The imaging characteristics of the EUVE flight detectors are presented including image distortion, flat-field response, and spatial differential nonlinearity. Also included is a detailed discussion of image distortions due to the detector mechanical assembly, the wedge-and-strip anode, and the electronics. Model predictions of these distortions are compared to preflight calibration images which show distortions less than 1.3 percent rms of the detector diameter of 50 mm before correction. The plans for correcting these residual detector image distortions to less than 0.1 percent rms are also presented.

High accuracy position response calibration method for a micro-channel plate ion detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hong, R.; Leredde, A.; Bagdasarova, Y.; Fléchard, X.; García, A.; Müller, P.; Knecht, A.; Liénard, E.; Kossin, M.; Sternberg, M. G.; Swanson, H. E.; Zumwalt, D. W.

2016-11-01

We have developed a position response calibration method for a micro-channel plate (MCP) detector with a delay-line anode position readout scheme. Using an in situ calibration mask, an accuracy of 8 μm and a resolution of 85 μm (FWHM) have been achieved for MeV-scale α particles and ions with energies of ∼10 keV. At this level of accuracy, the difference between the MCP position responses to high-energy α particles and low-energy ions is significant. The improved performance of the MCP detector can find applications in many fields of AMO and nuclear physics. In our case, it helps reducing systematic uncertainties in a high-precision nuclear β-decay experiment.

An efficient and cost-effective microchannel plate detector for slow neutron radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiggins, B. B.; Vadas, J.; Bancroft, D.; deSouza, Z. O.; Huston, J.; Hudan, S.; Baxter, D. V.; deSouza, R. T.

2018-05-01

A novel approach for efficiently imaging objects with slow neutrons in two dimensions is realized. Neutron sensitivity is achieved by use of a boron doped microchannel plate (MCP). The resulting electron avalanche is further amplified with a Z-stack MCP before being sensed by two orthogonally oriented wire planes. Coupling of the wire planes to delay lines efficiently encodes the position information as a time difference. To determine the position resolution, slow neutrons were used to illuminate a Cd-mask placed directly in front of the detector. Peaks in the resulting spectrum exhibited an average peak width of 329 μm FWHM, corresponding to an average intrinsic resolution of 216 μm. The center region of the detector exhibits a significantly better spatial resolution with an intrinsic resolution of <100 μm observed.

Development of microchannel plates in advanced wind-tunnel instrumentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Feller, W. Bruce

1990-01-01

Microchannel plate (MCP) electron multiplier dynamic range has been increased 3 to 4 orders of magnitude at ambient temperatures, through enhanced input count rate capability and reduced background or 'dark' noise. The previous upper limit of roughly 10(exp 7) - 10(exp 8) cm(exp -2)s(exp -1) at ambient has been extended to levels approach 10(exp 10) cm(exp -2)s(exp -1) under continuous dc operation. The lower limit, previously set by an irreducible background component (approximately 0.6 cm(exp -2)s(exp -1)), has been lowered to the cosmic ray limit of .01 cm(exp -2)s(exp -1). The high end improvement was achieved by conductively cooling a very low resistance MCP by bonding it to a heat sink, while maintaining pulse-counting operation with multianode readouts. The low-end improvement was achieved by removing all radioisotopes from the MCP matrix glass. The detectors will benefit optical and mass spectrometry, flow visualization, plasma diagnostics, magnetometry, and other high signal flux applications. Very low MCP background noise will benefit X-ray and UV astronomy, medical imaging, trace isotope mass spectrometry, and other applications where the signal flux is often extremely low.

Two-dimensional ultraviolet imagery with a microchannel-plate/resistive-anode detector

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Opal, C. B.; Feldman, P. D.; Weaver, H. A.; Mcclintock, J. A.

1979-01-01

An imaging ultraviolet detector has been designed for use with a precision pointed telescope flown on a sounding rocket. Resolution of better than 80 microns over a field of 5 mm has been achieved. The ultraviolet image is converted to electrons at the front surface of a CsI coated chevron microchannel-plate electron multiplier. For each photoelectron, the multiplier produces a burst of about 3,000,000 electrons, which impinges on a tellurium-coated resistive anode with four evaporated hyperbolic readout electrodes. The sizes of the four resulting output pulses are digitized to 10 bit accuracy and telemetered to the ground, where they are divided in pairs to give the x and y coordinates of the photoelectron event. The coordinates are used to generate a picture in real time, and are recorded for computer processing later. The detector was successfully flown in December 1978. Good images of Jupiter and Capella in hydrogen Lyman alpha emission were obtained.

A position sensitive microchannel photomultiplier for ultraviolet space astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lampton, M.; Siegmund, O. H. W.; Bixler, J.; Bowyer, S.

1986-01-01

The 25-mm microchannel-plate, position-sensitive UV astronomy photomultiplier tube presented is intended for the EOM-1 Spacelab Mission's FAUST payload and conducts wide-field imaging surveys in the VUV over the 1400-1800-A range. The sealed detector encompasses a CsI photocathode deposited on the inner surface of a MgF2 window, a stack of microchannel plates, and a wedge-and-strip two-dimensional position-sensing anode. Since the wedge-and-strip principle requires only three anode signals, flight electronics can be reduced to three charge amplifiers and three analog-to-digital converters.

Photon-counting detector arrays based on microchannel array plates. [for image enhancement

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.

1975-01-01

The recent development of the channel electron multiplier (CEM) and its miniaturization into the microchannel array plate (MCP) offers the possibility of fully combining the advantages of the photographic and photoelectric detection systems. The MCP has an image-intensifying capability and the potential of being developed to yield signal outputs superior to those of conventional photomultipliers. In particular, the MCP has a photon-counting capability with a negligible dark-count rate. Furthermore, the MCP can operate stably and efficiently at extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths in a windowless configuration or can be integrated with a photo-cathode in a sealed tube for use at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths. The operation of one- and two-dimensional photon-counting detector arrays based on the MCP at extreme-ultraviolet wavelengths is described, and the design of sealed arrays for use at ultraviolet and visible wavelengths is briefly discussed.

Multi-anode microchannel arrays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Bybee, R. L.

1977-01-01

A development program is currently being undertaken to produce photon-counting detector arrays which are suitable for use in both ground-based and space-borne instruments and which utilize the full sensitivity, dynamic range and photometric stability of the microchannel array plate (MCP). The construction of the detector arrays and the status of the development program are described.

Microchannel Distillation of JP-8 Jet Fuel for Sulfur Content Reduction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zheng, Feng; Stenkamp, Victoria S.; TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.

2006-09-16

In microchannel based distillation processes, thin vapor and liquid films are contacted in small channels where mass transfer is diffusion-limited. The microchannel architecture enables improvements in distillation processes. A shorter height equivalent of a theoretical plate (HETP) and therefore a more compact distillation unit can be achieved. A microchannel distillation unit was used to produce a light fraction of JP-8 fuel with reduced sulfur content for use as feed to produce fuel-cell grade hydrogen. The HETP of the microchannel unit is discussed, as well as the effects of process conditions such as feed temperature, flow rate, and reflux ratio.

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.; Xie, S.; Spiropulu, M.; Trevor, J.; Pena, C.; Presutti, F.; Los, S.

2017-11-01

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. In this report we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beam measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

DOE PAGES

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.; ...

2017-11-27

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. Here, we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beammore » measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.« less

Development of a compact E ? B microchannel plate detector for beam imaging

DOE PAGES

Wiggins, B. B.; Singh, Varinderjit; Vadas, J.; ...

2017-06-17

A beam imaging detector was developed by coupling a multi-strip anode with delay line readout to an E×B microchannel plate (MCP) detector. This detector is capable of measuring the incident position of the beam particles in one-dimension. To assess the spatial resolution, the detector was illuminated by an α-source with an intervening mask that consists of a series of precisely-machined slits. The measured spatial resolution was 520 um source FWHM, which was improved to 413 um FWHM by performing an FFT of the signals, rejecting spurious signals on the delay line, and requiring a minimum signal amplitude. This measured spatialmore » resolution of 413 um FWHM corresponds to an intrinsic resolution of 334 um FWHM when the effect of the finite slit width is de-convoluted. To understand the measured resolution, the performance of the detector is simulated with the ion-trajectory code SIMION.« less

Development of a compact E ? B microchannel plate detector for beam imaging

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wiggins, B. B.; Singh, Varinderjit; Vadas, J.

A beam imaging detector was developed by coupling a multi-strip anode with delay line readout to an E×B microchannel plate (MCP) detector. This detector is capable of measuring the incident position of the beam particles in one-dimension. To assess the spatial resolution, the detector was illuminated by an α-source with an intervening mask that consists of a series of precisely-machined slits. The measured spatial resolution was 520 um source FWHM, which was improved to 413 um FWHM by performing an FFT of the signals, rejecting spurious signals on the delay line, and requiring a minimum signal amplitude. This measured spatialmore » resolution of 413 um FWHM corresponds to an intrinsic resolution of 334 um FWHM when the effect of the finite slit width is de-convoluted. To understand the measured resolution, the performance of the detector is simulated with the ion-trajectory code SIMION.« less

Manganese molybdate nanoflakes on silicon microchannel plates as novel nano energetic material

PubMed Central

Zhang, Chi; Wu, Dajun; Shi, Liming; Zhu, Yiping; Xiong, Dayuan; Xu, Shaohui; Huang, Rong; Qi, Ruijuan; Zhang, Wenchao; Chu, Paul K.

2017-01-01

Nano energetic materials have attracted great attention recently owing to their potential applications for both civilian and military purposes. By introducing silicon microchannel plates (Si-MCPs) three-dimensional (3D)-ordered structures, monocrystalline MnMoO4 with a size of tens of micrometres and polycrystalline MnMoO4 nanoflakes are produced on the surface and sidewall of nickel-coated Si-MCP, respectively. The MnMoO4 crystals ripen controllably forming polycrystalline nanoflakes with lattice fringes of 0.542 nm corresponding to the (1¯11) plane on the sidewall. And these MnMoO4 nanoflakes show apparent thermite performance which is rarely reported and represents MnMoO4 becoming a new category of energetic materials after nanocrystallization. Additionally, the nanocrystallization mechanism is interpreted by ionic diffusion caused by 3D structure. The results indicate that the Si-MCP is a promising substrate for nanocrystallization of energetic materials such as MnMoO4. PMID:29308255

Manganese molybdate nanoflakes on silicon microchannel plates as novel nano energetic material.

PubMed

Zhang, Chi; Wu, Dajun; Shi, Liming; Zhu, Yiping; Xiong, Dayuan; Xu, Shaohui; Huang, Rong; Qi, Ruijuan; Zhang, Wenchao; Wang, Lianwei; Chu, Paul K

2017-12-01

Nano energetic materials have attracted great attention recently owing to their potential applications for both civilian and military purposes. By introducing silicon microchannel plates (Si-MCPs) three-dimensional (3D)-ordered structures, monocrystalline MnMoO 4 with a size of tens of micrometres and polycrystalline MnMoO 4 nanoflakes are produced on the surface and sidewall of nickel-coated Si-MCP, respectively. The MnMoO 4 crystals ripen controllably forming polycrystalline nanoflakes with lattice fringes of 0.542 nm corresponding to the [Formula: see text] plane on the sidewall. And these MnMoO 4 nanoflakes show apparent thermite performance which is rarely reported and represents MnMoO 4 becoming a new category of energetic materials after nanocrystallization. Additionally, the nanocrystallization mechanism is interpreted by ionic diffusion caused by 3D structure. The results indicate that the Si-MCP is a promising substrate for nanocrystallization of energetic materials such as MnMoO 4 .

Simulating the growth of an charge cloud for a microchannel plate detector

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siwal, Davinder; Wiggins, Blake; Desouza, Romualdo

2015-10-01

Position sensitive microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have a variety of applications in the fields of astronomy, medical imaging, neutron imaging, and ion beam tracking. Recently, a novel approach has been implemented to detect the position of an incident particle. The charge cloud produced by the MCP induces a signal on a wire harp placed between the MCP and an anode. On qualitative grounds it is clear that in this detector the induced signal shape depends on the size of the electron cloud. A detailed study has therefore been performed to investigate the size of the charge cloud within the MCP and its growth as it propagates from the MCP to the anode. A simple model has been developed to calculate the impact of charge repulsion on the growth of the electron cloud. Both the details of the model and its predictions will be presented. Supported by the US DOE NNSA under Award No. DE-NA0002012.

Precision Timing with shower maximum detectors based on pixelated micro-channel plates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bornheim, A.; Apresyan, A.; Ronzhin, A.

Future calorimeters and shower maximum detectors at high luminosity colliders need to be highly radiation resistant and very fast. One exciting option for such a detector is a calorimeter composed of a secondary emitter as the active element. Here, we outline the study and development of a secondary emission calorimeter prototype using micro-channel plates (MCP) as the active element, which directly amplify the electromagnetic shower signal. We also demonstrate the feasibility of using a bare MCP within an inexpensive and robust housing without the need for any photo cathode, which is a key requirement for high radiation tolerance. Test beammore » measurements of the prototype were performed with 120 GeV primary protons and secondary beams at the Fermilab Test Beam Facility, demonstrating basic calorimetric measurements and precision timing capabilities. Using multiple pixel readout on the MCP, we demonstrate a transverse spatial resolution of 0.8 mm, and time resolution better than 40 ps for electromagnetic showers.« less

Compact Ceramic Microchannel Heat Exchangers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lewinsohn, Charles

The objective of the proposed work was to demonstrate the feasibility of a step change in power plant efficiency at a commercially viable cost, by obtaining performance data for prototype, compact, ceramic microchannel heat exchangers. By performing the tasks described in the initial proposal, all of the milestones were met. The work performed will advance the technology from Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3) to Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL 4) and validate the potential of using these heat exchangers for enabling high efficiency solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) or high-temperature turbine-based power plants. The attached report will describe howmore » this objective was met. In collaboration with The Colorado School of Mines (CSM), specifications were developed for a high temperature heat exchanger for three commercial microturbines. Microturbines were selected because they are a more mature commercial technology than SOFC, they are a low-volume and high-value target for market entry of high-temperature heat exchangers, and they are essentially scaled-down versions of turbines used in utility-scale power plants. Using these specifications, microchannel dimensions were selected to meet the performance requirements. Ceramic plates were fabricated with microchannels of these dimensions. The plates were tested at room temperature and elevated temperature. Plates were joined together to make modular, heat exchanger stacks that were tested at a variety of temperatures and flow rates. Although gas flow rates equivalent to those in microturbines could not be achieved in the laboratory environment, the results showed expected efficiencies, robust operation under significant temperature gradients at high temperature, and the ability to cycle the stacks. Details of the methods and results are presented in this final report.« less

Long lifetime generation IV image intensifiers with unfilmed microchannel plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Estrera, Joseph P.; Bender, Edward J.; Giordana, A.; Glesener, John W.; Iosue, Mike J.; Lin, P. P.; Sinor, Timothy W.

2000-11-01

Current Generation II Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) image intensifier tube technology requires that the tube microchannel plate (MCP) component have a thin dielectric coating on the side facing the tube's photocathode component. This protective coating substantially reduces the release from the MCP of ions and neutral species, particularly when the image intensifier is operated. The prevention of MCP outgassing is necessary in order ot prevent the poisoning of the Cs:O surface on the GaAs photocathode. Many authors have experimented with omitting the MCP coating. Such experiments have consistently led to an intensifier with a significantly reduced lifetime, due to contamination of the Cs:O layer on the photocathode. Unfortunately the MCP film acts as a scattering cneter to electron transport within the intensifier and effectively reduces the photoelectron detection efficiency. Substantial enhancement of the image intensifier operating parameters is the motivation for the removal of the MCP film. Removal of the MCP film promises to simplify MCP fabrication and enhance the intensifier parameters related to Electro-Optical performance and image quality. This paper presents results showing for the first time that it is possible to fabricate a long lifetime image intensifier with a single unfilmed MCP and achieve improved imaging and performance characteristics.

Absolute detection efficiency of a microchannel plate detector to X rays in the 1-100 KeV energy range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burginyon, Gary A.; Jacoby, Barry A.; Wobser, James K.; Ernst, Richard; Ancheta, Dione S.; Tirsell, Kenneth G.

1993-02-01

There is little information in the literature on the performance of working micro-channel plate (MCP) detectors at high x-ray energies. We have measured the absolute efficiency of a microchannel-plate-intensified, subnanosecond, one dimensional imaging x-ray detector developed at LLNL in the 1 to 100 keV range and at 1.25 MeV. The detector consists of a gold photocathode deposited on the front surface of the MCP (optimized for Ni K(subscript (alpha) ) x rays) to convert x rays to electrons, an MCP to amplify the electrons, and a fast In:CdS phosphor that converts the electron's kinetic energy to light. The phosphor is coated on a fiber-optic faceplate to transmit the light out of the vacuum system. Electrostatic focusing electrodes compress the electron current out of the MCP in one dimension while preserving spatial resolution in the other. The calibration geometry, dictated by a recent experiment, required grazing incidence x rays (15.6 degree(s)) onto the MCP detector in order to maximize deliverable current. The experiment also used a second detector made up of 0.071 in. thick BC422 plastic scintillator material from the Bicron Corporation. We compare the absolute efficiencies of these two detectors in units of optical W/cm(superscript 2) into 4 (pi) per x ray W/cm(superscript 2) incident. At 7.47 keV and 900 volts MCP bias, the MCP detector delivers approximately 1400 times more light than the scintillator detector.

Investigation of a Multi-Anode Microchannel Plate PMT for Time-of-Flight PET

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Choong, Woon-Seng

2010-10-01

We report on an investigation of a mulit-anode microchannel plate PMT for time-of-flight PET detector modules. The primary advantages of an MCP lie in its excellent timing properties (fast rise time and low transit time spread), compact size, and reasonably large active area, thus making it a good candidate for TOF applications. In addition, the anode can be segmented into an array of collection electrodes with fine pitch to attain good position sensitivity. In this paper, we investigate using the Photonis Planacon MCP-PMT with a pore size of 10 μm to construct a PET detector module, specifically for time-of-flight applications. We measure the single electron response by exciting the Planacon with pulsed laser diode. We also measure the performance of the Planacon as a PET detector by coupling a 4 mm×4 mm×10 mm LSO crystal to individual pixel to study its gain uniformity, energy resolution, and timing resolution. The rise time of the Planacon is 440 ps with pulse duration of about 1 ns. A transit time spread of 120 ps FWHM is achieved. The gain is fairly uniform across the central region of the Planacon, but drops off by as much as a factor of 2.5 around the edges. The energy resolution is fairly uniform across the Planacon with an average value of 18.6 ± 0.7% FWHM. While the average timing resolution of 252 ± 7 ps FWHM is achieved in the central region of the Planacon, it degrades to 280 ± 9 ps FWHM for edge pixels and 316 ± 15 ps FWHM for corner pixels. We compare the results with measurements performed with a fast timing conventional PMT (Hamamatsu R-9800). We find that the R9800, which has significantly higher PDE, has a better timing resolution than the Planacon. Furthermore, we perform detector simulations to calculate the improvement that can be achieved with a higher PDE Planacon. The calculation shows that the Planacon can achieve significantly better timing resolution if it can attain the same PDE as the R-9800, while only

Scanning Microscopes Using X Rays and Microchannels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Yu

2003-01-01

Scanning microscopes that would be based on microchannel filters and advanced electronic image sensors and that utilize x-ray illumination have been proposed. Because the finest resolution attainable in a microscope is determined by the wavelength of the illumination, the xray illumination in the proposed microscopes would make it possible, in principle, to achieve resolutions of the order of nanometers about a thousand times as fine as the resolution of a visible-light microscope. Heretofore, it has been necessary to use scanning electron microscopes to obtain such fine resolution. In comparison with scanning electron microscopes, the proposed microscopes would likely be smaller, less massive, and less expensive. Moreover, unlike in scanning electron microscopes, it would not be necessary to place specimens under vacuum. The proposed microscopes are closely related to the ones described in several prior NASA Tech Briefs articles; namely, Miniature Microscope Without Lenses (NPO-20218), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 22, No. 8 (August 1998), page 43; and Reflective Variants of Miniature Microscope Without Lenses (NPO-20610), NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 26, No. 9 (September 2002) page 6a. In all of these microscopes, the basic principle of design and operation is the same: The focusing optics of a conventional visible-light microscope are replaced by a combination of a microchannel filter and a charge-coupled-device (CCD) image detector. A microchannel plate containing parallel, microscopic-cross-section holes much longer than they are wide is placed between a specimen and an image sensor, which is typically the CCD. The microchannel plate must be made of a material that absorbs the illuminating radiation reflected or scattered from the specimen. The microchannels must be positioned and dimensioned so that each one is registered with a pixel on the image sensor. Because most of the radiation incident on the microchannel walls becomes absorbed, the radiation that reaches the

Charge coupled devices vs. microchannel plates in the extreme and far ultraviolet - A comparison based on the latest laboratory measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vallerga, J.; Lampton, M.

1988-01-01

While microchannel plates (MCPs) have been established as imaging photon counters in the EUV and FUV for some years, CCDs are associated with low light level sensing at visible and near-IR wavelengths. Attention is presently given to recent proposals for CCDs' use as EUV and FUV detectors with quantum efficiencies sometimes exceeding those of MCPs; quantum resolution, format size, dynamic range, and long-term stability are also used as bases of comparison, for the cases of both space-based astronomical and spectroscopic applications.

A fast microchannel plate-scintillator detector for velocity map imaging and imaging mass spectrometry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Winter, B.; King, S. J.; Vallance, C., E-mail: claire.vallance@chem.ox.ac.uk

2014-02-15

The time resolution achievable using standard position-sensitive ion detectors, consisting of a chevron pair of microchannel plates coupled to a phosphor screen, is primarily limited by the emission lifetime of the phosphor, around 70 ns for the most commonly used P47 phosphor. We demonstrate that poly-para-phenylene laser dyes may be employed extremely effectively as scintillators, exhibiting higher brightness and much shorter decay lifetimes than P47. We provide an extensive characterisation of the properties of such scintillators, with a particular emphasis on applications in velocity-map imaging and microscope-mode imaging mass spectrometry. The most promising of the new scintillators exhibits an electron-to-photonmore » conversion efficiency double that of P47, with an emission lifetime an order of magnitude shorter. The new scintillator screens are vacuum stable and show no signs of signal degradation even over longer periods of operation.« less

Achieving high spatial resolution using a microchannel plate detector with an economic and scalable approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wiggins, B. B.; deSouza, Z. O.; Vadas, J.; Alexander, A.; Hudan, S.; deSouza, R. T.

2017-11-01

A second generation position-sensitive microchannel plate detector using the induced signal approach has been realized. This detector is presently capable of measuring the incident position of electrons, photons, or ions. To assess the spatial resolution, the masked detector was illuminated by electrons. The initial, measured spatial resolution of 276 μm FWHM was improved by requiring a minimum signal amplitude on the anode and by employing digital signal processing techniques. The resulting measured spatial resolution of 119 μm FWHM corresponds to an intrinsic resolution of 98 μm FWHM when the effect of the finite slit width is de-convoluted. This measurement is a substantial improvement from the last reported spatial resolution of 466 μm FWHM using the induced signal approach. To understand the factors that limit the measured resolution, the performance of the detector is simulated.

A High-Speed, Event-Driven, Active Pixel Sensor Readout for Photon-Counting Microchannel Plate Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimble, Randy A.; Pain, Bedabrata; Norton, Timothy J.; Haas, J. Patrick; Oegerle, William R. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

Silicon array readouts for microchannel plate intensifiers offer several attractive features. In this class of detector, the electron cloud output of the MCP intensifier is converted to visible light by a phosphor; that light is then fiber-optically coupled to the silicon array. In photon-counting mode, the resulting light splashes on the silicon array are recognized and centroided to fractional pixel accuracy by off-chip electronics. This process can result in very high (MCP-limited) spatial resolution while operating at a modest MCP gain (desirable for dynamic range and long term stability). The principal limitation of intensified CCD systems of this type is their severely limited local dynamic range, as accurate photon counting is achieved only if there are not overlapping event splashes within the frame time of the device. This problem can be ameliorated somewhat by processing events only in pre-selected windows of interest of by using an addressable charge injection device (CID) for the readout array. We are currently pursuing the development of an intriguing alternative readout concept based on using an event-driven CMOS Active Pixel Sensor. APS technology permits the incorporation of discriminator circuitry within each pixel. When coupled with suitable CMOS logic outside the array area, the discriminator circuitry can be used to trigger the readout of small sub-array windows only when and where an event splash has been detected, completely eliminating the local dynamic range problem, while achieving a high global count rate capability and maintaining high spatial resolution. We elaborate on this concept and present our progress toward implementing an event-driven APS readout.

A High-Speed, Event-Driven, Active Pixel Sensor Readout for Photon-Counting Microchannel Plate Detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kimble, Randy A.; Pain, B.; Norton, T. J.; Haas, P.; Fisher, Richard R. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

Silicon array readouts for microchannel plate intensifiers offer several attractive features. In this class of detector, the electron cloud output of the MCP intensifier is converted to visible light by a phosphor; that light is then fiber-optically coupled to the silicon array. In photon-counting mode, the resulting light splashes on the silicon array are recognized and centroided to fractional pixel accuracy by off-chip electronics. This process can result in very high (MCP-limited) spatial resolution for the readout while operating at a modest MCP gain (desirable for dynamic range and long term stability). The principal limitation of intensified CCD systems of this type is their severely limited local dynamic range, as accurate photon counting is achieved only if there are not overlapping event splashes within the frame time of the device. This problem can be ameliorated somewhat by processing events only in pre-selected windows of interest or by using an addressable charge injection device (CID) for the readout array. We are currently pursuing the development of an intriguing alternative readout concept based on using an event-driven CMOS Active Pixel Sensor. APS technology permits the incorporation of discriminator circuitry within each pixel. When coupled with suitable CMOS logic outside the array area, the discriminator circuitry can be used to trigger the readout of small sub-array windows only when and where an event splash has been detected, completely eliminating the local dynamic range problem, while achieving a high global count rate capability and maintaining high spatial resolution. We elaborate on this concept and present our progress toward implementing an event-driven APS readout.

Direct tests of a pixelated microchannel plate as the active element of a shower maximum detector

DOE PAGES

Apresyan, A.; Los, S.; Pena, C.; ...

2016-05-07

One possibility to make a fast and radiation resistant shower maximum detector is to use a secondary emitter as an active element. We report our studies of microchannel plate photomultipliers (MCPs) as the active element of a shower-maximum detector. We present test beam results obtained using Photonis XP85011 to detect secondary particles of an electromagnetic shower. We focus on the use of the multiple pixels on the Photonis MCP in order to find a transverse two-dimensional shower distribution. A spatial resolution of 0.8 mm was obtained with an 8 GeV electron beam. As a result, a method for measuring themore » arrival time resolution for electromagnetic showers is presented, and we show that time resolution better than 40 ps can be achieved.« less

Direct tests of a pixelated microchannel plate as the active element of a shower maximum detector

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Apresyan, A.; Los, S.; Pena, C.

One possibility to make a fast and radiation resistant shower maximum detector is to use a secondary emitter as an active element. We report our studies of microchannel plate photomultipliers (MCPs) as the active element of a shower-maximum detector. We present test beam results obtained using Photonis XP85011 to detect secondary particles of an electromagnetic shower. We focus on the use of the multiple pixels on the Photonis MCP in order to find a transverse two-dimensional shower distribution. A spatial resolution of 0.8 mm was obtained with an 8 GeV electron beam. As a result, a method for measuring themore » arrival time resolution for electromagnetic showers is presented, and we show that time resolution better than 40 ps can be achieved.« less

Multiphase organic synthesis in microchannel reactors.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Juta; Mori, Yuichiro; Kobayashi, Shū

2006-07-17

"Miniaturization" is one of the most important aspects in today's technology. Organic chemistry is no exception. The search for highly effective, controllable, environmentally friendly methods for preparing products is of prime importance. The development of multiphase organic reactions in microchannel reactors has gained significant importance in recent years to allow novel reactivity, and has led to many fruitful results that are not attainable in conventional reactors. This Focus Review aims to shed light on how effectively multiphase organic reactions can be conducted with microchannel reactors by providing examples of recent remarkable studies, which have been grouped on the basis of the phases involved.

High sensitivity microchannel plate detectors for space extreme ultraviolet missions.

PubMed

Yoshioka, K; Homma, T; Murakami, G; Yoshikawa, I

2012-08-01

Microchannel plate (MCP) detectors have been widely used as two-dimensional photon counting devices on numerous space EUV (extreme ultraviolet) missions. Although there are other choices for EUV photon detectors, the characteristic features of MCP detectors such as their light weight, low dark current, and high spatial resolution make them more desirable for space applications than any other detector. In addition, it is known that the photocathode can be tailored to increase the quantum detection efficiency (QDE) especially for longer UV wavelengths (100-150 nm). There are many types of photocathode materials available, typically alkali halides. In this study, we report on the EUV (50-150 nm) QDE evaluations for MCPs that were coated with Au, MgF(2), CsI, and KBr. We confirmed that CsI and KBr show 2-100 times higher QDEs than the bare photocathode MCPs, while Au and MgF(2) show reduced QDEs. In addition, the optimal geometrical parameters for the CsI deposition were also studied experimentally. The best CsI thickness was found to be 150 nm, and it should be deposited on the inner wall of the channels only where the EUV photons initially impinge. We will also discuss the techniques and procedures for reducing the degradation of the photocathode while it is being prepared on the ground before being deployed in space, as adopted by JAXA's EXCEED mission which will be launched in 2013.

Diffusion-Welded Microchannel Heat Exchanger for Industrial Processes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Piyush Sabharwall; Denis E. Clark; Michael V. Glazoff

The goal of next generation reactors is to increase energy ef?ciency in the production of electricity and provide high-temperature heat for industrial processes. The ef?cient transfer of energy for industrial applications depends on the ability to incorporate effective heat exchangers between the nuclear heat transport system and the industrial process. The need for ef?ciency, compactness, and safety challenge the boundaries of existing heat exchanger technology. Various studies have been performed in attempts to update the secondary heat exchanger that is downstream of the primary heat exchanger, mostly because its performance is strongly tied to the ability to employ more ef?cientmore » industrial processes. Modern compact heat exchangers can provide high compactness, a measure of the ratio of surface area-to-volume of a heat exchange. The microchannel heat exchanger studied here is a plate-type, robust heat exchanger that combines compactness, low pressure drop, high effectiveness, and the ability to operate with a very large pressure differential between hot and cold sides. The plates are etched and thereafter joined by diffusion welding, resulting in extremely strong all-metal heat exchanger cores. After bonding, any number of core blocks can be welded together to provide the required ?ow capacity. This study explores the microchannel heat exchanger and draws conclusions about diffusion welding/bonding for joining heat exchanger plates, with both experimental and computational modeling, along with existing challenges and gaps. Also, presented is a thermal design method for determining overall design speci?cations for a microchannel printed circuit heat exchanger for both supercritical (24 MPa) and subcritical (17 MPa) Rankine power cycles.« less

Vapor bubble evolution on a heated surface containing open microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Forster, Christopher J.; Glezer, Ari; Smith, Marc K.

2011-11-01

Power electronics require cooling technologies capable of high heat fluxes at or below the operating temperatures of these devices. Boiling heat transfer is an effective choice for such cooling, but it is limited by the critical heat flux (CHF), which is typically near 125 W/cm2 for pool boiling of water on a flat plate at standard pressure and gravity. One method of increasing CHF is to incorporate an array of microchannels into the heated surface. Microchannels have been experimentally shown to improve CHF, and the goal of this study is to determine the primary mechanisms associated with the microchannels that allow for the increased CHF. While the use of various microstructures is not new, the emphasis of previous work has been on heat transfer aspects, as opposed to the fluid dynamics inside and in the vicinity of the microchannels. This work considers the non-isothermal fluid motion during bubble growth and departure by varying channel geometry, spacing, and heat flux input using a level-set method including vaporization and condensation. These results and the study of the underlying mechanisms will aid in the design optimization of microchannel-based cooling devices. Supported by ONR.

Cross strip anode readouts for microchannel plate detectors: developing flight qualified prototypes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vallerga, John; Cooney, M.; Raffanti, R.; Varner, G.; Siegmund, O.; McPhate, J. B.; Tremsin, A.

2014-01-01

Photon counting microchannel plate (MCP) imagers have been the detector of choice for most UV astronomical missions over the last two decades (eg. EUVE, FUSE, COS on Hubble etc.). Over this duration, improvements in the MCP laboratory readout technology have resulted in better spatial resolution (x10), temporal resolution (x 1000) and output event rate (x100), all the while operating at lower gain (x 10) resulting in lower high voltage requirements and longer MCP lifetimes. One such technology is the parallel cross strip (PXS) readout. The PXS anode is a set of orthogonal conducting strips (80 x 80), typically spaced at a 635 micron pitch onto which charge clouds from MCP amplified events land. Each strip has its own charge sensitive amplifier that is sampled continuously by a dedicated analog to digital (ADC) converter at 50MHz. All of the 160 ADC digital output lines are fed into a field programmable gate array (FGPA) which can detect charge events landing on the strips, measure the peak amplitudes of those charge events and calculate their spatial centroid along with their time of arrival (X,Y,T). Laboratory versions of these electronics have demonstrated < 20 microns FWHM spatial resolution, count rates on the order of 2 MHz, and temporal resolution of ~ 1ns. In 2012 the our group at U.C. Berkeley, along with our partners at the U. Hawaii, received a Strategic Astrophysics Technology grant to raise the TRL of the PXS detector from 4 to 6 by replacing most of the 19" rack mounted, high powered electronics with application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) which will lower the power, mass and volume requirements of the PXS detector. We were also tasked to design and fabricate a "standard" 50mm square active area MCP detector incorporating these electronics that can be environmentally qualified for flight (temperature, vacuum, vibration). This detector design could then be modified for individual flight opportunities with a higher level of confidence than

X-ray tests of a microchannel plate detector and amorphous silicon pixel array readout for neutron radiography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ambrosi, R. M.; Street, R.; Feller, B.; Fraser, G. W.; Watterson, J. I. W.; Lanza, R. C.; Dowson, J.; Ross, D.; Martindale, A.; Abbey, A. F.; Vernon, D.

2007-03-01

High-performance large area imaging detectors for fast neutrons in the 5-14 MeV energy range do not exist at present. The aim of this project is to combine microchannel plates or MCPs (or similar electron multiplication structures) traditionally used in image intensifiers and X-ray detectors with amorphous silicon (a-Si) pixel arrays to produce a composite converter and intensifier position sensitive imaging system. This detector will provide an order of magnitude improvement in image resolution when compared with current millimetre resolution limits obtained using phosphor or scintillator-based hydrogen rich converters. In this study we present the results of the initial experimental evaluation of the prototype system. This study was carried out using a medical X-ray source for the proof of concept tests, the next phase will involve neutron imaging tests. The hybrid detector described in this study is a unique development and paves the way for large area position sensitive detectors consisting of MCP or microsphere plate detectors and a-Si or polysilicon pixel arrays. Applications include neutron and X-ray imaging for terrestrial applications. The technology could be extended to space instrumentation for X-ray astronomy.

Ultraviolet quantum detection efficiency of potassium bromide as an opaque photocathode applied to microchannel plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; Everman, E.; Vallerga, J. V.; Sokolowski, J.; Lampton, M.

1987-01-01

The quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of potassium bromide as a photocathode applied directly to the surface of a microchannel plate over the 250-1600 A wavelength range has been measured. The contributions of the photocathode material in the channels and on the interchannel web to the QDE have been determined. Two broad peaks in the QDE centered at about 450 and about 1050 A are apparent, the former with about 50 percent peak QDE and the latter with about 40 percent peak QDE. The photoelectric threshold is observed at about 1600 A, and there is a narrow QDE minimum at about 750 A which correlates with 2X the band gap energy for KBr. The angular variation of the QDE from 0 to 40 deg to the channnel axis has also been examined. The stability of Kbr with time is shown to be good with no significant degradation of QDE at wavelengths below 1216 A over a 15-day period in air.

Evaporative CO2 microchannel cooling for the LHCb VELO pixel upgrade

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Aguiar Francisco, O. A.; Buytaert, J.; Collins, P.; Dumps, R.; John, M.; Mapelli, A.; Romagnoli, G.

2015-05-01

The LHCb Vertex Detector (VELO) will be upgraded in 2018 to a lightweight pixel detector capable of 40 MHz readout and operation in very close proximity to the LHC beams. The thermal management of the system will be provided by evaporative CO2 circulating in microchannels embedded within thin silicon plates. This solution has been selected due to the excellent thermal efficiency, the absence of thermal expansion mismatch with silicon ASICs and sensors, the radiation hardness of CO2, and very low contribution to the material budget. Although microchannel cooling is gaining considerable attention for applications related to microelectronics, it is still a novel technology for particle physics experiments, in particular when combined with evaporative CO2 cooling. The R&D effort for LHCb is focused on the design and layout of the channels together with a fluidic connector and its attachment which must withstand pressures up to 170 bar. Even distribution of the coolant is ensured by means of the use of restrictions implemented before the entrance to a race track like layout of the main cooling channels. The coolant flow and pressure drop have been simulated as well as the thermal performance of the device. This proceeding describes the design and optimization of the cooling system for LHCb and the latest prototyping results.

Microchannel apparatus and methods of conducting catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenation

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee [Dublin, OH; Yang, Bin [Columbus, OH; Perry, Steven T [Galloway, OH; Mazanec, Terry [Solon, OH; Arora, Ravi [New Albany, OH; Daly, Francis P [Delaware, OH; Long, Richard [New Albany, OH; Yuschak, Thomas D [Lewis Center, OH; Neagle, Paul W [Westerville, OH; Glass, Amanda [Galloway, OH

2011-08-16

Methods of oxidative dehydrogenation are described. Surprisingly, Pd and Au alloys of Pt have been discovered to be superior for oxidative dehydrogenation in microchannels. Methods of forming these catalysts via an electroless plating methodology are also described. An apparatus design that minimizes heat transfer to the apparatus' exterior is also described.

Research on silicon microchannel array oxidation insulation technology and stress issues

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chai, Jin; Li, Mo; Liang, Yong-zhao; Yang, Ji-kai; Wang, Guo-zheng; Duanmu, Qing-duo

2013-08-01

Microchannel plate is widely used in the field of low light level night vision, photomultiplier, tubes, X-ray enhancer and so on. In order to meet the requirement of microchannel plate electron multiplier, we used the method of thermal oxidation to produce a thin film of silicon dioxide which could play a role in electric insulation. Silicon dioxide film has a high breakdown voltage, it can satisfy the high breakdown voltage requirements of electron multiplier. We should find the reasonable parameter values and preparation process in the oxidation so that the thickness and uniformity of the silicon dioxide layer would meet requirement. This article has been focused on researching and analyzing of the problem of oxide insulation and thermal stress in the process of production of silicon dioxide film. In this experiment, dry oxygen and wet oxygen were carried out respectively for 8 hours. The thickness of dry oxygen silicon dioxide films was 458 nm and wet oxygen silicon dioxide films was 1.4 μm. Under these conditions, the silicon microchannel is uniformity and neat, meanwhile the insulating layer's breakdown voltage was measured at 450 V after the wet oxygen oxidation. By using ANSYS finite element software, we analyze the thermal stress, which came from the microchannel oxygen processes, under the conditions of which ambient temperature was 27 ℃ and porosity was 64%, we simulated the thermal stress in the temperature of 1200 ℃ and 1000 ℃, finally we got the maximum equivalent thermal stress of 472 MPa and 403 MPa respectively. The higher thermal stress area was spread over Si-SiO2 interface, by simulate conditions 50% porosity silicon microchannel sample was selected for simulation analysis at 1100 ℃, we got the maximum equivalent thermal stress of 472 MPa, Thermal stress is the minimum value of 410 MPa.

Development, Fabrication, and Testing of a Liquid/Liquid Microchannel Heat Exchanger for Constellation Spacecrafts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hawkins-Reynolds, Ebony; Le, Hung; Stephan, Ryan

2010-01-01

Microchannel technology can be incorporated into heat exchanger designs to decrease the mass and volume of space hardware. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Johnson Space Center (NASA JSC) partnered with Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) to develop a liquid/liquid microchannel heat exchanger that has significant mass and volume savings without sacrificing thermal and pressure drop performance. PNNL designed the microchannel heat exchanger to the same performance design requirements of a conventional plate and fin liquid/liquid heat exchanger; 3 kW duty with inlet temperatures of 26 C and 4 C. Both heat exchangers were tested using the same test parameters on a test apparatus and performance data compared.

Study of condensation of refrigerants in a micro-channel for development of future compact micro-channel condensers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chowdhury, Sourav

2009-12-01

Mini- and micro-channel technology has gained considerable ground in the recent years in industry and is favored due to its several advantages stemming from its high surface to volume ratio and high values of proof pressure it can withstand. Micro-channel technology has paved the way to development of highly compact heat exchangers with low cost and mass penalties. In the present work, the issues related to the sizing of compact micro-channel condensers have been explored. The considered designs encompass both the conventional and MEMS fabrication techniques. In case of MEMS-fabricated micro-channel condenser, wet etching of the micro-channel structures, followed by bonding of two such wafers with silicon nitride layers at the interface was attempted. It was concluded that the silicon nitride bonding requires great care in terms of high degree of surface flatness and absence of roughness and also high degree of surface purity and thus cannot be recommended for mass fabrication. Following this investigation, a carefully prepared experimental setup and test micro-channel with hydraulic diameter 700 mum and aspect ratio 7:1 was fabricated and overall heat transfer and pressure drop aspects of two condensing refrigerants, R134a and R245fa were studied at a variety of test conditions. To the best of author's knowledge, so far no data has been reported in the literature on condensation in such high aspect ratio micro-channels. Most of the published experimental works on condensation of refrigerants are concerning conventional hydraulic diameter channels (> 3mm) and only recently some experimental data has been reported in the sub-millimeter scale channels for which the surface tension and viscosity effects play a dominant role and the effect of gravity is diminished. It is found that both experimental data and empirically-derived correlations tend to under-predict the present data by an average of 25%. The reason for this deviation could be because a high aspect ratio

Development of two-channel prototype ITER vacuum ultraviolet spectrometer with back-illuminated charge-coupled device and microchannel plate detectors.

PubMed

Seon, C R; Choi, S H; Cheon, M S; Pak, S; Lee, H G; Biel, W; Barnsley, R

2010-10-01

A vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectrometer of a five-channel spectral system is designed for ITER main plasma impurity measurement. To develop and verify the system design, a two-channel prototype system is fabricated with No. 3 (14.4-31.8 nm) and No. 4 (29.0-60.0 nm) among the five channels. The optical system consists of a collimating mirror to collect the light from source to slit, two holographic diffraction gratings with toroidal geometry, and two different electronic detectors. For the test of the prototype system, a hollow cathode lamp is used as a light source. To find the appropriate detector for ITER VUV system, two kinds of detectors of the back-illuminated charge-coupled device and the microchannel plate electron multiplier are tested, and their performance has been investigated.

Optical and UV Sensing Sealed Tube Microchannel Plate Imaging Detectors with High Time Resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegmund, O.; Vallerga, J.; Tremsin, A.; Hull, J.; Elam, J.; Mane, A.

2014-09-01

Microchannel plate (MCP) based imaging, photon time tagging detector sealed tube schemes have a unique set of operational features that enable high time resolution astronomical and remote sensing applications to be addressed. New detectors using the cross strip (XS), cross delay line (XDL), or stripline anode readouts, a wide range of photocathode types, and advanced MCP technologies have been implemented to improve many performance characteristics. A variety of sealed tubes have been developed including 18mm XS readout devices with GaAs and SuperGenII photocathodes, 25mm XDL readout devices with SuperGenII and GaN photocathodes, and 20 x 20 cm sealed tubes with bialkali photocathodes and strip line readout. One key technology that has just become viable is the ability to make MCPs using atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. This employs nanofabrication of the active layers of an MCP on a microcapillary array. This technique opens new performance opportunities, including, very large MCP areas (>20cm), very low intrinsic background, lower radiation induced background, much longer overall lifetime and gain stability, and markedly lower outgassing which can improve the sealed tube lifetime and ease of fabrication. The XS readout has been implemented in formats of 22mm, 50mm and 100mm, and uses MCP charge signals detected on two orthogonal layers of conductive fingers to encode event X-Y positions. We have achieved spatial resolution XS detectors better than 25 microns FWHM, with good image linearity while at low gain (<10^6), substantially increasing local counting rate capabilities and the overall tube lifetime. XS tubes with updated electronics can encode event rates of >5 MHz with ~12% dead time and event timing accuracy of ~100ps. XDL sealed tubes in 25mm format demonstrate ~40 micron spatial resolution at up to ~2 MHz event rates, and have been developed with SupergenII visible regime photocathodes. The XDL tubes also achieve ~100 ps time resolution. Most

Image processing operations achievable with the Microchannel Spatial Light Modulator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warde, C.; Fisher, A. D.; Thackara, J. I.; Weiss, A. M.

1980-01-01

The Microchannel Spatial Light Modulator (MSLM) is a versatile, optically-addressed, highly-sensitive device that is well suited for low-light-level, real-time, optical information processing. It consists of a photocathode, a microchannel plate (MCP), a planar acceleration grid, and an electro-optic plate in proximity focus. A framing rate of 20 Hz with full modulation depth, and 100 Hz with 20% modulation depth has been achieved in a vacuum-demountable LiTaO3 device. A halfwave exposure sensitivity of 2.2 mJ/sq cm and an optical information storage time of more than 2 months have been achieved in a similar gridless LiTaO3 device employing a visible photocathode. Image processing operations such as analog and digital thresholding, real-time image hard clipping, contrast reversal, contrast enhancement, image addition and subtraction, and binary-level logic operations such as AND, OR, XOR, and NOR can be achieved with this device. This collection of achievable image processing characteristics makes the MSLM potentially useful for a number of smart sensor applications.

Influence of the three-dimensional heterogeneous roughness on electrokinetic transport in microchannels.

PubMed

Hu, Yandong; Werner, Carsten; Li, Dongqing

2004-12-15

Surface roughness has been considered as a passive means of enhancing species mixing in electroosmotic flow through microfluidic systems. It is highly desirable to understand the synergetic effect of three-dimensional (3D) roughness and surface heterogeneity on the electrokinetic flow through microchannels. In this study, we developed a three-dimensional finite-volume-based numerical model to simulate electroosmotic transport in a slit microchannel (formed between two parallel plates) with numerous heterogeneous prismatic roughness elements arranged symmetrically and asymmetrically on the microchannel walls. We consider that all 3D prismatic rough elements have the same surface charge or zeta potential, the substrate (the microchannel wall) surface has a different zeta potential. The results showed that the rough channel's geometry and the electroosmotic mobility ratio of the roughness elements' surface to that of the substrate, epsilon(mu), have a dramatic influence on the induced-pressure field, the electroosmotic flow patterns, and the electroosmotic flow rate in the heterogeneous rough microchannels. The associated sample-species transport presents a tidal-wave-like concentration field at the intersection between four neighboring rough elements under low epsilon(mu) values and has a concentration field similar to that of the smooth channels under high epsilon(mu) values.

Micro-PIV/LIF measurements on electrokinetically-driven flow in surface modified microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ichiyanagi, Mitsuhisa; Sasaki, Seiichi; Sato, Yohei; Hishida, Koichi

2009-04-01

Effects of surface modification patterning on flow characteristics were investigated experimentally by measuring electroosmotic flow velocities, which were obtained by micron-resolution particle image velocimetry using a confocal microscope. The depth-wise velocity was evaluated by using the continuity equation and the velocity data. The microchannel was composed of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) chip and a borosilicate cover-glass plate. Surface modification patterns were fabricated by modifying octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS) on the glass surface. OTS can decrease the electroosmotic flow velocity compared to the velocity in the glass microchannel. For the surface charge varying parallel to the electric field, the depth-wise velocity was generated at the boundary area between OTS and the glass surfaces. For the surface charge varying perpendicular to the electric field, the depth-wise velocity did not form because the surface charge did not vary in the stream-wise direction. The surface charge pattern with the oblique stripes yielded a three-dimensional flow in a microchannel. Furthermore, the oblique patterning was applied to a mixing flow field in a T-shaped microchannel, and mixing efficiencies were evaluated from heterogeneity degree of fluorescent dye intensity, which was obtained by laser-induced fluorescence. It was found that the angle of the oblique stripes is an important factor to promote the span-wise and depth-wise momentum transport and contributes to the mixing flow in a microchannel.

Soft X-ray and extreme utraviolet quantum detection efficiency of potassium chloride photocathode layers on microchannel plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegmund, Oswald H. W.; Everman, Elaine; Hull, Jeff; Vallerga, John V.; Lampton, Michael

1988-01-01

The quantum detection efficiency (QDE) of KCl photocathodes in the 44-1460 A range was investigated. An opaque layer of KCl, about 15,000-A-thick, was evaporated and applied the surface of a microchannel plate (MCP), and the contribution of the photocathode material in the channels (and on the interchannel web) to the QDE was measured using a Z stack MCP detector. It is shown that KCl is a relatively stable photocathode material, with the QDE equal to 30-40 percent in the EUV. At wavelengths above 200 A, the QDE is slightly better than the QDE of CsI, as reported by Siegmund et al. (1986). While the shape of the QDE curve as a function of wavelength is similar to those reported for CsI and KBr, KCl was found to lack the high QDE peak found in the curves of CsI and KBr at about 100 A. A simple QDE model is described, the predictions of which were found to agree with the measurements on the KCl photocathode.

Microchannel emulsification: A promising technique towards encapsulation of functional compounds.

PubMed

Khalid, Nauman; Kobayashi, Isao; Neves, Marcos A; Uemura, Kunihiko; Nakajima, Mitsutoshi

2017-06-13

This review provides an overview of microchannel emulsification (MCE) for production of functional monodispersed emulsion droplets. The main emphasis has been put on functional bioactives encapsulation using grooved-type and straight-through microchannel array plates. MCE successfully encapsulates the bioactives like β-carotene, oleuropein, γ-oryzanol, β-sitosterol, L-ascorbic acid and ascorbic acid derivatives, vitamin D and quercetin. These bioactives were encapsulated in a variety of delivery systems like simple and multiple emulsions, polymeric particles, microgels, solid lipid particles and functional vesicles. The droplet generation process in MCE is based upon spontaneous transformation of interfaces rather than high energy shear stress systems. The scale-up of MCE can increase the productivity of monodispersed droplets >100 L h -1 and makes it a promising tool at industrial level.

Comparative Response of Microchannel Plate and Channel Electron Multiplier Detectors to Penetrating Radiation in Space

DOE PAGES

Funsten, Herbert O.; Harper, Ronnie W.; Dors, Eric E.; ...

2015-10-02

Channel electron multiplier (CEM) and microchannel plate (MCP) detectors are routinely used in space instrumentation for measurement of space plasmas. Here, our goal is to understand the relative sensitivities of these detectors to penetrating radiation in space, which can generate background counts and shorten detector lifetime. We use 662 keV γ-rays as a proxy for penetrating radiation such as γ-rays, cosmic rays, and high-energy electrons and protons that are ubiquitous in the space environment. We find that MCP detectors are ~20 times more sensitive to 662 keV γ-rays than CEM detectors. This is attributed to the larger total area ofmore » multiplication channels in an MCP detector that is sensitive to electronic excitation and ionization resulting from the interaction of penetrating radiation with the detector material. In contrast to the CEM detector, whose quantum efficiency ε γ for 662 keVγ -rays is found to be 0.00175 and largely independent of detector bias, the quantum efficiency of the MCP detector is strongly dependent on the detector bias, with a power law index of 5.5. Lastly, background counts in MCP detectors from penetrating radiation can be reduced using MCP geometries with higher pitch and smaller channel diameter.« less

3D nanomolding and fluid mixing in micromixers with micro-patterned microchannel walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farshchian, Bahador; Amirsadeghi, Alborz; Choi, Junseo; Park, Daniel S.; Kim, Namwon; Park, Sunggook

2017-03-01

Microfluidic devices where the microchannel walls were decorated with micro and nanostructures were fabricated using 3D nanomolding. Using 3D molded microfluidic devices with microchannel walls decorated with microscale gratings, the fluid mixing behavior was investigated through experiments and numerical simulation. The use of microscale gratings in the micromixer was predicated by the fact that large obstacles in a microchannel enhances the mixing performance. Slanted ratchet gratings on the channel walls resulted in a helical flow along the microchannel, thus increasing the interfacial area between fluids and cutting down the diffusion length. Increasing the number of walls decorated with continuous ratchet gratings intensified the strength of the helical flow, enhancing mixing further. When ratchet gratings on the surface of the top cover plate were aligned in a direction to break the continuity of gratings from the other three walls, a stack of two helical flows was formed one above each other. This work concludes that the 3D nanomolding process can be a cost-effective tool for scaling-up the fabrication of microfluidic mixers with improved mixing efficiencies.[Figure not available: see fulltext.

Microchannel contacting of crystalline silicon solar cells

DOE PAGES

Bullock, James; Ota, Hiroki; Wang, Hanchen; ...

2017-08-22

There is tremendous interest in reducing losses caused by the metal contacts in silicon photovoltaics, particularly the optical and resistive losses of the front metal grid. One commonly sought-after goal is the creation of high aspect-ratio metal fingers which provide an optically narrow and low resistance pathway to the external circuit. Currently, the most widely used metal contact deposition techniques are limited to widths and aspect-ratios of ~40 μm and ~0.5, respectively. In this study, we introduce the use of a micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane encapsulation layer to form narrow (~20 μm) microchannels, with aspect-ratios up to 8, on the surface ofmore » solar cells. We demonstrate that low temperature metal pastes, electroless plating and atomic layer deposition can all be used within the microchannels. Further, we fabricate proof-of-concept structures including simple planar silicon heterojunction and homojunction solar cells. While preliminary in both design and efficiency, these results demonstrate the potential of this approach and its compatibility with current solar cell architectures.« less

Microchannel contacting of crystalline silicon solar cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bullock, James; Ota, Hiroki; Wang, Hanchen

There is tremendous interest in reducing losses caused by the metal contacts in silicon photovoltaics, particularly the optical and resistive losses of the front metal grid. One commonly sought-after goal is the creation of high aspect-ratio metal fingers which provide an optically narrow and low resistance pathway to the external circuit. Currently, the most widely used metal contact deposition techniques are limited to widths and aspect-ratios of ~40 μm and ~0.5, respectively. In this study, we introduce the use of a micropatterned polydimethylsiloxane encapsulation layer to form narrow (~20 μm) microchannels, with aspect-ratios up to 8, on the surface ofmore » solar cells. We demonstrate that low temperature metal pastes, electroless plating and atomic layer deposition can all be used within the microchannels. Further, we fabricate proof-of-concept structures including simple planar silicon heterojunction and homojunction solar cells. While preliminary in both design and efficiency, these results demonstrate the potential of this approach and its compatibility with current solar cell architectures.« less

Picosecond timing resolution detection of ggr-photons utilizing microchannel-plate detectors: experimental tests of quantum nonlocality and photon localization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irby, Victor D.

2004-09-01

The concept and subsequent experimental verification of the proportionality between pulse amplitude and detector transit time for microchannel-plate detectors is presented. This discovery has led to considerable improvement in the overall timing resolution for detection of high-energy ggr-photons. Utilizing a 22Na positron source, a full width half maximum (FWHM) timing resolution of 138 ps has been achieved. This FWHM includes detector transit-time spread for both chevron-stack-type detectors, timing spread due to uncertainties in annihilation location, all electronic uncertainty and any remaining quantum mechanical uncertainty. The first measurement of the minimum quantum uncertainty in the time interval between detection of the two annihilation photons is reported. The experimental results give strong evidence against instantaneous spatial localization of ggr-photons due to measurement-induced nonlocal quantum wavefunction collapse. The experimental results are also the first that imply momentum is conserved only after the quantum uncertainty in time has elapsed (Yukawa H 1935 Proc. Phys. Math. Soc. Japan 17 48).

Design and fabrication of prototype 6×6 cm 2 microchannel plate photodetector with bialkali photocathode for fast timing applications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xie, Junqi; Byrum, Karen; Demarteau, Marcel

Planar microchannel plate-based photodetector with bialkali photocathode is capable of fast and accurate time and position resolutions. A new 6 cm x 6 cm photodetector production facility was designed and built at Argonne National Laboratory. Small form-factor MCP-based photodetectors completely constructed of glass were designed and prototypes were successfully fabricated. Knudsen effusion cells were incorporated in the photocathode growth chamber to achieve uniform and high quantum efficiency hotocathodes. The thin film uniformity distribution was simulated and measured for an antimony film deposition, showing uniformity of better than 10%. Several prototype devices with bialkali photocathodes have been fabricated with the describedmore » system and their characteristics were evaluated in the large signal (multi-PE) limit. A typical prototype device exhibits time-of-flight resolution of ~ 27 psec and differential time resolution of ~ 9 psec, corresponding to spatial resolution of ~ 0.65 mm.« less

Maximizing the quantum efficiency of microchannel plate detectors - The collection of photoelectrons from the interchannel web using an electric field

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, R. C.; Hettrick, M. C.; Malina, R. F.

1983-01-01

High quantum efficiency and two-dimensional imaging capabilities make the microchannel plate (MCP) a suitable detector for a sky survey instrument. The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer satellite, to be launched in 1987, will use MCP detectors. A feature which limits MCP efficiency is related to the walls of individual channels. The walls are of finite thickness and thus form an interchannel web. Under normal circumstances, this web does not contribute to the detector's quantum efficiency. Panitz and Foesch (1976) have found that in the case of a bombardment with ions, electrons were ejected from the electrode material coating the web. By applying a small electric field, the electrons were returned to the MCP surface where they were detected. The present investigation is concerned with the enhancement of quantum efficiencies in the case of extreme UV wavelengths. Attention is given to a model and a computer simulation which quantitatively reproduce the experimental results.

Neural signal registration and analysis of axons grown in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pigareva, Y.; Malishev, E.; Gladkov, A.; Kolpakov, V.; Bukatin, A.; Mukhina, I.; Kazantsev, V.; Pimashkin, A.

2016-08-01

Registration of neuronal bioelectrical signals remains one of the main physical tools to study fundamental mechanisms of signal processing in the brain. Neurons generate spiking patterns which propagate through complex map of neural network connectivity. Extracellular recording of isolated axons grown in microchannels provides amplification of the signal for detailed study of spike propagation. In this study we used neuronal hippocampal cultures grown in microfluidic devices combined with microelectrode arrays to investigate a changes of electrical activity during neural network development. We found that after 5 days in vitro after culture plating the spiking activity appears first in microchannels and on the next 2-3 days appears on the electrodes of overall neural network. We conclude that such approach provides a convenient method to study neural signal processing and functional structure development on a single cell and network level of the neuronal culture.

Static response of deformable microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christov, Ivan C.; Sidhore, Tanmay C.

2017-11-01

Microfluidic channels manufactured from PDMS are a key component of lab-on-a-chip devices. Experimentally, rectangular microchannels are found to deform into a non-rectangular cross-section due to fluid-structure interactions. Deformation affects the flow profile, which results in a nonlinear relationship between the volumetric flow rate and the pressure drop. We develop a framework, within the lubrication approximation (l >> w >> h), to self-consistently derive flow rate-pressure drop relations. Emphasis is placed on handling different types of elastic response: from pure plate-bending, to half-space deformation, to membrane stretching. The ``simplest'' model (Stokes flow in a 3D rectangular channel capped with a linearly elastic Kirchhoff-Love plate) agrees well with recent experiments. We also simulate the static response of such microfluidic channels under laminar flow conditions using ANSYSWorkbench. Simulations are calibrated using experimental flow rate-pressure drop data from the literature. The simulations provide highly resolved deformation profiles, which are difficult to measure experimentally. By comparing simulations, experiments and our theoretical models, we show good agreement in many flow/deformation regimes, without any fitting parameters.

Axially Tapered And Bilayer Microchannels For Evaporative Cooling Devices

DOEpatents

Nilson, Robert; Griffiths, Stewart

2005-10-04

The invention consists of an evaporative cooling device comprising one or more microchannels whose cross section is axially reduced to control the maximum capillary pressure differential between liquid and vapor phases. In one embodiment, the evaporation channels have a rectangular cross section that is reduced in width along a flow path. In another embodiment, channels of fixed width are patterned with an array of microfabricated post-like features such that the feature size and spacing are gradually reduced along the flow path. Other embodiments incorporate bilayer channels consisting of an upper cover plate having a pattern of slots or holes of axially decreasing size and a lower fluid flow layer having channel widths substantially greater than the characteristic microscale dimensions of the patterned cover plate. The small dimensions of the cover plate holes afford large capillary pressure differentials while the larger dimensions of the lower region reduce viscous flow resistance.

Development of a single-photon-counting camera with use of a triple-stacked micro-channel plate.

PubMed

Yasuda, Naruomi; Suzuki, Hitoshi; Katafuchi, Tetsuro

2016-01-01

At the quantum-mechanical level, all substances (not merely electromagnetic waves such as light and X-rays) exhibit wave–particle duality. Whereas students of radiation science can easily understand the wave nature of electromagnetic waves, the particle (photon) nature may elude them. Therefore, to assist students in understanding the wave–particle duality of electromagnetic waves, we have developed a photon-counting camera that captures single photons in two-dimensional images. As an image intensifier, this camera has a triple-stacked micro-channel plate (MCP) with an amplification factor of 10(6). The ultra-low light of a single photon entering the camera is first converted to an electron through the photoelectric effect on the photocathode. The electron is intensified by the triple-stacked MCP and then converted to a visible light distribution, which is measured by a high-sensitivity complementary metal oxide semiconductor image sensor. Because it detects individual photons, the photon-counting camera is expected to provide students with a complete understanding of the particle nature of electromagnetic waves. Moreover, it measures ultra-weak light that cannot be detected by ordinary low-sensitivity cameras. Therefore, it is suitable for experimental research on scintillator luminescence, biophoton detection, and similar topics.

3D nanomolding and fluid mixing in micromixers with micro-patterned microchannel walls.

PubMed

Farshchian, Bahador; Amirsadeghi, Alborz; Choi, Junseo; Park, Daniel S; Kim, Namwon; Park, Sunggook

2017-01-01

Microfluidic devices where the microchannel walls were decorated with micro and nanostructures were fabricated using 3D nanomolding. Using 3D molded microfluidic devices with microchannel walls decorated with microscale gratings, the fluid mixing behavior was investigated through experiments and numerical simulation. The use of microscale gratings in the micromixer was predicated by the fact that large obstacles in a microchannel enhances the mixing performance. Slanted ratchet gratings on the channel walls resulted in a helical flow along the microchannel, thus increasing the interfacial area between fluids and cutting down the diffusion length. Increasing the number of walls decorated with continuous ratchet gratings intensified the strength of the helical flow, enhancing mixing further. When ratchet gratings on the surface of the top cover plate were aligned in a direction to break the continuity of gratings from the other three walls, a stack of two helical flows was formed one above each other. This work concludes that the 3D nanomolding process can be a cost-effective tool for scaling-up the fabrication of microfluidic mixers with improved mixing efficiencies.Graphical abstractIn this paper we show that a micromixer with patterned walls can be fabricated using 3D nanomolding and solvent-assisted bonding to manipulate the flow patterns to improve mixing.

Gamma-ray detection efficiency of the microchannel plate installed as an ion detector in the low energy particle instrument onboard the GEOTAIL satellite.

PubMed

Tanaka, Y T; Yoshikawa, I; Yoshioka, K; Terasawa, T; Saito, Y; Mukai, T

2007-03-01

A microchannel plate (MCP) assembly has been used as an ion detector in the low energy particle (LEP) instrument onboard the magnetospheric satellite GEOTAIL. Recently the MCP assembly has detected gamma rays emitted from an astronomical object and has been shown to provide unique information of gamma rays if they are intense enough. However, the detection efficiency for gamma rays was not measured before launch, and therefore we could not analyze the LEP data quantitatively. In this article, we report the gamma-ray detection efficiency of the MCP assembly. The measured efficiencies are 1.29%+/-0.71% and 0.21%+/-0.14% for normal incidence 60 and 662 keV gamma rays, respectively. The incident angle dependence is also presented. Our calibration is crucial to study high energy astrophysical phenomena by using the LEP.

The development and test of multi-anode microchannel array detector systems. Part 2: Soft X-ray detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.

1986-01-01

Detector systems based on the high gain microchannel plate (MCP) electron multiplier were used extensively for imaging at soft X-ray wavelengths both on the ground and in space. The latest pulse counting electronic readout systems provide zero readout noise, spatial resolutions (FWHM) of 25 microns or better and can determine the arrival times of detected photons to an accuracy of the order of 100 ns. These systems can be developed to produce detectors with active areas of 100 nm in diameter or greater. The use of CsI photocathodes produces very high detective quantum efficiencies at wavelengths between about 100 and 1A (approximately 0.1 to 10 keV) with moderate energy resolution. The operating characteristics of the different types of soft X-ray MCP detector systems are described and the prospects for future developments are discussed.

Discussion on the solar concentrating thermoelectric generation using micro-channel heat pipe array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Guiqiang; Feng, Wei; Jin, Yi; Chen, Xiao; Ji, Jie

2017-11-01

Heat pipe is a high efficient tool in solar energy applications. In this paper, a novel solar concentrating thermoelectric generation using micro-channel heat pipe array (STEG-MCHP) was presented. The flat-plate micro-channel heat pipe array not only has a higher heat transfer performance than the common heat pipe, but also can be placed on the surface of TEG closely, which can further reduce the thermal resistance between the heat pipe and the TEG. A preliminary comparison experiment was also conducted to indicate the advantages of the STEG-MCHP. The optimization based on the model verified by the experiment was demonstrated, and the concentration ratio and selective absorbing coating area were also discussed. In addition, the cost analysis was also performed to compare between the STEG-MCHP and the common solar concentrating TEGs in series. The outcome showed that the solar concentrating thermoelectric generation using micro-channel heat pipe array has the higher electrical efficiency and lower cost, which may provide a suitable way for solar TEG applications.

Laminar flow in a microchannel with superhydrophobic walls exhibiting transverse ribs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, J.; Maynes, D.; Webb, B. W.; Woolford, B.

2006-08-01

One approach recently proposed for reducing the frictional resistance to liquid flow in microchannels is the patterning of microribs and cavities on the channel walls. When treated with a hydrophobic coating, the liquid flowing in the microchannel wets only the surfaces of the ribs, and does not penetrate the cavities, provided the pressure is not too high. The net result is a reduction in the surface contact area between channel walls and the flowing liquid. For microribs and cavities that are aligned normal to the channel axis (principal flow direction), these micropatterns form a repeating, periodic structure. This paper presents results of a study exploring the momentum transport in a parallel-plate microchannel with such microengineered walls. The investigation explored the entire laminar flow Reynolds number range and characterized the influence of the vapor cavity depth on the overall flow field. The liquid-vapor interface (meniscus) in the cavity regions is treated as flat in the numerical analysis and two conditions are explored with regard to the cavity region: (1) The liquid flow at the liquid-vapor interface is treated as shear-free (vanishing viscosity in the vapor region), and (2) the liquid flow in the microchannel core and the vapor flow within the cavity are coupled by matching the velocity and shear stress at the interface. Regions of slip and no-slip behavior exist and the velocity field shows distinct variations from classical laminar flow in a parallel-plate channel. The local streamwise velocity profiles, interfacial velocity distributions, and maximum interfacial velocities are presented for a number of scenarios and provide a sound understanding of the local flow physics. The predictions and accompanying measurements reveal that significant reductions in the frictional pressure drop (enhancement in effective fluid slip at the channel walls) can be achieved relative to the classical smooth-channel Stokes flow. Reductions in the friction

Monolithic microchannel heatsink

DOEpatents

Benett, W.J.; Beach, R.J.; Ciarlo, D.R.

1996-08-20

A silicon wafer has slots sawn in it that allow diode laser bars to be mounted in contact with the silicon. Microchannels are etched into the back of the wafer to provide cooling of the diode bars. To facilitate getting the channels close to the diode bars, the channels are rotated from an angle perpendicular to the diode bars which allows increased penetration between the mounted diode bars. This invention enables the fabrication of monolithic silicon microchannel heatsinks for laser diodes. The heatsinks have low thermal resistance because of the close proximity of the microchannels to the laser diode being cooled. This allows high average power operation of two-dimensional laser diode arrays that have a high density of laser diode bars and therefore high optical power density. 9 figs.

Monolithic microchannel heatsink

DOEpatents

Benett, William J.; Beach, Raymond J.; Ciarlo, Dino R.

1996-01-01

A silicon wafer has slots sawn in it that allow diode laser bars to be mounted in contact with the silicon. Microchannels are etched into the back of the wafer to provide cooling of the diode bars. To facilitate getting the channels close to the diode bars, the channels are rotated from an angle perpendicular to the diode bars which allows increased penetration between the mounted diode bars. This invention enables the fabrication of monolithic silicon microchannel heatsinks for laser diodes. The heatsinks have low thermal resistance because of the close proximity of the microchannels to the laser diode being cooled. This allows high average power operation of two-dimensional laser diode arrays that have a high density of laser diode bars and therefore high optical power density.

The Parameterization of Top-Hat Particle Sensors with Microchannel-Plate-Based Detection Systems and its Application to the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gershman, Daniel J.; Gliese, Ulrik; Dorelli, John C.; Avanov, Levon A.; Barrie, Alexander C.; Chornay, Dennis J.; MacDonald, Elizabeth A.; Holland, Matthew P.; Pollock, Craig J.

2015-01-01

The most common instrument for low energy plasmas consists of a top-hat electrostatic analyzer geometry coupled with a microchannel-plate (MCP)-based detection system. While the electrostatic optics for such sensors are readily simulated and parameterized during the laboratory calibration process, the detection system is often less well characterized. Furthermore, due to finite resources, for large sensor suites such as the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) on NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, calibration data are increasingly sparse. Measurements must be interpolated and extrapolated to understand instrument behavior for untestable operating modes and yet sensor inter-calibration is critical to mission success. To characterize instruments from a minimal set of parameters we have developed the first comprehensive mathematical description of both sensor electrostatic optics and particle detection systems. We include effects of MCP efficiency, gain, scattering, capacitive crosstalk, and charge cloud spreading at the detector output. Our parameterization enables the interpolation and extrapolation of instrument response to all relevant particle energies, detector high voltage settings, and polar angles from a small set of calibration data. We apply this model to the 32 sensor heads in the Dual Electron Sensor (DES) and 32 sensor heads in the Dual Ion Sensor (DIS) instruments on the 4 MMS observatories and use least squares fitting of calibration data to extract all key instrument parameters. Parameters that will evolve in flight, namely MCP gain, will be determined daily through application of this model to specifically tailored in-flight calibration activities, providing a robust characterization of sensor suite performance throughout mission lifetime. Beyond FPI, our model provides a valuable framework for the simulation and evaluation of future detection system designs and can be used to maximize instrument understanding with minimal calibration

Distributive Distillation Enabled by Microchannel Process Technology

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Arora, Ravi

The application of microchannel technology for distributive distillation was studied to achieve the Grand Challenge goals of 25% energy savings and 10% return on investment. In Task 1, a detailed study was conducted and two distillation systems were identified that would meet the Grand Challenge goals if the microchannel distillation technology was used. Material and heat balance calculations were performed to develop process flow sheet designs for the two distillation systems in Task 2. The process designs were focused on two methods of integrating the microchannel technology 1) Integrating microchannel distillation to an existing conventional column, 2) Microchannel distillation formore » new plants. A design concept for a modular microchannel distillation unit was developed in Task 3. In Task 4, Ultrasonic Additive Machining (UAM) was evaluated as a manufacturing method for microchannel distillation units. However, it was found that a significant development work would be required to develop process parameters to use UAM for commercial distillation manufacturing. Two alternate manufacturing methods were explored. Both manufacturing approaches were experimentally tested to confirm their validity. The conceptual design of the microchannel distillation unit (Task 3) was combined with the manufacturing methods developed in Task 4 and flowsheet designs in Task 2 to estimate the cost of the microchannel distillation unit and this was compared to a conventional distillation column. The best results were for a methanol-water separation unit for the use in a biodiesel facility. For this application microchannel distillation was found to be more cost effective than conventional system and capable of meeting the DOE Grand Challenge performance requirements.« less

Forced-Convection, Liquid-Cooled, Microchannel Heat Sinks

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-07

SINK PERFORMANCE 131 5.1 Purpose of the Experimental Investigation 131 5.2 Heat -Sink Fabrication 131 5.2.1 Manufacturing the Microchannels in Indium...the thermal performance of microchannel heat sinks. The methods of microchannel fabrication including precision sawing and orientation-dependent...could be lower than if the microchannel heat sink had been fabricated directly in the back of the IC chip! Figure 4-9 presents the thermal and fluid

Separation process using microchannel technology

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee [Dublin, OH; Perry, Steven T [Galloway, OH; Arora, Ravi [Dublin, OH; Qiu, Dongming [Bothell, WA; Lamont, Michael Jay [Hilliard, OH; Burwell, Deanna [Cleveland Heights, OH; Dritz, Terence Andrew [Worthington, OH; McDaniel, Jeffrey S [Columbus, OH; Rogers, Jr; William, A [Marysville, OH; Silva, Laura J [Dublin, OH; Weidert, Daniel J [Lewis Center, OH; Simmons, Wayne W [Dublin, OH; Chadwell, G Bradley [Reynoldsburg, OH

2009-03-24

The disclosed invention relates to a process and apparatus for separating a first fluid from a fluid mixture comprising the first fluid. The process comprises: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator in contact with a sorption medium, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the first fluid is sorbed by the sorption medium, removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing first fluid from the sorption medium and removing desorbed first fluid from the microchannel separator. The process and apparatus are suitable for separating nitrogen or methane from a fluid mixture comprising nitrogen and methane. The process and apparatus may be used for rejecting nitrogen in the upgrading of sub-quality methane.

Field emission microplasma actuation for microchannel flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sashank Tholeti, Siva; Shivkumar, Gayathri; Alexeenko, Alina A.

2016-06-01

Microplasmas offer attractive flow control methodology for gas transport in microsystems where large viscous losses make conventional pumping methods highly inefficient. We study microscale flow actuation by dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) with field emission (FE) of electrons, which allows lowering the operational voltage from kV to a few hundred volts and below. A feasibility study of FE-DBD for flow actuation is performed using 2D particle-in-cell method with Monte Carlo collisions (PIC/MCC) at 10 MHz in nitrogen at atmospheric pressure. The free diffusion dominated, high velocity field emission electrons create a large positive space charge and a body force on the order of 106 N m-3. The body force and Joule heat decrease with increase in dielectric thickness and electrode thickness. The body force also decreases at lower pressures. The plasma body force distribution along with the Joule heating is then used in the Navier-Stokes simulations to quantify the flow actuation in a microchannel. Theoretical analysis and simulations for plasma actuated planar Poiseuille flow show that the gain in flow rate is inversely proportional to Reynolds number. This theoretical analysis is in good agreement with the simulations for a microchannel with closely placed actuators under incompressible conditions. Flow rate of FE-DBD driven 2D microchannel is around 100 ml min-1 mm-1 for an input power of 64 μW mm-1. The gas temperature rises by 1500 K due to the Joule heating, indicating FE-DBD’s potential for microcombustion, micropropulsion and chemical sensing in addition to microscale pumping and mixing applications.

Electroosmotic flows of non-Newtonian power-law fluids in a cylindrical microchannel.

PubMed

Zhao, Cunlu; Yang, Chun

2013-03-01

EOF of non-Newtonian power-law fluids in a cylindrical microchannel is analyzed theoretically. Specially, exact solutions of electroosmotic velocity corresponding to two special fluid behavior indices (n = 0.5 and 1.0) are found, while approximate solutions are derived for arbitrary values of fluid behavior index. It is found that because of the approximation for the first-order modified Bessel function of the first kind, the approximate solutions introduce largest errors for predicting electroosmotic velocity when the thickness of electric double layer is comparable to channel radius, but can accurately predict the electroosmotic velocity when the thickness of electric double layer is much smaller or larger than the channel radius. Importantly, the analysis reveals that the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity of power-law fluids in cylindrical microchannels becomes dependent on geometric dimensions (radius of channel), standing in stark contrast to the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity over planar surfaces or in parallel-plate microchannels. Such interesting and counterintuitive effects can be attributed to the nonlinear coupling among the electrostatics, channel geometry, and non-Newtonian hydrodynamics. Furthermore, a method for enhancement of EOFs of power-law fluids is proposed under a combined DC and AC electric field. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Aberrations in square pore micro-channel optics used for x-ray lobster eye telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willingale, R.; Pearson, J. F.; Martindale, A.; Feldman, C. H.; Fairbend, R.; Schyns, E.; Petit, S.; Osborne, J. P.; O'Brien, P. T.

2016-07-01

We identify all the significant aberrations that limit the performance of square pore micro-channel plate optics (MPOs) used as an X-ray lobster eye. These include aberrations intrinsic to the geometry, intrinsic errors associated with the slumping process used to introduce a spherical form to the plates and imperfections associated with the plate manufacturing process. The aberrations are incorporated into a comprehensive software model of the X-ray response of the optics and the predicted imaging response is compared with the measured X-ray performance obtained from a breadboard lobster eye. The results reveal the manufacturing tolerances which limit the current performance of MPOs and enable us to identify particular intrinsic aberrations which will limit the ultimate performance we can expect from MPO-lobster eye telescopes.

Miniature, low-power X-ray tube using a microchannel electron generator electron source

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Elam, Wm. Timothy (Inventor); Kelliher, Warren C. (Inventor); Hershyn, William (Inventor); DeLong, David P. (Inventor)

2011-01-01

Embodiments of the invention provide a novel, low-power X-ray tube and X-ray generating system. Embodiments of the invention use a multichannel electron generator as the electron source, thereby increasing reliability and decreasing power consumption of the X-ray tube. Unlike tubes using a conventional filament that must be heated by a current power source, embodiments of the invention require only a voltage power source, use very little current, and have no cooling requirements. The microchannel electron generator comprises one or more microchannel plates (MCPs), Each MCP comprises a honeycomb assembly of a plurality of annular components, which may be stacked to increase electron intensity. The multichannel electron generator used enables directional control of electron flow. In addition, the multichannel electron generator used is more robust than conventional filaments, making the resulting X-ray tube very shock and vibration resistant.

Field-effect Flow Control in Polymer Microchannel Networks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sniadecki, Nathan; Lee, Cheng S.; Beamesderfer, Mike; DeVoe, Don L.

2003-01-01

A new Bio-MEMS electroosmotic flow (EOF) modulator for plastic microchannel networks has been developed. The EOF modulator uses field-effect flow control (FEFC) to adjust the zeta potential at the Parylene C microchannel wall. By setting a differential EOF pumping rate in two of the three microchannels at a T-intersection with EOF modulators, the induced pressure at the intersection generated pumping in the third, field-free microchannel. The EOF modulators are able to change the magnitude and direction of the pressure pumping by inducing either a negative or positive pressure at the intersection. The flow velocity is tracked by neutralized fluorescent microbeads in the microchannels. The proof-of-concept of the EOF modulator described here may be applied to complex plastic ,microchannel networks where individual microchannel flow rates are addressable by localized induced-pressure pumping.

IR spectroscopic studies in microchannel structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guber, A. E.; Bier, W.

1998-06-01

By means of the various microengineering methods available, microreaction systems can be produced among others. These microreactors consist of microchannels, where chemical reactions take place under defined conditions. For optimum process control, continuous online analytics is envisaged in the microchannels. For this purpose, a special analytical module has been developed. It may be applied for IR spectroscopic studies at any point of the microchannel.

Active microchannel heat exchanger

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee Y [Pasco, WA; Roberts, Gary L [West Richland, WA; Call, Charles J [Pasco, WA; Wegeng, Robert S [Richland, WA; Wang, Yong [Richland, WA

2001-01-01

The present invention is an active microchannel heat exchanger with an active heat source and with microchannel architecture. The microchannel heat exchanger has (a) an exothermic reaction chamber; (b) an exhaust chamber; and (c) a heat exchanger chamber in thermal contact with the exhaust chamber, wherein (d) heat from the exothermic reaction chamber is convected by an exothermic reaction exhaust through the exhaust chamber and by conduction through a containment wall to the working fluid in the heat exchanger chamber thereby raising a temperature of the working fluid. The invention is particularly useful as a liquid fuel vaporizer and/or a steam generator for fuel cell power systems, and as a heat source for sustaining endothermic chemical reactions and initiating exothermic reactions.

Gas-Liquid Processing in Microchannels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.; Stenkamp, Victoria S.; Twitchell, Alvin

Processing gases and liquids together in microchannels having at least one dimension <1 mm has unique advantages for rapid heat and mass transfer. One approach for managing the two phases is to use porous structures as wicks within microchannels to segregate the liquid phase from the gas phase. Gas-liquid processing is accomplished by providing a gas flow path and inducing flow of the liquid phase through or along the wick under an induced pressure gradient. A variety of unit operations are enabled, including phase separation, partial condensation, absorption, desorption, and distillation. Results are reported of an investigation of microchannel phasemore » separation in a transparent, single-channel device. Next, heat exchange is integrated with the microchannel wick approach to create a partial condenser that also separates the condensate. Finally, the scale-up to a multi-channel phase separator is described.« less

Novel silicon microchannels device for use in red blood cell deformability studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Xiao-Lin; Liao, Yan-Jian; Zhang, Wen-Xian

2001-10-01

Currently, a number of techniques are used to access cell deformability. We study a novel silicon microchannels device for use in red blood cell deformability. The channels are produced in silicon substrate using microengineering technology. The microgrooves formed in the surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate. They were converted to channels by tightly covering them with an optical flat glass plate. An array of flow channels (number 950 in parallel) have typical dimensions of 5 micrometers width X 5.5 Xm depth, and 30 micrometers length. There the RBC's are forced to pass through channels. Thus, the microchannels are used to simulate human blood capillaries. It provides a specific measurement of individual cell in terms of both flow velocity profile and an index of cell volume while the cell flow through the channels. It dominates the complex cellular flow behavior, such as, the viscosity of whole blood is a nonlinear function of shear rate, index of filtration, etc.

Turbulent convection in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adams, Thomas Mcdaniel

1998-10-01

Single-phase forced convection in microchannels is an effective cooling mechanism capable of accommodating the high heat fluxes encountered in fission reactor cores, accelerator targets, microelectronic heat sinks and micro-heat exchangers. Traditional Nusselt type correlations, however, have generally been obtained using data from channels with hydraulic diameters >2 cm. Application of such relationships to microchannels is therefore questionable. A diameter limit below which traditional correlations are invalid had not been established. The objective of this investigation was to systematically address the effect of small hydraulic diameter on turbulent single-phase forced convection of water. A number of microchannels having hydraulic diameters ranging from 0.76 to 1.13 mm were constructed and tested over a wide range of flow rates and heat fluxes. Experimentally obtained Nusselt numbers were significantly higher than the values predicted by the Gnielinski correlation for large channels, the effect of decreasing diameter being to further increase heat transfer enhancement. A working correlation predicting the heat transfer enhancement for turbulent convection in microchannels was developed. The correlation predicts the lower diameter limit below which traditional correlations are no longer valid to be approximately 1.2 mm. Of further interest was the effect of the desorption of noncondensable gases dissolved in the water on turbulent convection. In large channels noncondensables undergo little desorption and their effect is negligible. The large pressure drops coupled with large temperature increases for high heat fluxes in microchannels, however, leads to a two-phase, two-component flow thereby enhancing heat transfer coefficients above their liquid- only values. A detailed mathematical model was developed to predict the resulting void fractions and liquid- coolant accelerations due to the desorption of noncondensables in microchannels. Experiments were also

High power density fuel cell comprising an array of microchannels

DOEpatents

Morse, Jeffrey D.; Upadhye, Ravindra S.; Spadaccini, Christopher M.; Park, Hyung Gyu

2013-10-15

A fuel cell according to one embodiment includes a porous electrolyte support structure defining an array of microchannels, the microchannels including fuel and oxidant microchannels; fuel electrodes formed along some of the microchannels; and oxidant electrodes formed along other of the microchannels. A method of making a fuel cell according to one embodiment includes forming an array of walls defining microchannels therebetween using at least one of molding, stamping, extrusion, injection and electrodeposition; processing the walls to make the walls porous, thereby creating a porous electrolyte support structure; forming anode electrodes along some of the microchannels; and forming cathode electrodes along other of the microchannels. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.

Experimental evaluation of the response of micro-channel plate detector to ions with 10s of MeV energies.

PubMed

Jeong, Tae Won; Singh, P K; Scullion, C; Ahmed, H; Kakolee, K F; Hadjisolomou, P; Alejo, A; Kar, S; Borghesi, M; Ter-Avetisyan, S

2016-08-01

The absolute calibration of a microchannel plate (MCP) assembly using a Thomson spectrometer for laser-driven ion beams is described. In order to obtain the response of the whole detection system to the particles' impact, a slotted solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39) was installed in front of the MCP to record the ions simultaneously on both detectors. The response of the MCP (counts/particles) was measured for 5-58 MeV carbon ions and for protons in the energy range 2-17.3 MeV. The response of the MCP detector is non-trivial when the stopping range of particles becomes larger than the thickness of the detector. Protons with energies E ≳ 10 MeV are energetic enough that they can pass through the MCP detector. Quantitative analysis of the pits formed in CR-39 and the signal generated in the MCP allowed to determine the MCP response to particles in this energy range. Moreover, a theoretical model allows to predict the response of MCP at even higher proton energies. This suggests that in this regime the MCP response is a slowly decreasing function of energy, consistently with the decrease of the deposited energy. These calibration data will enable particle spectra to be obtained in absolute terms over a broad energy range.

Experimental evaluation of the response of micro-channel plate detector to ions with 10s of MeV energies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jeong, Tae Won; Singh, P. K.; Scullion, C.; Ahmed, H.; Kakolee, K. F.; Hadjisolomou, P.; Alejo, A.; Kar, S.; Borghesi, M.; Ter-Avetisyan, S.

2016-08-01

The absolute calibration of a microchannel plate (MCP) assembly using a Thomson spectrometer for laser-driven ion beams is described. In order to obtain the response of the whole detection system to the particles' impact, a slotted solid state nuclear track detector (CR-39) was installed in front of the MCP to record the ions simultaneously on both detectors. The response of the MCP (counts/particles) was measured for 5-58 MeV carbon ions and for protons in the energy range 2-17.3 MeV. The response of the MCP detector is non-trivial when the stopping range of particles becomes larger than the thickness of the detector. Protons with energies E ≳ 10 MeV are energetic enough that they can pass through the MCP detector. Quantitative analysis of the pits formed in CR-39 and the signal generated in the MCP allowed to determine the MCP response to particles in this energy range. Moreover, a theoretical model allows to predict the response of MCP at even higher proton energies. This suggests that in this regime the MCP response is a slowly decreasing function of energy, consistently with the decrease of the deposited energy. These calibration data will enable particle spectra to be obtained in absolute terms over a broad energy range.

Numerical investigation of homogeneous cavitation nucleation in a microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyu, Xiuxiu; Pan, Shucheng; Hu, Xiangyu; Adams, Nikolaus A.

2018-06-01

The physics of nucleation in water is an important issue for many areas, ranging from biomedical to engineering applications. Within the present study, we investigate numerically homogeneous nucleation in a microchannel induced by shock reflection to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of homogeneous nucleation. The liquid expands due to the reflected shock and homogeneous cavitation nuclei are generated. An Eulerian-Lagrangian approach is employed for modeling this process in a microchanel. Two-dimensional axisymmetric Euler equations are solved for obtaining the time evolution of shock, gas bubble, and the ambient fluid. The dynamics of dispersed vapor bubbles is coupled with the surrounding fluid in a Lagrangian framework, describing bubble location and bubble size variation. Our results reproduce nuclei distributions at different stages of homogeneous nucleation and are in good agreement with experimental results. We obtain numerical data for the negative pressure that water can sustain under the process of homogeneous nucleation. An energy transformation description for the homogeneous nucleation inside a microchannel flow is derived and analyzed in detail.

Systems and methods for forming microchannel plate (MCP) photodetector assemblies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xia, Lei; Zhao, Huyue; Wagner, Robert G.

A MCP photodetector assembly includes an anode plate including a plurality of electrical traces positioned thereon, a plurality of MCPs and a plurality of grid spacers. The MCPs are positioned between the grid spacers. The grid spacers have a grid spacer shape defining at least one aperture. A plurality of shims are positioned between the grid spacers and the MCPs so as to form a stack positioned on the anode plate. Each of the plurality of shims have a shim shape which is the same as the grid spacer shape such that each of the plurality of shims and eachmore » of the plurality of grid spacers overlap so as to define at least one MCP aperture. At least a portion of the plurality of MCPs are positioned within the MCP aperture. The shims are structured to electrically couple the MCPs to the anode plate.« less

Robust design of microchannel cooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Ye; Yang, Tao; Hu, Li; Li, Leimin

2005-12-01

Microchannel cooler has offered a new method for the cooling of high power diode lasers, with the advantages of small volume, high efficiency of thermal dissipation and low cost when mass-produced. In order to reduce the sensitivity of design to manufacture errors or other disturbances, Taguchi method that is one of robust design method was chosen to optimize three parameters important to the cooling performance of roof-like microchannel cooler. The hydromechanical and thermal mathematical model of varying section microchannel was calculated using finite volume method by FLUENT. A special program was written to realize the automation of the design process for improving efficiency. The optimal design is presented which compromises between optimal cooling performance and its robustness. This design method proves to be available.

Hydrodynamic dispersion in a combined magnetohydrodynamic- electroosmotic-driven flow through a microchannel with slowly varying wall zeta potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vargas, C.; Arcos, J.; Bautista, O.; Méndez, F.

2017-09-01

The effective dispersion coefficient of a neutral solute in the combined electroosmotic (EO) and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)-driven flow of a Newtonian fluid through a parallel flat plate microchannel is studied. The walls of the microchannel are assumed to have modulated and low zeta potentials that vary slowly in the axial direction in a sinusoidal manner. The flow field required to obtain the dispersion coefficient is solved using the lubrication approximation theory. The solution of the electrical potential is based on the Debye-Hückel approximation for a symmetric (Z :Z ) electrolyte solution. The EO and MHD effects, together with the variations in the zeta potentials of the walls, are observed to notably modify the axial distribution of the effective dispersion coefficient. The problem is formulated for two cases of the zeta potential function. Note that the dispersion coefficient primarily depends on the Hartmann number, on the ratio of the half height of the microchannel to the Debye length, and on the assumed variation in the zeta potentials of the walls.

High power density fuel cell comprising an array of microchannels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sopchak, David A; Morse, Jeffrey D; Upadhye, Ravindra S

2014-05-06

A phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes an array of microchannels defined by a porous electrolyte support structure extending between bottom and upper support layers, the microchannels including fuel and oxidant microchannels; fuel electrodes formed along some of the microchannels; and air electrodes formed along other of the microchannels. A method of making a phosphoric acid fuel cell according to one embodiment includes etching an array of microchannels in a substrate, thereby forming walls between the microchannels; processing the walls to make the walls porous, thereby forming a porous electrolyte support structure; forming anode electrodes along somemore » of the walls; forming cathode electrodes along other of the walls; and filling the porous electrolyte support structure with a phosphoric acid electrolyte. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.« less

Method for producing microchannels in drawn material

DOEpatents

D'urso, Brian R [Clinton, TN; Simpson, John T [Clinton, TN

2009-12-29

A microchannel glass article includes a glass body having a porous, spinodal nanostructure and defining at least one microchannel extending from a surface of the article substantially through the article.

Microchannel cooling of face down bonded chips

DOEpatents

Bernhardt, A.F.

1993-06-08

Microchannel cooling is applied to flip-chip bonded integrated circuits, in a manner which maintains the advantages of flip-chip bonds, while overcoming the difficulties encountered in cooling the chips. The technique is suited to either multi chip integrated circuit boards in a plane, or to stacks of circuit boards in a three dimensional interconnect structure. Integrated circuit chips are mounted on a circuit board using flip-chip or control collapse bonds. A microchannel structure is essentially permanently coupled with the back of the chip. A coolant delivery manifold delivers coolant to the microchannel structure, and a seal consisting of a compressible elastomer is provided between the coolant delivery manifold and the microchannel structure. The integrated circuit chip and microchannel structure are connected together to form a replaceable integrated circuit module which can be easily decoupled from the coolant delivery manifold and the circuit board. The coolant supply manifolds may be disposed between the circuit boards in a stack and coupled to supplies of coolant through a side of the stack.

Microchannel cooling of face down bonded chips

DOEpatents

Bernhardt, Anthony F.

1993-01-01

Microchannel cooling is applied to flip-chip bonded integrated circuits, in a manner which maintains the advantages of flip-chip bonds, while overcoming the difficulties encountered in cooling the chips. The technique is suited to either multichip integrated circuit boards in a plane, or to stacks of circuit boards in a three dimensional interconnect structure. Integrated circuit chips are mounted on a circuit board using flip-chip or control collapse bonds. A microchannel structure is essentially permanently coupled with the back of the chip. A coolant delivery manifold delivers coolant to the microchannel structure, and a seal consisting of a compressible elastomer is provided between the coolant delivery manifold and the microchannel structure. The integrated circuit chip and microchannel structure are connected together to form a replaceable integrated circuit module which can be easily decoupled from the coolant delivery manifold and the circuit board. The coolant supply manifolds may be disposed between the circuit boards in a stack and coupled to supplies of coolant through a side of the stack.

Microchannel heat sink assembly

DOEpatents

Bonde, W.L.; Contolini, R.J.

1992-03-24

The present invention provides a microchannel heat sink with a thermal range from cryogenic temperatures to several hundred degrees centigrade. The heat sink can be used with a variety of fluids, such as cryogenic or corrosive fluids, and can be operated at a high pressure. The heat sink comprises a microchannel layer preferably formed of silicon, and a manifold layer preferably formed of glass. The manifold layer comprises an inlet groove and outlet groove which define an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. The inlet manifold delivers coolant to the inlet section of the microchannels, and the outlet manifold receives coolant from the outlet section of the microchannels. In one embodiment, the manifold layer comprises an inlet hole extending through the manifold layer to the inlet manifold, and an outlet hole extending through the manifold layer to the outlet manifold. Coolant is supplied to the heat sink through a conduit assembly connected to the heat sink. A resilient seal, such as a gasket or an O-ring, is disposed between the conduit and the hole in the heat sink in order to provide a watertight seal. In other embodiments, the conduit assembly may comprise a metal tube which is connected to the heat sink by a soft solder. In still other embodiments, the heat sink may comprise inlet and outlet nipples. The present invention has application in supercomputers, integrated circuits and other electronic devices, and is suitable for cooling materials to superconducting temperatures. 13 figs.

Microchannel heat sink assembly

DOEpatents

Bonde, Wayne L.; Contolini, Robert J.

1992-01-01

The present invention provides a microchannel heat sink with a thermal range from cryogenic temperatures to several hundred degrees centigrade. The heat sink can be used with a variety of fluids, such as cryogenic or corrosive fluids, and can be operated at a high pressure. The heat sink comprises a microchannel layer preferably formed of silicon, and a manifold layer preferably formed of glass. The manifold layer comprises an inlet groove and outlet groove which define an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold. The inlet manifold delivers coolant to the inlet section of the microchannels, and the outlet manifold receives coolant from the outlet section of the microchannels. In one embodiment, the manifold layer comprises an inlet hole extending through the manifold layer to the inlet manifold, and an outlet hole extending through the manifold layer to the outlet manifold. Coolant is supplied to the heat sink through a conduit assembly connected to the heat sink. A resilient seal, such as a gasket or an O-ring, is disposed between the conduit and the hole in the heat sink in order to provide a watetight seal. In other embodiments, the conduit assembly may comprise a metal tube which is connected to the heat sink by a soft solder. In still other embodiments, the heat sink may comprise inlet and outlet nipples. The present invention has application in supercomputers, integrated circuits and other electronic devices, and is suitable for cooling materials to superconducting temperatures.

Integration of microplasma and microfluidic technologies for localised microchannel surface modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szili, Endre J.; Al-Bataineh, Sameer A.; Priest, Craig; Gruner, Philipp J.; Ruschitzka, Paul; Bradley, James W.; Ralston, John; Steele, David A.; Short, Robert D.

2011-12-01

In this paper we describe the spatial surface chemical modification of bonded microchannels through the integration of microplasmas into a microfluidic chip (MMC). The composite MMC comprises an array of precisely aligned electrodes surrounding the gas/fluid microchannel. Pairs of electrodes are used to locally ignite microplasmas inside the microchannel. Microplasmas, comprising geometrically confined microscopic electrically-driven gas discharges, are used to spatially functionalise the walls of the microchannels with proteins and enzymes down to scale lengths of 300 μm inside 50 μm-wide microchannels. Microchannels in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) or glass were used in this study. Protein specifically adsorbed on to the regions inside the PDMS microchannel that were directly exposed to the microplasma. Glass microchannels required pre-functionalisation to enable the spatial patterning of protein. Firstly, the microchannel wall was functionalised with a protein adhesion layer, 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES), and secondly, a protein blocking agent (bovine serum albumin, BSA) was adsorbed onto APTES. The functionalised microchannel wall was then treated with an array of spatially localised microplasmas that reduced the blocking capability of the BSA in the region that had been exposed to the plasma. This enabled the functionalisation of the microchannel with an array of spatially separated protein. As an alternative we demonstrated the feasibility of depositing functional thin films inside the MMC by spatially plasma depositing acrylic acid and 1,7-octadiene within the microchannel. This new MMC technology enables the surface chemistry of microchannels to be engineered with precision, which is expected to broaden the scope of lab-on-a-chip type applications.

Process for separating nitrogen from methane using microchannel process technology

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee [Marysville, OH; Qiu, Dongming [Dublin, OH; Dritz, Terence Andrew [Worthington, OH; Neagle, Paul [Westerville, OH; Litt, Robert Dwayne [Westerville, OH; Arora, Ravi [Dublin, OH; Lamont, Michael Jay [Hilliard, OH; Pagnotto, Kristina M [Cincinnati, OH

2007-07-31

The disclosed invention relates to a process for separating methane or nitrogen from a fluid mixture comprising methane and nitrogen, the process comprising: (A) flowing the fluid mixture into a microchannel separator, the microchannel separator comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing a sorption medium, the fluid mixture being maintained in the microchannel separator until at least part of the methane or nitrogen is sorbed by the sorption medium, and removing non-sorbed parts of the fluid mixture from the microchannel separator; and (B) desorbing the methane or nitrogen from the sorption medium and removing the desorbed methane or nitrogen from the microchannel separator. The process is suitable for upgrading methane from coal mines, landfills, and other sub-quality sources.

Enhanced gain and output power of a sealed-off rf-excited CO2 waveguide laser with gold-plated electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heeman-Ilieva, M. B.; Udalov, Yu. B.; Hoen, K.; Witteman, W. J.

1994-02-01

The small-signal gain and the laser output power have been measured in a cw sealed-off rf-excited CO2 waveguide laser for two different electrode materials, gold-plated copper and aluminum, at several excitation frequencies, gas pressures and mixture compositions. In the case of the gold-plated electrodes an enhancement of the gain up to a factor of 2 and the output power up to a factor of 1.4 with time at a frequency of 190 MHz and 60 Torr of 1:1:5+5% (CO2:N2:He+Xe) mixture is observed. This is believed to be the result of the gold catalytic activities which are favored by increased electrode temperatures and helium rich gas compositions.

Bone cell-materials interaction on Si microchannels with bioinert coatings.

PubMed

Condie, Russell; Bose, Susmita; Bandyopadhyay, Amit

2007-07-01

Bone implant life is dependent upon integration of biomaterial surfaces with local osteoblasts. This investigation studied the effects of various microchannel parameters and surface chemistry on immortalized osteoblast precursor cell (OPC1) adhesion. Cell-materials interactions were observed within channels of varying length, width, tortuosity, convergence, divergence and chemistry. Si wafers were used to create four distinct 1cm(2) designs of varying channel dimensions. After anisotropic chemical etching to a depth of 120microm, wafers were sputter coated with gold and titanium; and on another surface SiO(2) was grown to vary the surface chemistry of these microchannels. OPC1 cells were seeded in the central cavity of each chip before incubation in tissue culture plates. On days 5, 11 and 16, samples were taken out, fixed and processed for microscopic analysis. Samples were visually characterized, qualitatively scored and analyzed. Channel walls did not contain OPC1 migration, but showed locally interrupted adhesion. Scores for channels of floor widths as narrow as 350microm were significantly reduced. No statistically significant preference was detected for gold, titanium or SiO(2) surfaces. Bands of OPC1 cells appeared to align with nearby channels, suggesting that cell morphology may be controlled by topography of the design to improve osseointegration.

Compact microchannel system

DOEpatents

Griffiths, Stewart

2003-09-30

The present invention provides compact geometries for the layout of microchannel columns through the use of turns and straight channel segments. These compact geometries permit the use of long separation or reaction columns on a small microchannel substrate or, equivalently, permit columns of a fixed length to occupy a smaller substrate area. The new geometries are based in part on mathematical analyses that provide the minimum turn radius for which column performance in not degraded. In particular, we find that straight channel segments of sufficient length reduce the required minimum turn radius, enabling compact channel layout when turns and straight segments are combined. The compact geometries are obtained by using turns and straight segments in overlapped or nested arrangements to form pleated or coiled columns.

Experimental study on flame pattern formation and combustion completeness in a radial microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fan, Aiwu; Minaev, Sergey; Kumar, Sudarshan; Liu, Wei; Maruta, Kaoru

2007-12-01

Combustion behavior in a radial microchannel with a gap of 2.0 mm and a diameter of 50 mm was experimentally investigated. In order to simulate the heat recirculation, which is an essential strategy in microscale combustion devices, positive temperature gradients along the radial flow direction were given to the microchannel by an external heat source. A methane-air mixture was supplied from the center of the top plate through a 4.0 mm diameter delivery tube. A variety of flame patterns, including a stable circular flame and several unstable flame patterns termed unstable circular flame, single and double pelton-like flames, traveling flame and triple flame, were observed in the experiments. The regime diagram of all these flame patterns is presented in this paper. Some characteristics of the various flame patterns, such as the radii of stable and unstable circular flames, major combustion products and combustion efficiencies of all these flame patterns, were also investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the heat recirculation on combustion stability was studied by changing the wall temperature levels.

Microchannel neural interface manufacture by stacking silicone and metal foil laminae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lancashire, Henry T.; Vanhoestenberghe, Anne; Pendegrass, Catherine J.; Ajam, Yazan Al; Magee, Elliot; Donaldson, Nick; Blunn, Gordon W.

2016-06-01

Objective. Microchannel neural interfaces (MNIs) overcome problems with recording from peripheral nerves by amplifying signals independent of node of Ranvier position. Selective recording and stimulation using an MNI requires good insulation between microchannels and a high electrode density. We propose that stacking microchannel laminae will improve selectivity over single layer MNI designs due to the increase in electrode number and an improvement in microchannel sealing. Approach. This paper describes a manufacturing method for creating MNIs which overcomes limitations on electrode connectivity and microchannel sealing. Laser cut silicone—metal foil laminae were stacked using plasma bonding to create an array of microchannels containing tripolar electrodes. Electrodes were DC etched and electrode impedance and cyclic voltammetry were tested. Main results. MNIs with 100 μm and 200 μm diameter microchannels were manufactured. High electrode density MNIs are achievable with electrodes present in every microchannel. Electrode impedances of 27.2 ± 19.8 kΩ at 1 kHz were achieved. Following two months of implantation in Lewis rat sciatic nerve, micro-fascicles were observed regenerating through the MNI microchannels. Significance. Selective MNIs with the peripheral nervous system may allow upper limb amputees to control prostheses intuitively.

Role of rough surface topography on gas slip flow in microchannels.

PubMed

Zhang, Chengbin; Chen, Yongping; Deng, Zilong; Shi, Mingheng

2012-07-01

We conduct a lattice Boltzmann simulation of gas slip flow in microchannels incorporating rough surface effects as characterized by fractal geometry with a focus on gas-solid interaction. The gas slip flow in rough microchannels, which is characterized by Poiseuille number and mass flow rate, is evaluated and compared with smooth microchannels. The effects of roughness height, surface fractal dimension, and Knudsen number on slip behavior of gas flow in microchannels are all investigated and discussed. The results indicate that the presence of surface roughness reduces boundary slip for gas flow in microchannels with respect to a smooth surface. The gas flows at the valleys of rough walls are no-slip while velocity slips are observed over the top of rough walls. We find that the gas flow behavior in rough microchannels is insensitive to the surface topography irregularity (unlike the liquid flow in rough microchannels) but is influenced by the statistical height of rough surface and rarefaction effects. In particular, decrease in roughness height or increase in Knudsen number can lead to large wall slip for gas flow in microchannels.

Electroosmotic flow mixing in zigzag microchannels.

PubMed

Chen, Jia-Kun; Yang, Ruey-Jen

2007-03-01

In this study we performed numerical and experimental investigations into the mixing of EOFs in zigzag microchannels with two different corner geometries, namely sharp corners and flat corners. In the zigzag microchannel with sharp corners, the flow travels more rapidly near the inner wall of the corner than near the outer wall as a result of the higher electric potential drop. The resulting velocity gradient induces a racetrack effect, which enhances diffusion within the fluid and hence improves the mixing performance. The simulation results reveal that the mixing index is approximately 88.83%. However, the sharp-corner geometry causes residual liquid or bubbles to become trapped in the channel at the point where the flow is almost stationary, when the channel is in the process of cleaning. Accordingly, a zigzag microchannel with flat-corner geometry is developed. The flat-corner geometry forms a convergent-divergent type nozzle which not only enhances the mixing performance in the channel, but also prevents the accumulation of residual liquid or bubbles. Scaling analysis reveals that this corner geometry leads to an effective increase in the mixing length. The experimental results reveal that the mixing index is increased to 94.30% in the flat-corner zigzag channel. Hence, the results demonstrate that the mixing index of the flat-corner zigzag channel is better than that of the conventional sharp-corner microchannel. Finally, the results of Taguchi analysis indicate that the attainable mixing index is determined primarily by the number of corners in the microchannel and by the flow passing height at each corner.

Numerical Study on Electroosmotic Flow in Trapezoidal Microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zuo, C. C.; Ji, F.; Wang, L. F.

The analysis of electroosmotic flow mechanism in trapezoidal microchannels is performed in this work. The coupled Poisson-Boltzmann equation, Laplace equation, and modified Navier-Stokes equation are solved by finite volume method to describe distribution of electroosmotic flow. The detailed numerical results show that the salt concentration and applied electrical potential have great effects on the fundamental characteristics of elelctroosmotic flow. The most important finding is that the corner and wall effects in trapezoidal microchannels are stronger than those in rectangular microchannels.

Membrane-based microchannel device for continuous quantitative extraction of dissolved free sulfide from water and from oil.

PubMed

Toda, Kei; Ebisu, Yuki; Hirota, Kazutoshi; Ohira, Shin-Ichi

2012-09-05

Underground fluids are important natural sources of drinking water, geothermal energy, and oil-based fuels. To facilitate the surveying of such underground fluids, a novel microchannel extraction device was investigated for in-line continuous analysis and flow injection analysis of sulfide levels in water and in oil. Of the four designs investigated, the honeycomb-patterned microchannel extraction (HMCE) device was found to offer the most effective liquid-liquid extraction. In the HMCE device, a thin silicone membrane was sandwiched between two polydimethylsiloxane plates in which honeycomb-patterned microchannels had been fabricated. The identical patterns on the two plates were accurately aligned. The extracted sulfide was detected by quenching monitoring of fluorescein mercuric acetate (FMA). The sulfide extraction efficiencies from water and oil samples of the HMCE device and of three other designs (two annular and one rectangular channel) were examined theoretically and experimentally. The best performance was obtained with the HMCE device because of its thin sample layer (small diffusion distance) and large interface area. Quantitative extraction from both water and oil could be obtained using the HMCE device. The estimated limit of detection for continuous monitoring was 0.05 μM, and sulfide concentrations in the range of 0.15-10 μM could be determined when the acceptor was 5 μM FMA alkaline solution. The method was applied to natural water analysis using flow injection mode, and the data agreed with those obtained using headspace gas chromatography-flame photometric detection. The analysis of hydrogen sulfide levels in prepared oil samples was also performed. The proposed device is expected to be used for real time survey of oil wells and groundwater wells. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of different cross-shaped microchannels affecting thermal-bubble-actuated microparticle manipulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Weichen; Tsou, Chingfu

2015-10-01

This paper presents a thermal-bubble-actuated microfluidic chip with cross-shaped microchannels for evaluating the effect of different microchannel designs on microparticle manipulation. Four cross-shaped microchannel designs, with orthogonal, misaligned, skewed, and antiskewed types, were proposed in this study. The thermal bubble micropump, which is based on a resistive bulk microheater, was used to drive fluid transportation, and it can be realized using a simple microfabrication process with a silicon-on-isolator wafer. Using commercial COMSOL software, the flow profiles of microfluidics in various cross-shaped microchannels were simulated qualitatively under different pumping pressures. Microbeads, with a diameter of 20 μm, manipulated in four cross-shaped microchannels, were also implemented in this experiment. The results showed that a skewed microchannel design has a higher sorting rate compared with orthogonal, misaligned, and antiskewed microchannels because its flow velocity in the main microchannel is significantly reduced by pumping pressure. Typically, the successful sorting rate for this type of skewed microchannel can reach 30% at a pumping frequency of 100 Hz.

Formation of microchannels from low-temperature plasma-deposited silicon oxynitride

DOEpatents

Matzke, Carolyn M.; Ashby, Carol I. H.; Bridges, Monica M.; Manginell, Ronald P.

2000-01-01

A process for forming one or more fluid microchannels on a substrate is disclosed that is compatible with the formation of integrated circuitry on the substrate. The microchannels can be formed below an upper surface of the substrate, above the upper surface, or both. The microchannels are formed by depositing a covering layer of silicon oxynitride over a mold formed of a sacrificial material such as photoresist which can later be removed. The silicon oxynitride is deposited at a low temperature (.ltoreq.100.degree. C.) and preferably near room temperature using a high-density plasma (e.g. an electron-cyclotron resonance plasma or an inductively-coupled plasma). In some embodiments of the present invention, the microchannels can be completely lined with silicon oxynitride to present a uniform material composition to a fluid therein. The present invention has applications for forming microchannels for use in chromatography and electrophoresis. Additionally, the microchannels can be used for electrokinetic pumping, or for localized or global substrate cooling.

Magnetic microparticle-polydimethylsiloxane composite for reversible microchannel bonding

PubMed Central

Tsao, Chia-Wen; Lee, Yueh-Pu

2016-01-01

Abstract In this study, an iron oxide magnetic microparticles and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (MMPs-PDMS) composite material was employed to demonstrate a simple high-strength reversible magnetic bonding method. This paper presents the casting of opaque-view (where optical inspection through the microchannels was impossible) and clear-view (where optical inspection through the microchannel was possible) MMPs-PDMS. The influence of the microchannel geometries on the casting of the opaque-view casting was limited, which is similar to standard PDMS casting. Clear-view casting performance was highly associated with the microchannel geometries. The effects of the microchannel layout and the gap between the PDMS cover layer and the micromold substrate were thoroughly investigated. Compared with the native PDMS bonding strength of 31 kPa, the MMPs-PDMS magnetic bonding experiments showed that the thin PDMS film with an MMPs-PDMS layer effectively reduced the surface roughness and enhanced MMPs-PDMS reversible magnetic bonding strength. A thin PDMS film-coated opaque-view MMPs-PDMS device exhibited the greatest bonding strength of 110 kPa, and a clear-view MMPs-PDMS device with a thin PDMS film attained a magnetic bonding strength of 81 kPa. PMID:27877852

Extended length microchannels for high density high throughput electrophoresis systems

DOEpatents

Davidson, James C.; Balch, Joseph W.

2000-01-01

High throughput electrophoresis systems which provide extended well-to-read distances on smaller substrates, thus compacting the overall systems. The electrophoresis systems utilize a high density array of microchannels for electrophoresis analysis with extended read lengths. The microchannel geometry can be used individually or in conjunction to increase the effective length of a separation channel while minimally impacting the packing density of channels. One embodiment uses sinusoidal microchannels, while another embodiment uses plural microchannels interconnected by a via. The extended channel systems can be applied to virtually any type of channel confined chromatography.

Injector-concentrator electrodes for microchannel electrophoresis

DOEpatents

Swierkowski, Stefan P.

2003-05-06

An input port geometry, with injector-concentrator electrodes, for planar microchannel array for electrophoresis. This input port geometry enables efficient extraction and injection of the DNA sample from a single input port. The geometry, which utilizes injector-concentrator electrodes, allows simultaneous concentration, in different channels, of the sample into a longitudinally narrow strip just before releasing it for a run with enhanced injection spatial resolution, and time resolution. Optional multiple electrodes, at a different bias than the concentrator electrodes, may be used to discriminate against sample impurity ions. Electrode passivation can be utilized to prevent electrolysis. An additional electrode in or on the input hole can better define the initial loading. The injector-concentrator electrodes are positioned so that they cross the drift channel in a narrow strip at the bond plane between the top and bottom plates of the instrument and are located close to the inlet hole. The optional sample purification electrodes are located at a greater distance from the input hole than the injector-concentrate electrodes.

Micro-channel filling flow considering surface tension effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Dong Sung; Lee, Kwang-Cheol; Kwon, Tai Hun; Lee, Seung S.

2002-05-01

Understanding filling flow into micro-channels is important in designing micro-injection molding, micro-fluidic devices and an MIMIC (micromolding in capillaries) process. In this paper, we investigated, both experimentally and numerically, 'transient filling' flow into micro-channels, which differs from steady-state completely 'filled' flow in micro-channels. An experimental flow visualization system was devised to facilitate observation of flow characteristics in filling into micro-channels. Three sets of micro-channels of various widths of different thicknesses (20, 30, and 40 μm) were fabricated using SU-8 on the silicon substrate to find a geometric effect with regard to pressure gradient, viscous force and, in particular, surface tension. A numerical analysis system has also been developed taking into account the surface tension effect with a contact angle concept. Experimental observations indicate that surface tension significantly affects the filling flow to such an extent that even a flow blockage phenomenon was observed at channels of small width and thickness. A numerical analysis system also confirms that the flow blockage phenomenon could take place due to the flow hindrance effect of surface tension, which is consistent with experimental observation. For proper numerical simulations, two correction factors have also been proposed to correct the conventional hydraulic radius for the filling flow in rectangular cross-sectioned channels.

Weight Gain in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate without Use of Palatal Plates

PubMed Central

da Silva Freitas, Renato; Lopes-Grego, Andrey Bernardo; Dietrich, Helena Luiza Douat; Cerchiari, Natacha Regina de Moraes; Nakakogue, Tabatha; Tonocchi, Rita; Gabardo, Juarez; da Silva, Éder David Borges; Forte, Antonio Jorge

2012-01-01

Goals/Background. To evaluate children's growth in the first year of life, who have cleft palate and lip, without the use of palatal plates. Materials/Method. Chart review was conducted, retrospectively, in the Center for Integral Assistance of Cleft Lip and Palate (CAIF), in Brazil, between 2008 and 2009. Results for both genders were compared to the data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding average weight gain in children during their first year of life. Results. Patients with syndromic diagnosis and with cleft classified as preforamen were excluded, resulting in a final number of 112 patients: 56 male and 56 female. Similar patterns were seen comparing the two genders. Although it was observed weight gain below the average until the 11th month in male patients and until 9 months in female patients, both genders remained at the 50th percentile (p50) and improved after the 4th month of age for boys and the 9th month of age for girls. Conclusion. Children with cleft palate weigh less than regular children during their first months of life. At the end of the first year, weight gain is similar comparing normal and affected children. However, factors that optimized weight gain included choosing the best treatment for each case, proper guidance, and multiprofessional integrated care. PMID:23304489

Material Selection for Microchannel Heatsink: Conjugate Heat Transfer Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uday Kumar, A.; Javed, Arshad; Dubey, Satish K.

2018-04-01

Heat dissipation during the operation of electronic devices causes rise in temperature, which demands an effective thermal management for their performance, life and reliability. Single phase liquid cooling in microchannels is an effective and proven technology for electronics cooling. However, due to the ongoing trends of miniaturization and developments in the microelectronics technology, the future needs of heat flux dissipation rate are expected to rise to 1 kW/cm2. Air cooled systems are unable to meet this demand. Hence, liquid cooled heatsinks are preferred. This paper presents conjugate heat transfer simulation of single phase flow in microchannels with application to electronic cooling. The numerical model is simulated for different materials: copper, aluminium and silicon as solid and water as liquid coolant. The performances of microchannel heatsink are analysed for mass flow rate range of 20-40 ml/min. The investigation has been carried out on same size of electronic chip and heat flux in order to have comparative study of different materials. This paper is divided into two sections: fabrication techniques and numerical simulation for different materials. In the first part, a brief discussion of fabrication techniques of microchannel heatsink have been presented. The second section presents conjugate heat transfer simulation and parametric investigation for different material microchannel heatsink. The presented study and findings are useful for selection of materials for microchannel heatsink.

Internal passivation of Al-based microchannel devices by electrochemical anodization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hymel, Paul J.; Guan, D. S.; Mu, Yang; Meng, W. J.; Meng, Andrew C.

2015-02-01

Metal-based microchannel devices have wide-ranging applications. We report here a method to electrochemically anodize the internal surfaces of Al microchannels, with the purpose of forming a uniform and dense anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) layer on microchannel internal surfaces for chemical passivation and corrosion resistance. A pulsed electrolyte flow was utilized to emulate conventional anodization processes while replenishing depleted ionic species within Al microtubes and microchannels. After anodization, the AAO film was sealed in hot water to close the nanopores. Focused ion beam (FIB) sectioning, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were utilized to characterize the AAO morphology and composition. Potentiodynamic polarization corrosion testing of anodized Al microtube half-sections in a NaCl solution showed an order of magnitude decrease in anodic corrosion current when compared to an unanodized tube. The surface passivation process was repeated for Al-based microchannel heat exchangers. A corrosion testing method based on the anodization process showed higher resistance to ion transport through the anodized specimens than unanodized specimens, thus verifying the internal anodization and sealing process as a viable method for surface passivation of Al microchannel devices.

Fabrication and testing of microchannel heat exchangers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuta, Judith M.; Bennett, Wendy D.; McDonald, Carolyn E.; Ravigururajan, T. S.

1995-09-01

Micro-channel heat-exchanger test articles were fabricated and performance tested. The heat exchangers are being developed for innovative applications, and have been shown to be capable of handling heat loads of up to 100 W/cm2. The test articles were fabricated to represent two different designs for the micro-channel portion of the heat exchanger. One design consists of 166 micro-channels etched in silicon substrate, and a second design consists of 54 micro-channels machined in copper substrate. The devices were tested in an experimental loop designed for performance testing in single- and two-phase flow with water and R124. Pressure and liquid subcooling can be regulated over the range of interest, and a secondary heat removal loop provides stable loop performance for steady-state tests. The selected operating pressures are approximately 0.344 MPa for distilled water and 0.689 MPa for R124. The temperature ranges are 15.5 to 138 C for distilled water and 15.5 to 46 C for R-124. The mass flow range 7.6 X 10-8 to 7.6 X 10MIN5 kg/min for both distilled water and R124.

Numerical analysis on a passive chaotic micromixer with helical microchannel.

PubMed

Wang, Ruijin; Lin, Jianzhong

2006-01-01

In order to improve the mixing efficiency, the diffusion and mixing of species in the helical micro-mixer are simulated numerically. The results show that the mixing efficiency in the helical micromixer is much higher than that in the straight micro-channel and obviously higher than that in the serpentine micro-channel when Reynolds number is low. At high Reynolds number, even though the mixing efficiency in the helical micro-mixer is still much higher than that in the straight micro-channel, no obvious difference of mixing efficiency in the helical micro-mixer and serpentine micro-channel is found. The conclusions are helpful to optimize the structure of the micro-mixer.

Inertial focusing dynamics in spiral microchannels

PubMed Central

Martel, Joseph M.; Toner, Mehmet

2012-01-01

This report details a comprehensive study of inertial focusing dynamics and particle behavior in low aspect ratio (h/w ∼ 1/1 to 1/8) spiral microchannels. A continuum of particle streak behavior is shown with longitudinal, cross-sectional, and velocity resolution, yielding a large analyzed parameter space. The dataset is then summarized and compared to prior results from both straight microchannels and other low aspect ratio spiral microchannel designs. Breakdown of focusing into a primary and secondary fluorescent streak is observed in the lowest aspect ratio channels at high average downstream velocities. Streak movement away from the theoretically predicted near inner wall equilibrium position towards the center of the channel at high average downstream velocities is also detailed as a precursor to breakdown. State diagrams detail the overall performance of each device including values of the required channel lengths and the range of velocities over which quality focusing can be achieved. PMID:22454556

Physics of microstructures enhancement of thin film evaporation heat transfer in microchannels flow boiling

PubMed Central

Bigham, Sajjad; Fazeli, Abdolreza; Moghaddam, Saeed

2017-01-01

Performance enhancement of the two-phase flow boiling heat transfer process in microchannels through implementation of surface micro- and nanostructures has gained substantial interest in recent years. However, the reported results range widely from a decline to improvements in performance depending on the test conditions and fluid properties, without a consensus on the physical mechanisms responsible for the observed behavior. This gap in knowledge stems from a lack of understanding of the physics of surface structures interactions with microscale heat and mass transfer events involved in the microchannel flow boiling process. Here, using a novel measurement technique, the heat and mass transfer process is analyzed within surface structures with unprecedented detail. The local heat flux and dryout time scale are measured as the liquid wicks through surface structures and evaporates. The physics governing heat transfer enhancement on textured surfaces is explained by a deterministic model that involves three key parameters: the drying time scale of the liquid film wicking into the surface structures (τd), the heating length scale of the liquid film (δH) and the area fraction of the evaporating liquid film (Ar). It is shown that the model accurately predicts the optimum spacing between surface structures (i.e. pillars fabricated on the microchannel wall) in boiling of two fluids FC-72 and water with fundamentally different wicking characteristics. PMID:28303952

New Method for Accurate Calibration of Micro-Channel Plate based Detection Systems and its use in the Fast Plasma Investigation of NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gliese, U.; Avanov, L. A.; Barrie, A.; Kujawski, J. T.; Mariano, A. J.; Tucker, C. J.; Chornay, D. J.; Cao, N. T.; Zeuch, M.; Pollock, C. J.; Jacques, A. D.

2013-12-01

The Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) of the NASA Magnetospheric MultiScale (MMS) mission employs 16 Dual Electron Spectrometers (DESs) and 16 Dual Ion Spectrometers (DISs) with 4 of each type on each of 4 spacecraft to enable fast (30ms for electrons; 150ms for ions) and spatially differentiated measurements of full the 3D particle velocity distributions. This approach presents a new and challenging aspect to the calibration and operation of these instruments on ground and in flight. The response uniformity and reliability of their calibration and the approach to handling any temporal evolution of these calibrated characteristics all assume enhanced importance in this application, where we attempt to understand the meaning of particle distributions within the ion and electron diffusion regions. Traditionally, the micro-channel plate (MCP) based detection systems for electrostatic particle spectrometers have been calibrated by setting a fixed detection threshold and, subsequently, measuring a detection system count rate plateau curve to determine the MCP voltage that ensures the count rate has reached a constant value independent of further variation in the MCP voltage. This is achieved when most of the MCP pulse height distribution (PHD) is located at higher values (larger pulses) than the detection amplifier threshold. This method is adequate in single-channel detection systems and in multi-channel detection systems with very low crosstalk between channels. However, in dense multi-channel systems, it can be inadequate. Furthermore, it fails to fully and individually characterize each of the fundamental parameters of the detection system. We present a new detection system calibration method that enables accurate and repeatable measurement and calibration of MCP gain, MCP efficiency, signal loss due to variation in gain and efficiency, crosstalk from effects both above and below the MCP, noise margin, and stability margin in one single measurement. The fundamental

Flow patterns and transition characteristics for steam condensation in silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xuehu; Fan, Xiaoguang; Lan, Zhong; Hao, Tingting

2011-07-01

This study investigated the two-phase flow patterns and transition characteristics for steam condensation in silicon microchannels with different cross-sectional geometries. Novel experimental techniques were developed to determine the local heat transfer rate and steam quality by testing the temperature profile of a copper cooler. Flow regime maps for different microchannels during condensation were established in terms of steam mass flux and steam quality. Meanwhile, the correlation for the flow pattern transition was obtained using different geometrical and dimensionless parameters for steam condensation in microchannels. To better understand the flow mechanisms in microchannels, the condensation flow patterns, such as annular flow, droplet flow, injection flow and intermittent flow, were captured and analyzed. The local heat transfer rate showed the nonlinear variations along the axial direction during condensation. The experimental results indicate that the flow patterns and transition characteristics strongly depend on the geometries of microchannels. With the increasing steam mass flux and steam quality, the annular/droplet flow expands and spans over a larger region in the microchannels; otherwise the intermittent flow occupies the microchannels. The dimensionless fitting data also reveal that the effect of surface tension and vapor inertia dominates gravity and viscous force at the specified flow pattern transitional position.

Design and simulation of the micromixer with chaotic advection in twisted microchannels.

PubMed

Jen, Chun-Ping; Wu, Chung-Yi; Lin, Yu-Cheng; Wu, Ching-Yi

2003-05-01

Chaotic mixers with twisted microchannels were designed and simulated numerically in the present study. The phenomenon whereby a simple Eulerian velocity field may generate a chaotic response in the distribution of a Lagrangian marker is termed chaotic advection. Dynamic system theory indicates that chaotic particle motion can occur when a velocity field is either two-dimensional and time-dependent, or three-dimensional. In the present study, micromixers with three-dimensional structures of the twisted microchannel were designed in order to induce chaotic mixing. In addition to the basic T-mixer, three types of micromixers with inclined, oblique and wavelike microchannels were investigated. In the design of each twisted microchannel, the angle of the channels' bottoms alternates in each subsection. When the fluids enter the twisted microchannels, the flow sways around the varying structures within the microchannels. The designs of the twisted microchannels provide a third degree of freedom to the flow field in the microchannel. Therefore, chaotic regimes that lead to chaotic mixing may arise. The numerical results indicate that mixing occurs in the main channel and progressively larger mixing lengths are required as the Peclet number increased. The swaying of the flow in the twisted microchannel causes chaotic advection. Among the four micromixer designs, the micromixer with the inclined channel most improved mixing. Furthermore, using the inclined mixer with six subsections yielded optimum performance, decreasing the mixing length by up to 31% from that of the basic T-mixer.

Preconcentration and separation of analytes in microchannels

DOEpatents

Hatch, Anson; Singh, Anup K.; Herr, Amy E.; Throckmorton, Daniel J.

2010-11-09

Disclosed herein are methods and devices for preconcentrating and separating analytes such as proteins and polynucleotides in microchannels. As disclosed, at least one size-exclusion polymeric element is adjacent to processing area or an assay area in a microchannel which may be porous polymeric element. The size-exclusion polymeric element may be used to manipulate, e.g. concentrate, analytes in a sample prior to assaying in the assay area.

Monte-Carlo based Uncertainty Analysis For CO2 Laser Microchanneling Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Shashi; Kumar, Nitish; Kumar, Subrata

2016-09-01

CO2 laser microchanneling has emerged as a potential technique for the fabrication of microfluidic devices on PMMA (Poly-methyl-meth-acrylate). PMMA directly vaporizes when subjected to high intensity focused CO2 laser beam. This process results in clean cut and acceptable surface finish on microchannel walls. Overall, CO2 laser microchanneling process is cost effective and easy to implement. While fabricating microchannels on PMMA using a CO2 laser, the maximum depth of the fabricated microchannel is the key feature. There are few analytical models available to predict the maximum depth of the microchannels and cut channel profile on PMMA substrate using a CO2 laser. These models depend upon the values of thermophysical properties of PMMA and laser beam parameters. There are a number of variants of transparent PMMA available in the market with different values of thermophysical properties. Therefore, for applying such analytical models, the values of these thermophysical properties are required to be known exactly. Although, the values of laser beam parameters are readily available, extensive experiments are required to be conducted to determine the value of thermophysical properties of PMMA. The unavailability of exact values of these property parameters restrict the proper control over the microchannel dimension for given power and scanning speed of the laser beam. In order to have dimensional control over the maximum depth of fabricated microchannels, it is necessary to have an idea of uncertainty associated with the predicted microchannel depth. In this research work, the uncertainty associated with the maximum depth dimension has been determined using Monte Carlo method (MCM). The propagation of uncertainty with different power and scanning speed has been predicted. The relative impact of each thermophysical property has been determined using sensitivity analysis.

A design of a PET detector using micro-channel plate photomultipliers with transmission-line readout

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, H.; Frisch, H.; Chen, C.-T.; Genat, J.-F.; Tang, F.; Moses, W. W.; Choong, W. S.; Kao, C.-M.

2010-10-01

A computer simulation study has been conducted to investigate the feasibility of a positron emission tomography (PET) detector design by using micro-channel plate (MCP) photomultiplier tubes (PMT) with transmission-line (TL) readout and waveform sampling. The detector unit consisted of a 24×24 array of pixelated LSO crystals, each of which was 4×4×25 mm 3 in size, and two 102×102 mm 2 MCP-PMTs coupled to both sides of the scintillator array. The crystal (and TL) pitch was 4.25 mm and reflective medium was inserted between the crystals. The transport of the optical photons inside the scintillator were simulated by using the Geant4 package. The output pulses of the MCP-PMT/TL unit were formed by applying the measured single photo-electron response of the MCP-PMT/TL unit to each individual photon that interacts with the photo-cathode of the MCP-PMT. The waveforms of the pulses at both ends of the TL strips were measured and analyzed to produce energy and timing information for the detected event. An experimental setup was developed by employing a Photonis Planacon MCP-PMT (XP85022) and a prototype TL board for measuring the single photo-electron response of the MCP-PMT/TL. The simulation was validated by comparing the predicted output pulses to measurements obtained with a single MCP-PMT/TL coupled to an LSO crystal exposed to 511 keV gamma rays. The validated simulation was then used to investigate the performance of the proposed new detector design. Our simulation result indicates an energy resolution of ˜11% at 511 keV. When using a 400-600 keV energy window, we obtain a coincidence timing resolution of ˜323 ps FWHM and a coincidence detection efficiency of ˜40% for normally incident 511 keV photons. For the positioning accuracy, it is determined by the pitch of the TLs (and crystals) in the direction normal to the TLs and measured to be ˜2.5 mm in the direction parallel to the TLs. The energy and timing obtained at the front- and back-end of the

A Design of a PET Detector Using Micro-Channel Plate Photomultipliers with Transmission-Line Readout.

PubMed

Kim, H; Frisch, H; Chen, C-T; Genat, J-F; Tang, F; Moses, W W; Choong, W S; Kao, C-M

2010-01-01

A computer simulation study has been conducted to investigate the feasibility of a positron emission tomography (PET) detector design by using micro-channel plate (MCP) photomultiplier tubes (PMT) with transmission-line (TL) read-out and waveform sampling. The detector unit consisted of a 24×24 array of pixelated LSO crystals, each of which was 4×4×25 mm(3) in size, and two 102×102 mm(2) MCP-PMTs coupled to both sides of the scintillator array. The crystal (and TL) pitch was 4.25 mm and reflective medium was inserted between the crystals. The transport of the optical photons inside the scintillator were simulated by using the Geant4 package. The output pulses of the MCP-PMT/TL unit were formed by applying the measured single photo-electron response of the MCP-PMT/TL unit to each individual photon that interacts with the photo-cathode of the MCP-PMT. The waveforms of the pulses at both ends of the TL strips were measured and analyzed to produce energy and timing information for the detected event. An experimental setup was developed by employing a Photonis Planacon MCP-PMT (XP85022) and a prototype TL board for measuring the single photo-electron response of the MCP-PMT/TL. The simulation was validated by comparing the predicted output pulses to measurements obtained with a single MCP-PMT/TL coupled to an LSO crystal exposed to 511 keV gamma rays. The validated simulation was then used to investigate the performance of the proposed new detector design. Our simulation result indicates an energy resolution of ~11% at 511 keV. When using a 400-600 keV energy window, we obtain a coincidence timing resolution of ~323 ps FWHM and a coincidence detection efficiency of ~40% for normally-incident 511keV photons. For the positioning accuracy, it is determined by the pitch of the TLs (and crystals) in the direction normal to the TLs and measured to be ~2.5 mm in the direction parallel to the TLs. The energy and timing obtained at the front- and back-end of the scintillator

Enabling Microliquid Chromatography by Microbead Packing of Microchannels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balvin, Manuel; Zheng, Yun

2013-01-01

The microbead packing is the critical element required in the success of on-chip microfabrication of critical microfluidic components for in-situ analysis and detection of chiral amino acids. In order for microliquid chromatography to occur, there must be a stationary phase medium within the microchannel that interacts with the analytes present within flowing fluid. The stationary phase media are the microbeads packed by the process discussed in this work. The purpose of the microliquid chromatography is to provide a lightweight, low-volume, and low-power element to separate amino acids and their chiral partners efficiently to understand better the origin of life. In order to densely pack microbeads into the microchannels, a liquid slurry of microbeads was created. Microbeads were extracted from a commercially available high-performance liquid chromatography column. The silica beads extracted were 5 microns in diameter, and had surface coating of phenyl-hexyl. These microbeads were mixed with a 200- proof ethanol solution to create a microbead slurry with the right viscosity for packing. A microfilter is placed at the outlet via of the microchannel and the slurry is injected, then withdrawn across a filter using modified syringes. After each injection, the channel is flushed with ethanol to enhance packing. This cycle is repeated numerous times to allow for a tightly packed channel of microbeads. Typical microbead packing occurs in the macroscale into tubes or channels by using highly pressurized systems. Moreover, these channels are typically long and straight without any turns or curves. On the other hand, this method of microbead packing is completed within a microchannel 75 micrometers in diameter. Moreover, the microbead packing is completed into a serpentine type microchannel, such that it maximizes microchannel length within a microchip. Doing so enhances the interactions of the analytes with the microbeads to separate efficiently amino acids and amino acid

Enabling Microliquid Chromatography by Microbead Packing of Microchannels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Balvin, Manuel; Zheng, Yun

2014-01-01

The microbead packing is the critical element required in the success of on-chip microfabrication of critical microfluidic components for in-situ analysis and detection of chiral amino acids. In order for microliquid chromatography to occur, there must be a stationary phase medium within the microchannel that interacts with the analytes present within flowing fluid. The stationary phase media are the microbeads packed by the process discussed in this work. The purpose of the microliquid chromatography is to provide a lightweight, low-volume, and low-power element to separate amino acids and their chiral partners efficiently to understand better the origin of life. In order to densely pack microbeads into the microchannels, a liquid slurry of microbeads was created. Microbeads were extracted from a commercially available high-performance liquid chromatography column. The silica beads extracted were 5 microns in diameter, and had surface coating of phenyl-hexyl. These microbeads were mixed with a 200- proof ethanol solution to create a microbead slurry with the right viscosity for packing. A microfilter is placed at the outlet via of the microchannel and the slurry is injected, then withdrawn across a filter using modified syringes. After each injection, the channel is flushed with ethanol to enhance packing. This cycle is repeated numerous times to allow for a tightly packed channel of microbeads. Typical microbead packing occurs in the macroscale into tubes or channels by using highly pressurized systems. Moreover, these channels are typically long and straight without any turns or curves. On the other hand, this method of microbead packing is completed within a microchannel 75 micrometers in diameter. Moreover, the microbead packing is completed into a serpentine type microchannel, such that it maximizes microchannel length within a microchip. Doing so enhances the interactions of the analytes with the microbeads to separate efficiently amino acids and amino acid

Transient response of nonideal ion-selective microchannel-nanochannel devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leibowitz, Neta; Schiffbauer, Jarrod; Park, Sinwook; Yossifon, Gilad

2018-04-01

We report evidence of variation in ion selectivity of a fabricated microchannel-nanochannel device resulting in the appearance of a distinct local maximum in the overlimiting chronopotentiometric response. In this system consisting of shallow microchannels joined by a nanochannel, viscous shear at the microchannel walls suppresses the electro-osmotic instability and prevents any associated contribution to the nonmonotonic response. Thus, this response is primarily electrodiffusive. Numerical simulations indicate that concentration polarization develops not only within the microchannel but also within the nanochannel itself, with a local voltage maximum in the chronopotentiometric response correlated with interfacial depletion and having the classic i-2 Sands time dependence. Furthermore, the occurrence of the local maxima is correlated with the change in selectivity due to internal concentration polarization. Understanding the transient nonideal permselective response is essential for obtaining fundamental insight and for optimizing efficient operation of practical fabricated nanofluidic and membrane devices.

Parallel Microchannel-Based Measurements of Individual Erythrocyte Areas and Volumes

PubMed Central

Gifford, Sean C.; Frank, Michael G.; Derganc, Jure; Gabel, Christopher; Austin, Robert H.; Yoshida, Tatsuro; Bitensky, Mark W.

2003-01-01

We describe a microchannel device which utilizes a novel approach to obtain area and volume measurements on many individual red blood cells. Red cells are aspirated into the microchannels much as a single red blood cell is aspirated into a micropipette. Inasmuch as there are thousands of identical microchannels with defined geometry, data for many individual red cells can be rapidly acquired, and the fundamental heterogeneity of cell membrane biophysics can be analyzed. Fluorescent labels can be used to quantify red cell surface and cytosolic features of interest simultaneously with the measurement of area and volume for a given cell. Experiments that demonstrate and evaluate the microchannel measuring capabilities are presented and potential improvements and extensions are discussed. PMID:12524315

Surface roughness influences on the behaviour of flow inside microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Farias, M. H.; Castro, C. S.; Garcia, D. A.; Henrique, J. S.

2018-03-01

This work discusses influence of the surface roughness on the behavior of liquids flowing inside microchannels. By measuring the flow profile using the micro-PIV technique, the flow of water inside two rectangular microchannels of different wall roughness and in a circular smooth microchannel was studied. Comparisons were made among the experimental results, showing that a metrological approach concerning surface characteristics of microdevices is required to ensure reliability of the measurements for flow analyses in microfluidic processes.

Influence of Reservoirs on Pressure Driven Gas Flow in a Microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shterev, K. S.; Stefanov, S. K.

2011-11-01

Rapidly emerging micro-electro-mechanical devices create new potential microfluidic applications. A simulation of an internal and external gas flows with accurate boundary conditions for these devices is important for their design. In this paper we study influence of reservoirs used at the microchannel inlet and outlet on the characteristics of the gas flow in the microchannel. The problem is solved by using finite volume method SIMPLE-TS (continuum approach), which is validated using Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (molecular approach). We investigate two cases: a microchannels with reservoirs and without reservoirs. We compare the microchannels with different aspect ratios A = Lch/Hch = 10,15,20,30,40 and 50, where Lch is the channel length, Hch is the channel height. Comparisons of results obtained by using continuum approach for pressure driven flow in a microchannel with and without reservoirs at the channel ends are presented.

NASA's Platform for Cross-Disciplinary Microchannel Research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Son, Sang Young; Spearing, Scott; Allen, Jeffrey; Monaco, Lisa A.

2003-01-01

A team from the Structural Biology group located at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama is developing a platform suitable for cross-disciplinary microchannel research. The original objective of this engineering development effort was to deliver a multi-user flight-certified facility for iterative investigations of protein crystal growth; that is, Iterative Biological Crystallization (IBC). However, the unique capabilities of this facility are not limited to the low-gravity structural biology research community. Microchannel-based research in a number of other areas may be greatly accelerated through use of this facility. In particular, the potential for gas-liquid flow investigations and cellular biological research utilizing the exceptional pressure control and simplified coupling to macroscale diagnostics inherent in the IBC facility will be discussed. In conclusion, the opportunities for research-specific modifications to the microchannel configuration, control, and diagnostics will be discussed.

Non-Newtonian fluid structure interaction in flexible biomimetic microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kiran, M.; Dasgupta, Sunando; Chakraborty, Suman

2017-11-01

To investigate the complex fluid structure interactions in a physiologically relevant microchannel with deformable wall and non-Newtonian fluid that flows within it, we fabricated cylindrical microchannels of various softness out of PDMS. Experiments to measure the transient pressure drop across the channel were carried out with high sampling frequencies to capture the intricate flow physics. In particular, we showed that the waveforms varies greatly for each of the non-Newtonian and Newtonian cases for both non-deformable and deformable microchannels in terms of the peak amplitude, r.m.s amplitude and the crest factor. In addition, we carried out frequency sweep experiments to evaluate the frequency response of the system. We believe that these results will aid in the design of polymer based microfluidic phantoms for arterial FSI studies, and in particular for studying blood analog fluids in cylindrical microchannels as well as developing frequency specific Lab-on-chip systems for medical diagnostics.

Convective heat transfer for a gaseous slip flow in micropipe and parallel-plate microchannel with uniform wall heat flux: effect of axial heat conduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haddout, Y.; Essaghir, E.; Oubarra, A.; Lahjomri, J.

2017-12-01

Thermally developing laminar slip flow through a micropipe and a parallel plate microchannel, with axial heat conduction and uniform wall heat flux, is studied analytically by using a powerful method of self-adjoint formalism. This method results from a decomposition of the elliptic energy equation into a system of two first-order partial differential equations. The advantage of this method over other methods, resides in the fact that the decomposition procedure leads to a selfadjoint problem although the initial problem is apparently not a self-adjoint one. The solution is an extension of prior studies and considers a first order slip model boundary conditions at the fluid-wall interface. The analytical expressions for the developing temperature and local Nusselt number in the thermal entrance region are obtained in the general case. Therefore, the solution obtained could be extended easily to any hydrodynamically developed flow and arbitrary heat flux distribution. The analytical results obtained are compared for select simplified cases with available numerical calculations and they both agree. The results show that the heat transfer characteristics of flow in the thermal entrance region are strongly influenced by the axial heat conduction and rarefaction effects which are respectively characterized by Péclet and Knudsen numbers.

Convective heat transfer for a gaseous slip flow in micropipe and parallel-plate microchannel with uniform wall heat flux: effect of axial heat conduction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haddout, Y.; Essaghir, E.; Oubarra, A.; Lahjomri, J.

2018-06-01

Thermally developing laminar slip flow through a micropipe and a parallel plate microchannel, with axial heat conduction and uniform wall heat flux, is studied analytically by using a powerful method of self-adjoint formalism. This method results from a decomposition of the elliptic energy equation into a system of two first-order partial differential equations. The advantage of this method over other methods, resides in the fact that the decomposition procedure leads to a selfadjoint problem although the initial problem is apparently not a self-adjoint one. The solution is an extension of prior studies and considers a first order slip model boundary conditions at the fluid-wall interface. The analytical expressions for the developing temperature and local Nusselt number in the thermal entrance region are obtained in the general case. Therefore, the solution obtained could be extended easily to any hydrodynamically developed flow and arbitrary heat flux distribution. The analytical results obtained are compared for select simplified cases with available numerical calculations and they both agree. The results show that the heat transfer characteristics of flow in the thermal entrance region are strongly influenced by the axial heat conduction and rarefaction effects which are respectively characterized by Péclet and Knudsen numbers.

Large Area and High Efficiency Photon Counting Imaging Detectors with High Time and Spatial Resolution for Night Time Sensing and Astronomy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegmund, O.; Vallerga, J.; Tremsin, A.; McPhate, J.; Frisch, H.; Elam, J.; Mane, A.; Wagner, R.; Varner, G.

2012-09-01

low intrinsic background (<0.1 events/sq-cm/sec) and high stability with no observed gain degradation behavior over at least 5 Coul/sq-cm of charge extraction. Initial tests in a 20 cm detector with a cross strip electronic readout have achieved 4k x 4k pixel imaging with single photon sub-ns timing and MHz event rates. In concert with this effort we have made stable, uniform 20 cm bialkali photocathodes with >20% quantum efficiency on borosilicate windows compatible with a large sealed tube device. Other related efforts have also produced small sealed tubes with 30% quantum efficiency GaAs sealed tubes with high resolution imaging and timing that are immediately applicable to current applications, and opaque GaN UV photocathodes directly deposited onto these novel microchannel plates. We will discuss the details and implications of these novel microchannel plates with respect to the realization of novel detectors up to 20 cm format with reasonable cost and performance, robust construction, high flexibility of format and readout, reduction of fabrication effort, dramatically increased lifetime and stability, and their potential applications.

Systems and methods of manufacturing microchannel arrays

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paul, Brian K.; Brannon, Samuel T.

The present application relates to apparatus and methods of reducing the cost of microchannel array production and operation. In a representative embodiment, a microchannel array can comprise a first lamina having one or more flanges and a plurality of elongated bosses. The one or more flanges can extend along a perimeter of the first lamina, the plurality of elongated bosses can at least partially define a plurality of first flow paths, and the first lamina can define at least one opening. The microchannel array can also comprise a second lamina having a plurality of second flow paths, and can definemore » at least one opening. The second lamina can be disposed above the first lamina such that the second lamina encloses the first flow paths of the first lamina and the at least one opening of the first lamina is coaxial with the at least one opening of the second lamina.« less

Dynamic Modelling of the DEP Controlled Boiling in a Microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lackowski, Marcin; Kwidzinski, Roman

2018-04-01

The paper presents theoretical analysis of flow dynamics in a heated microchannel in which flow rate may be controlled by dielectrophoretic (DEP) forces. Proposed model equations were derived in terms of lumped parameters characterising the system comprising of DEP controller and the microchannel. In result, an equation for liquid height of rise in the controller was obtained from momentum balances in the two elements of the considered system. In the model, the boiling process in the heated section of microchannel is taken into account through a pressure drop, which is a function of flow rate and uniform heat flux. Presented calculation results show that the DEP forces influence mainly the flow rate in the microchannel. In this way, by proper modulation of voltage applied to the DEP controller, it is possible to lower the frequency of Ledinegg instabilities.

Slip flow through a converging microchannel: experiments and 3D simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Varade, Vijay; Agrawal, Amit; Pradeep, A. M.

2015-02-01

An experimental and 3D numerical study of gaseous slip flow through a converging microchannel is presented in this paper. The measurements reported are with nitrogen gas flowing through the microchannel with convergence angles (4°, 8° and 12°), hydraulic diameters (118, 147 and 177 µm) and lengths (10, 20 and 30 mm). The measurements cover the entire slip flow regime and a part of the continuum and transition regimes (the Knudsen number is between 0.0004 and 0.14); the flow is laminar (the Reynolds number is between 0.5 and 1015). The static pressure drop is measured for various mass flow rates. The overall pressure drop increases with a decrease in the convergence angle and has a relatively large contribution of the viscous component. The numerical solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations with Maxwell’s slip boundary condition explore two different flow behaviors: uniform centerline velocity with linear pressure variation in the initial and the middle part of the microchannel and flow acceleration with nonlinear pressure variation in the last part of the microchannel. The centerline velocity and the wall shear stress increase with a decrease in the convergence angle. The concept of a characteristic length scale for a converging microchannel is also explored. The location of the characteristic length is a function of the Knudsen number and approaches the microchannel outlet with rarefaction. These results on gaseous slip flow through converging microchannels are observed to be considerably different than continuum flow.

Flow Pattern Phenomena in Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keska, Jerry K.; Simon, William E.

2004-02-01

Space transportation systems require high-performance thermal protection and fluid management techniques for systems ranging from cryogenic fluid management devices to primary structures and propulsion systems exposed to extremely high temperatures, as well as for other space systems such as cooling or environment control for advanced space suits and integrated circuits. Although considerable developmental effort is being expended to bring potentially applicable technologies to a readiness level for practical use, new and innovative methods are still needed. One such method is the concept of Advanced Micro Cooling Modules (AMCMs), which are essentially compact two-phase heat exchangers constructed of microchannels and designed to remove large amounts of heat rapidly from critical systems by incorporating phase transition. The development of AMCMs requires fundamental technological advancement in many areas, including: (1) development of measurement methods/systems for flow-pattern measurement/identification for two-phase mixtures in microchannels; (2) development of a phenomenological model for two-phase flow which includes the quantitative measure of flow patterns; and (3) database development for multiphase heat transfer/fluid dynamics flows in microchannels. This paper focuses on the results of experimental research in the phenomena of two-phase flow in microchannels. The work encompasses both an experimental and an analytical approach to incorporating flow patterns for air-water mixtures flowing in a microchannel, which are necessary tools for the optimal design of AMCMs. Specifically, the following topics are addressed: (1) design and construction of a sensitive test system for two-phase flow in microchannels, one which measures ac and dc components of in-situ physical mixture parameters including spatial concentration using concomitant methods; (2) data acquisition and analysis in the amplitude, time, and frequency domains; and (3) analysis of results

Development, Fabrication, and Testing of a Liquid/Liquid Microchannel Heat Exchanger for Constellation Spacecrafts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hawkins-Reynolds, Ebony; Le,Hung; Stephans, Ryan A.

2009-01-01

Minimizing mass and volume is critically important for space hardware. Microchannel technology can be used to decrease both of these parameters for heat exchangers. Working in concert with NASA, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL) has developed a microchannel liquid/liquid heat exchanger that has resulted in significant mass and volume savings. The microchannel heat exchanger delivers these improvements without sacrificing thermal and pressure drop performance. A conventional heat exchanger has been tested and the performance of it recorded to compare it to the microchannel heat exchanger that PNNL has fabricated. The microchannel heat exchanger was designed to meet all of the requirements of the baseline heat exchanger, while reducing the heat exchanger mass and volume. The baseline heat exchanger was designed to have an transfer approximately 3.1 kW for a specific set of inlet conditions. The baseline heat exchanger mass was 2.7 kg while the microchannel mass was only 2.0 kg. More impressive, however, was the volumetric savings associated with the microchannel heat exchanger. The microchannel heat exchanger was an order of magnitude smaller than the baseline heat exchanger (2180cm3 vs. 311 cm3). This paper will describe the test apparatus designed to complete performance tests for both heat exchangers. Also described in this paper will be the performance specifications for the microchannel heat exchanger and how they compare to the baseline heat exchanger.

Comparative analysis of fabrication methods for achieving rounded microchannels in PDMS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, Nicholas W.; Wood, Robert J.

2016-11-01

Many microfluidic applications demand control over channel cross-sectional geometry. In particular, rounded microchannels are essential to the function of microfluidic valves, which have played an integral part in the success of microfluidics over the past fifteen years. Here we investigate the relative strengths and weaknesses of different strategies for fabricating rounded microchannels in PDMS, systematically examining five common strategies. We consider the appropriateness of the fabrication strategies for microchannels of differing sizes and aspect ratios, and evaluate these various strategies on a number of metrics ranging from microchannel resolution to fabrication difficulty. We discuss the merits of the different strategies for a range of applications, and make recommendations on which strategy to use based on the driving constraints of the device.

Electrokinetic energy conversion in a finite length superhydrophobic microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malekidelarestaqi, M.; Mansouri, A.; Chini, S. F.

2018-07-01

We investigated the effect of superhydrophobic walls on electrokinetics phenomena in a finite-length microchannel with superhydrophobic walls (in both transient and steady-state). We implemented the effect of superhydrophobicity using Navier's slip-length. To include the importance of the electric double-layer, we scaled the slip-length with respect to Debye-length (κ-1). By increasing the slip-length from 0 to 144 nm (1.5κ-1), streaming-current, streaming-potential, flow-rate and electrokinetic energy conversion increased by 2.55, 2.44, 1.8, and 3.4 folds, accordingly. The electrokinetic energy conversion of each microchannel was in the order of picowatt. To produce more energy, an array of microchannels should be used.

Detection of Large Ions in Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry: Effects of Ion Mass and Acceleration Voltage on Microchannel Plate Detector Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Ranran; Li, Qiyao; Smith, Lloyd M.

2014-08-01

In time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS), ion detection is typically accomplished by the generation and amplification of secondary electrons produced by ions colliding with a microchannel plate (MCP) detector. Here, the response of an MCP detector as a function of ion mass and acceleration voltage is characterized, for singly charged peptide/protein ions ranging from 1 to 290 kDa in mass, and for acceleration voltages from 5 to 25 kV. A nondestructive inductive charge detector (ICD) employed in parallel with MCP detection provides a reliable reference signal to allow accurate calibration of the MCP response. MCP detection efficiencies were very close to unity for smaller ions at high acceleration voltages (e.g., angiotensin, 1046.5 Da, at 25 kV acceleration voltage), but decreased to ~11% for the largest ions examined (immunoglobulin G (IgG) dimer, 290 kDa) even at the highest acceleration voltage employed (25 kV). The secondary electron yield γ (average number of electrons produced per ion collision) is found to be proportional to mv3.1 (m: ion mass, v: ion velocity) over the entire mass range examined, and inversely proportional to the square root of m in TOF-MS analysis. The results indicate that although MCP detectors indeed offer superlative performance in the detection of smaller peptide/protein species, their performance does fall off substantially for larger proteins, particularly under conditions of low acceleration voltage.

Injection flow during steam condensation in silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huiying; Yu, Mengmeng; Cheng, Ping; Wu, Xinyu

2007-08-01

An experimental investigation with the combined use of visualization and measurement techniques was performed on flow pattern transitions and wall temperature distributions in the condensation of steam in silicon microchannels. Three sets of trapezoidal silicon microchannels, having hydraulic diameters of 53.0 µm, 77.5 µm and 128.5 µm, respectively, were tested under different flow and cooling conditions. It was found that during the transitions from the annular flow to the slug/bubbly flow, a peculiar flow pattern injection flow appeared in silicon microchannels. The location at which the injection flow occurred was dependent on the Reynolds number, condensation number and hydraulic diameter. With increase in the Reynolds number, or decrease in the condensation number and hydraulic diameter, the injection flow moved towards the channel outlet. Based on the experimental results, a dimensionless correlation for the location of injection flow in functions of the Reynolds number, condensation number and hydraulic diameter was proposed for the first time. This correlation can be used to determine the annular flow zone and the slug/bubbly flow zone, and further to determine the dominating condensation flow pattern in silicon microchannels. Wall temperature distributions were also explored in this paper. It was found that near the injection flow, wall temperatures have a rapid decrease in the flow direction, while upstream and downstream far away from the injection flow, wall temperatures decreased mildly. Thus, the location of injection flow can also be determined based on the wall temperature distributions. The results presented in this paper help us to better understand the condensation flow and heat transfer in silicon microchannels.

Recent Work on Flow Boiling and Condensation in a Single Microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quan, Xiaojun; Wang, Guodong; Cheng, Ping; Wu, Huiying

2007-06-01

Recent visualization and measurements results on flow boiling of water and condensation of steam in a single microchannel, carried out at Shanghai Jiaotong University, is summarized in this paper. For flow boiling of water, experiments were conducted in a single microchannel with a trapezoidal cross-section having a hydraulic diameter of 186 μm and a length of 30 mm. A boiling flow pattern map in terms of heat flux versus mass flux, showing the unstable and stable boiling flow regimes in the microchannel, is obtained. For the investigation of condensation, experiments were carried out for steam condensing inside a single microchannel with a length of 60mm having a hydraulic diameter of 87 μm and 120μm respectively. The location of transition from annular flow to plug/slug flow in a microchannel is found to be dependent on both the dimensionless condensation heat transfer rate as well as the Reynolds number of the steam. The frequency for the occurrence of the injection flow is found to increase with the increasing mass flux.

Characterization of microchannel anechoic corners formed by surface acoustic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Destgeer, Ghulam; Alam, Ashar; Ahmed, Husnain; Park, Jinsoo; Jung, Jin Ho; Park, Kwangseok; Sung, Hyung Jin

2018-02-01

Surface acoustic waves (SAWs) generated in a piezoelectric substrate couple with a liquid according to Snell's law such that a compressional acoustic wave propagates obliquely at a Rayleigh angle ( θ t) inside the microchannel to form a region devoid of a direct acoustic field, which is termed a microchannel anechoic corner (MAC). In the present study, we used microchannels with various heights and widths to characterize the width of the MAC region formed by a single travelling SAW. The attenuation of high-frequency SAWs produced a strong acoustic streaming flow that moved the particles in and out of the MAC region, whereas reflections of the acoustic waves within the microchannel resulted in standing acoustic waves that trapped particles at acoustic pressure nodes located within or outside of the MAC region. A range of actuation frequencies and particle diameters were used to investigate the effects of the acoustic streaming flow and the direct acoustic radiation forces by the travelling as well as standing waves on the particle motion with respect to the MAC region. The width of the MAC ( w c), measured experimentally by tracing the particles, increased with the height of the microchannel ( h m) according to a simple trigonometric equation w c = h m × tan ( θ t ).

Functional recordings from awake, behaving rodents through a microchannel based regenerative neural interface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gore, Russell K.; Choi, Yoonsu; Bellamkonda, Ravi; English, Arthur

2015-02-01

Objective. Neural interface technologies could provide controlling connections between the nervous system and external technologies, such as limb prosthetics. The recording of efferent, motor potentials is a critical requirement for a peripheral neural interface, as these signals represent the user-generated neural output intended to drive external devices. Our objective was to evaluate structural and functional neural regeneration through a microchannel neural interface and to characterize potentials recorded from electrodes placed within the microchannels in awake and behaving animals. Approach. Female rats were implanted with muscle EMG electrodes and, following unilateral sciatic nerve transection, the cut nerve was repaired either across a microchannel neural interface or with end-to-end surgical repair. During a 13 week recovery period, direct muscle responses to nerve stimulation proximal to the transection were monitored weekly. In two rats repaired with the neural interface, four wire electrodes were embedded in the microchannels and recordings were obtained within microchannels during proximal stimulation experiments and treadmill locomotion. Main results. In these proof-of-principle experiments, we found that axons from cut nerves were capable of functional reinnervation of distal muscle targets, whether regenerating through a microchannel device or after direct end-to-end repair. Discrete stimulation-evoked and volitional potentials were recorded within interface microchannels in a small group of awake and behaving animals and their firing patterns correlated directly with intramuscular recordings during locomotion. Of 38 potentials extracted, 19 were identified as motor axons reinnervating tibialis anterior or soleus muscles using spike triggered averaging. Significance. These results are evidence for motor axon regeneration through microchannels and are the first report of in vivo recordings from regenerated motor axons within microchannels in a small

Corrugated walls analysis in microchannels through porous medium under Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) effects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rashid, M.; Shahzadi, Iqra; Nadeem, S.

2018-06-01

This study looks for corrugated walls analysis in microchannels through porous medium under the impact of Electromagnetohydrodynamic (EMHD) effects. The incompressible and electrically conducting second grade fluid is considered between the two slit microparallel plates. The periodic sinusoidal waves are described for the small amplitude either in phase or out of phase for the corrugations of two wavy walls. By employing mathematical computation, we evaluated the corrugation effects on velocity for EMHD flow. By using perturbation technique, we investigated the analytical solutions of the velocity and volume flow rate. The influence of all parameters on velocity and the mean velocity profiles have been analyzed through graphs. The important conclusion from the analysis is that the small value of amplitude ratio parameter reduces the unobvious wave effect on the velocity.

Soft x-ray microscope with zone plates at UVSOR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watanabe, Norio; Shimanuki, Yoshio; Taniguchi, Mieko; Kihara, Hiroshi

1993-01-01

A soft x-ray microscope with zone plates was set up at UVSOR (Okazaki, Japan). A 0.41 micrometers line and space pattern was clearly distinguished using an objective zone plate with the outermost zone width of 0.41 micrometers . Modulation transfer functions were measured at wavelengths of 3.1 nm and 5.4 nm, and compared with theoretical calculations. Considering the resolution of a microchannel plate used as a detector, the agreement is fairly good. With this microscope, some biological specimens such as diatoms, spicule of trepang, crab and rabbit muscles, human blood cells, human chromosomes, and magnetotactic bacterium were observed at 3.1 nm and 5.4 nm. With an environmental chamber (wet cell) using polypropylene foils as windows, wet specimens were observed at a wavelength of 4.6 nm. Images of spicule of trepang, human blood cell, and cultured protoplast of plant cell stained by methyl mercury were observed with good contrast.

Flexible metal patterning in glass microfluidic structures using femtosecond laser direct-write ablation followed by electroless plating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Jian; Midorikawa, Katsumi; Sugioka, Koji

2014-03-01

A simple and flexible technique for integrating metal micropatterns into glass microfluidic structures based on threedimensional femtosecond laser microfabrication is presented. Femtosecond laser direct writing followed by thermal treatment and successive chemical etching allows us to fabricate three-dimensional microfluidic structures such as microchannels and microreservoirs inside photosensitive glass. Then, the femtosecond laser direct-write ablation followed by electroless metal plating enables space-selective deposition of patterned metal films on desired locations of internal walls of the fabricated microfluidic structures. The developed technique is applied to integrate a metal microheater into a glass microchannel to control the temperature of liquid samples in the channel, which can be used as a microreactor for enhancement of chemical reactions.

Enhanced MicroChannel Heat Transfer in Macro-Geometry using Conventional Fabrication Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ooi, KT; Goh, AL

2016-09-01

This paper presents studies on passive, single-phase, enhanced microchannel heat transfer in conventionally sized geometry. The intention is to allow economical, simple and readily available conventional fabrication techniques to be used for fabricating macro-scale heat exchangers with microchannel heat transfer capability. A concentric annular gap between a 20 mm diameter channel and an 19.4 mm diameter insert forms a microchannel where heat transfer occurs. Results show that the heat transfer coefficient of more than 50 kW/m·K can be obtained for Re≈4,000, at hydraulic diameter of 0.6 mm. The pressure drop values of the system are kept below 3.3 bars. The present study re-confirms the feasibility of fabricating macro-heat exchangers with microchannel heat transfer capability.

Developing a method of fabricating microchannels using plant root structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakashima, Shota; Tokumaru, Kazuki; Tsumori, Fujio

2018-06-01

Complicated three-dimensional (3D) microchannels are expected to be applied to a lab-on-a-chip, especially an organ-on-a-chip. There are fine microchannel networks such as blood vessels in a living organ. However, it is difficult to recreate the complicated 3D microchannels of real living structures. Plant roots have a similar structure to blood vessels. They spread radially and three-dimensionally, and become thinner as they branch. In this research, we propose a method of fabricating microchannels using a live plant root as a template to mimic a blood vessel structure. We grew a plant in ceramic slurry instead of soil. The slurry consists of ceramic powder, binder and water, so it plays a similar role to soil consisting of fine particles in water. After growing the plant, the roots inside the slurry were burned and a sintered ceramic body with channel structures was obtained by heating. We used two types of slurry with different composition ratios, and compared the internal channel structures before and after sintering.

Impact of wall hydrophobicity on condensation flow and heat transfer in silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fang, Chen; Steinbrenner, Julie E.; Wang, Fu-Min; Goodson, Kenneth E.

2010-04-01

While microchannel condensation has been the subject of several recent studies, the critical impact of wall hydrophobicity on the microchannel condensation flow has received very little attention. The paper experimentally studies steam condensation in a silicon microchannel 286 µm in hydraulic diameter with three different wall hydrophobicities. It is found that the channel surface wettability has a significant impact on the flow pattern, pressure drop and heat transfer characteristic. Spatial flow pattern transition is observed in both hydrophobic and hydrophilic channels. In the hydrophobic channel, the transition from dropwise/slugwise flow to plug flow is induced by the slug instability. In the hydrophilic channel, the flow transition is characterized by the periodic bubble detachment, a process in which pressure evolution is found important. Local temperature measurement is conducted and heat flux distribution in the microchannel is reconstructed. For the same inlet vapor flux and temperature, the hydrophobic microchannel yields higher heat transfer rate and pressure drop compared to the hydrophilic channel. The difference is attributed to the distinction in flow pattern and heat transfer mechanism dictated by the channel hydrophobicity. This study highlights the importance of the channel hydrophobicity control for the optimization of the microchannel condenser.

A Comprehensive Study of a Micro-Channel Heat Sink Using Integrated Thin-Film Temperature Sensors.

PubMed

Wang, Tao; Wang, Jiejun; He, Jian; Wu, Chuangui; Luo, Wenbo; Shuai, Yao; Zhang, Wanli; Chen, Xiancai; Zhang, Jian; Lin, Jia

2018-01-19

A micro-channel heat sink is a promising cooling method for high power integrated circuits (IC). However, the understanding of such a micro-channel device is not sufficient, because the tools for studying it are very limited. The details inside the micro-channels are not readily available. In this letter, a micro-channel heat sink is comprehensively studied using the integrated temperature sensors. The highly sensitive thin film temperature sensors can accurately monitor the temperature change in the micro-channel in real time. The outstanding heat dissipation performance of the micro-channel heat sink is proven in terms of maximum temperature, cooling speed and heat resistance. The temperature profile along the micro-channel is extracted, and even small temperature perturbations can be detected. The heat source formed temperature peak shifts towards the flow direction with the increasing flow rate. However, the temperature non-uniformity is independent of flow rate, but solely dependent on the heating power. Specific designs for minimizing the temperature non-uniformity are necessary. In addition, the experimental results from the integrated temperature sensors match the simulation results well. This can be used to directly verify the modeling results, helping to build a convincing simulation model. The integrated sensor could be a powerful tool for studying the micro-channel based heat sink.

Electroosmotic Flow Driven by DC and AC Electric Fields in Curved Microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Jia-Kun; Luo, Win-Jet; Yang, Ruey-Jen

2006-10-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate electroosmotic flows driven by externally applied DC and AC electric fields in curved microchannels. For the DC electric driving field, the velocity distribution and secondary flow patterns are investigated in microchannels with various curvature ratios. We use the Dean number to describe the curvature effect of the flow field in DC electric field. The result implies that the effect of curvatures and the strength of the secondary flows become get stronger when the curvature ratio of C/A (where C is the radius of curvature of the microchannel and A is the half-height of rectangular curved tube.) is smaller. For the AC electric field, the velocity distribution and secondary flow patterns are investigated for driving frequencies in the range of 2.0 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=0.71) to 11 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=1.66). The numerical results reveal that the velocity at the center of the microchannel becomes lower at higher frequencies of the AC electric field and the strength of the secondary flow decreases. When the applied frequency exceeds 3.0 kHz (\\mathit{Wo}=0.87), vortices are no longer observed at the corners of the microchannel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the secondary flow induced at higher AC electric field frequencies has virtually no effect on the axial flow field in the microchannel.

High Flux Microchannel Receiver Development with Adap-tive Flow Control

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Drost, Kevin

This project is focused on the demonstration of a microchannel-based solar receiver (MSR). The MSR concept consists of using a modular arrangement of arrayed microchannels to heat a working fluid in a concentrating solar receiver, allowing a much higher solar flux on the receiver and consequently a significant reduction in thermal losses, size, and cost.

Condensation Behavior in a Microchannel Heat Exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaneko, Akiko; Takeuchi, Genki; Abe, Yutaka; Suzuki, Yutaka

A small and high performance heat exchanger for small size energy equipments such as fuel cells and CO2 heat pumps is required in these days. In author's previous studies, the heat exchanger consisted of microchannels stacked in layers has been developed. It has resistance to pressure of larger than 15 MPa since it is manufactured by diffusion bond technique. Thus this device can be applied for high flow rate and pressure fluctuation conditions as boiling and condensation. The objectives of the present study are to clarify the heat transfer performance of the prototype heat exchanger and to investigate the thermal hydraulic behavior in the microchannel for design optimization of the device. As the results, it is clarified that the present device attained high heat transfer as 7 kW at the steam condensation, despite its weight of only 230 g. Furthermore, steam condensation behavior in a glass capillary tube, as a simulated microchannel, in a cooling water pool was observed with various inlet pressure and temperature of surrounding water. Relation between steam-water two-phase flow structure and the overall heat transfer coefficient is discussed.

Vacuum-assisted fluid flow in microchannels to pattern substrates and cells.

PubMed

Shrirao, Anil B; Kung, Frank H; Yip, Derek; Cho, Cheul H; Townes-Anderson, Ellen

2014-09-01

Substrate and cell patterning are widely used techniques in cell biology to study cell-to-cell and cell-substrate interactions. Conventional patterning techniques work well only with simple shapes, small areas and selected bio-materials. This paper describes a method to distribute cell suspensions as well as substrate solutions into complex, long, closed (dead-end) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels using negative pressure. Our method builds upon a previous vacuum-assisted method used for micromolding (Jeon et al 1999 Adv. Mater 11 946) and successfully patterned collagen-I, fibronectin and Sal-1 substrates on glass and polystyrene surfaces, filling microchannels with lengths up to 120 mm and covering areas up to 13 × 10 mm(2). Vacuum-patterned substrates were subsequently used to culture mammalian PC12 and fibroblast cells and amphibian neurons. Cells were also patterned directly by injecting cell suspensions into microchannels using vacuum. Fibroblast and neuronal cells patterned using vacuum showed normal growth and minimal cell death indicating no adverse effects of vacuum on cells. Our method fills reversibly sealed PDMS microchannels. This enables the user to remove the PDMS microchannel cast and access the patterned biomaterial or cells for further experimental purposes. Overall, this is a straightforward technique that has broad applicability for cell biology.

Vacuum-assisted Fluid Flow in Microchannels to Pattern Substrates and Cells

PubMed Central

Shrirao, Anil B.; Kung, Frank H.; Yip, Derek; Cho, Cheul H.; Townes-Anderson, Ellen

2014-01-01

Substrate and cell patterning are widely used techniques in cell biology to study cell-to-cell and cell-to-substrate interactions. Conventional patterning techniques work well only with simple shapes, small areas and selected bio-materials. This paper describes a method to distribute cell suspensions as well as substrate solutions into complex, long, closed (dead-end) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels using negative pressure. Our method builds upon a previous vacuum-assisted method used for micromolding (Jeon, Choi et al. 1999) and successfully patterned collagen-I, fibronectin and Sal-1 substrates on glass and polystyrene surfaces, filling microchannels with lengths up to 120 mm and covering areas up to 13 × 10 mm2. Vacuum-patterned substrates were subsequently used to culture mammalian PC12 and fibroblast cells and amphibian neurons. Cells were also patterned directly by injecting cell suspensions into microchannels using vacuum. Fibroblast and neuronal cells patterned using vacuum showed normal growth and minimal cell death indicating no adverse effects of vacuum on cells. Our method fills reversibly sealed PDMS microchannels. This enables the user to remove the PDMS microchannel cast and access the patterned biomaterial or cells for further experimental purposes. Overall, this is a straightforward technique that has broad applicability for cell biology. PMID:24989641

Controlled viable release of selectively captured label-free cells in microchannels.

PubMed

Gurkan, Umut Atakan; Anand, Tarini; Tas, Huseyin; Elkan, David; Akay, Altug; Keles, Hasan Onur; Demirci, Utkan

2011-12-07

Selective capture of cells from bodily fluids in microchannels has broadly transformed medicine enabling circulating tumor cell isolation, rapid CD4(+) cell counting for HIV monitoring, and diagnosis of infectious diseases. Although cell capture methods have been demonstrated in microfluidic systems, the release of captured cells remains a significant challenge. Viable retrieval of captured label-free cells in microchannels will enable a new era in biological sciences by allowing cultivation and post-processing. The significant challenge in release comes from the fact that the cells adhere strongly to the microchannel surface, especially when immuno-based immobilization methods are used. Even though fluid shear and enzymes have been used to detach captured cells in microchannels, these methods are known to harm cells and affect cellular characteristics. This paper describes a new technology to release the selectively captured label-free cells in microchannels without the use of fluid shear or enzymes. We have successfully released the captured CD4(+) cells (3.6% of the mononuclear blood cells) from blood in microfluidic channels with high specificity (89% ± 8%), viability (94% ± 4%), and release efficiency (59% ± 4%). We have further validated our system by specifically capturing and controllably releasing the CD34(+) stem cells from whole blood, which were quantified to be 19 cells per million blood cells in the blood samples used in this study. Our results also indicated that both CD4(+) and CD34(+) cells released from the microchannels were healthy and amenable for in vitro culture. Manual flow based microfluidic method utilizes inexpensive, easy to fabricate microchannels allowing selective label-free cell capture and release in less than 10 minutes, which can also be used at the point-of-care. The presented technology can be used to isolate and purify a broad spectrum of cells from mixed populations offering widespread applications in applied biological

Experimental and theoretical analysis of defocused CO2 laser microchanneling on PMMA for enhanced surface finish

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Shashi; Kumar, Subrata

2017-02-01

The poor surface finish of CO2 laser-micromachined microchannel walls is a major limitation of its utilization despite several key advantages, like low fabrication cost and low time consumption. Defocused CO2 laser beam machining is an effective solution for fabricating smooth microchannel walls on polymer and glass substrates. In this research work, the CO2 laser microchanneling process on PMMA has been analyzed at different beam defocus positions. Defocused processing has been investigated both theoretically and experimentally, and the depth of focus and beam diameter have been determined experimentally. The effect of beam defocusing on the microchannel width, depth, surface roughness, heat affected zone and microchannel profile were examined. A previously developed analytical model for microchannel depth prediction has been improved by incorporating the threshold energy density factor. A semi-analytical model for predicting the microchannel width at different defocus positions has been developed. A semi-empirical model has also been developed for predicting microchannel widths at different defocusing conditions for lower depth values. The developed models were compared and verified by performing actual experiments. Multi-objective optimization was performed to select the best optimum set of input parameters for achieving the desired surface roughness.

Streaming potential of superhydrophobic microchannels.

PubMed

Park, Hung Mok; Kim, Damoa; Kim, Se Young

2017-03-01

For the purpose of gaining larger streaming potential, it has been suggested to employ superhydrophobic microchannels with a large velocity slip. There are two kinds of superhydrophobic surfaces, one having a smooth wall with a large Navier slip coefficient caused by the hydrophobicity of the wall material, and the other having a periodic array of no- shear slots of air pockets embedded in a nonslip wall. The electrokinetic flows over these two superhydrophobic surfaces are modelled using the Navier-Stokes equation and convection-diffusion equations of the ionic species. The Navier slip coefficient of the first kind surfaces and the no-shear slot ratio of the second kind surfaces are similar in the sense that the volumetric flow rate increases as these parameter values increase. However, although the streaming potential increases monotonically with respect to the Navier slip coefficient, it reaches a maximum and afterward decreases as the no-shear ratio increases. The results of the present investigation imply that the characterization of superhydrophobic surfaces employing only the measurement of volumetric flow rate against pressure drop is not appropriate and the fine structure of the superhydrophobic surfaces must be verified before predicting the streaming potential and electrokinetic flows accurately. © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A Comprehensive Study of a Micro-Channel Heat Sink Using Integrated Thin-Film Temperature Sensors

PubMed Central

Wang, Tao; Wang, Jiejun; He, Jian; Wu, Chuangui; Luo, Wenbo; Shuai, Yao; Zhang, Wanli; Chen, Xiancai; Zhang, Jian; Lin, Jia

2018-01-01

A micro-channel heat sink is a promising cooling method for high power integrated circuits (IC). However, the understanding of such a micro-channel device is not sufficient, because the tools for studying it are very limited. The details inside the micro-channels are not readily available. In this letter, a micro-channel heat sink is comprehensively studied using the integrated temperature sensors. The highly sensitive thin film temperature sensors can accurately monitor the temperature change in the micro-channel in real time. The outstanding heat dissipation performance of the micro-channel heat sink is proven in terms of maximum temperature, cooling speed and heat resistance. The temperature profile along the micro-channel is extracted, and even small temperature perturbations can be detected. The heat source formed temperature peak shifts towards the flow direction with the increasing flow rate. However, the temperature non-uniformity is independent of flow rate, but solely dependent on the heating power. Specific designs for minimizing the temperature non-uniformity are necessary. In addition, the experimental results from the integrated temperature sensors match the simulation results well. This can be used to directly verify the modeling results, helping to build a convincing simulation model. The integrated sensor could be a powerful tool for studying the micro-channel based heat sink. PMID:29351248

A two-step sealing-and-reinforcement SU8 bonding paradigm for the fabrication of shallow microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mehboudi, Aryan; Yeom, Junghoon

2018-03-01

Adhesive bonding is a key technique to create microfluidic devices when two separate substrates are used to form microchannels. Among many adhesives explored in microchannel fabrication, SU8 has been widely used as an adhesive layer for sealing the microchannel sidewalls. The majority of the available SU8-based bonding methods, however, suffer from the difficulties associated with sealing of two important types of the microchannel architecture: (1) shallow microchannels with small patterns on a large area, and (2) microchannels with ultra-low aspect ratios (e.g. 6 mm in width and 2~μ m in height). In this paper, a new bonding paradigm based upon the low-temperature and low-pressure SU8 bonding, consisting of two steps of sealing using a thin-SU8-coated PET film and bonding reinforcement using a SU8-coated glass slide, is proposed to resolve the aforementioned difficulties. Since it does not need complicated instruments such as a wafer bonding machine and a lamination device, the developed bonding paradigm is convenient and economical. We successfully demonstrate the compatibility of the proposed bonding paradigm with the two microchannel fabrication approaches based on the glass wet etching and the SU8 photo-lithography, where small microchannels with the innermost surfaces fully made of SU8 are obtained. A theoretical model is employed to better investigate the flow characteristics and the structural behavior of the microchannel including the PET film deformation, strain and von Mises stress distributions, bonding strength, etc. Moreover, we demonstrate the fabrication of the multi-height deep-shallow microchannel sidewalls and their sealing using the SU8-coated PET film. Finally, as a proof-of-concept device, a microfluidic filter consisting of the double-height deep-shallow microchannel is fabricated for separation of 3 µm and 10 µm particles.

MicroChannel Reactors for ISRU Applications Using Nanofabricated Catalysts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carranza, Susana; Makel, Darby B.; Vander Wal, Randall L.; Berger, Gordon M.; Pushkarev, Vladimir V.

2006-01-01

With the new direction of NASA to emphasize the exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond, quick development and demonstration of efficient systems for In-Situ Resources Utilization (ISRU) is more critical and timely than ever before. Affordable planning and execution of prolonged manned space missions depend upon the utilization of local resources and the waste products which are formed in manned spacecraft and surface bases. This paper presents current development of miniaturized chemical processing systems that combine microchannel reactor design with nanofabricated catalysts. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are used to produce a nanostructure within microchannel reactors, as support for catalysts. By virtue of their nanoscale dimensions, nanotubes geometrically restrict the catalyst particle size that can be supported upon the tube walls. By confining catalyst particles to sizes smaller than the CNT diameter, a more uniform catalyst particle size distribution may be maintained. The high dispersion permitted by the vast surface area of the nanoscale material serves to retain the integrity of the catalyst by reducing sintering or coalescence. Additionally, catalytic efficiency increases with decreasing catalyst particle size (reflecting higher surface area per unit mass) while chemical reactivity frequently is enhanced at the nanoscale. Particularly significant is the catalyst exposure. Rather than being confined within a porous material or deposited upon a 2-d surface, the catalyst is fully exposed to the reactant gases by virtue of the nanofabricated support structure. The combination of microchannel technology with nanofabricated catalysts provides a synergistic effect, enhancing both technologies with the potential to produce much more efficient systems than either technology alone. The development of highly efficient microchannel reactors will be applicable to multiple ISRU programs. By selection of proper nanofabricated catalysts, the microchannel reactors can be

Microchannel Reactors for ISRU Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carranza, Susana; Makel, Darby B.; Blizman, Brandon; Ward, Benjamin J.

2005-02-01

Affordable planning and execution of prolonged manned space missions depend upon the utilization of local resources and the waste products which are formed in manned spacecraft and surface bases. Successful in-situ resources utilization (ISRU) will require component technologies which provide optimal size, weight, volume, and power efficiency. Microchannel reactors enable the efficient chemical processing of in situ resources. The reactors can be designed for the processes that generate the most benefit for each mission. For instance, propellants (methane) can be produced from carbon dioxide from the Mars atmosphere using the Sabatier reaction and ethylene can be produced from the partial oxidation of methane. A system that synthesizes ethylene could be the precursor for systems to synthesize ethanol and polyethylene. Ethanol can be used as a nutrient for Astrobiology experiments, as well as the production of nutrients for human crew (e.g. sugars). Polyethylene can be used in the construction of habitats, tools, and replacement parts. This paper will present recent developments in miniature chemical reactors using advanced Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) and microchannel technology to support ISRU of Mars and lunar missions. Among other applications, the technology has been demonstrated for the Sabatier process and for the partial oxidation of methane. Microchannel reactors were developed based on ceramic substrates as well as metal substrates. In both types of reactors, multiple layers coated with catalytic material are bonded, forming a monolithic structure. Such reactors are readily scalable with the incorporation of extra layers. In addition, this reactor structure minimizes pressure drop and catalyst settling, which are common problems in conventional packed bed reactors.

Chronic multichannel neural recordings from soft regenerative microchannel electrodes during gait

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Musick, Katherine M.; Rigosa, Jacopo; Narasimhan, Shreya; Wurth, Sophie; Capogrosso, Marco; Chew, Daniel J.; Fawcett, James W.; Micera, Silvestro; Lacour, Stéphanie P.

2015-09-01

Reliably interfacing a nerve with an electrode array is one of the approaches to restore motor and sensory functions after an injury to the peripheral nerve. Accomplishing this with current technologies is challenging as the electrode-neuron interface often degrades over time, and surrounding myoelectric signals contaminate the neuro-signals in awake, moving animals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of microchannel electrode implants to monitor over time and in freely moving animals, neural activity from regenerating nerves. We designed and fabricated implants with silicone rubber and elastic thin-film metallization. Each implant carries an eight-by-twelve matrix of parallel microchannels (of 120 × 110 μm2 cross-section and 4 mm length) and gold thin-film electrodes embedded in the floor of ten of the microchannels. After sterilization, the soft, multi-lumen electrode implant is sutured between the stumps of the sciatic nerve. Over a period of three months and in four rats, the microchannel electrodes recorded spike activity from the regenerating sciatic nerve. Histology indicates mini-nerves formed of axons and supporting cells regenerate robustly in the implants. Analysis of the recorded spikes and gait kinematics over the ten-week period suggests firing patterns collected with the microchannel electrode implant can be associated with different phases of gait.

Microchannel fabrication on cyclic olefin polymer substrates via 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser ablation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCann, Ronán; Bagga, Komal; Groarke, Robert; Stalcup, Apryll; Vázquez, Mercedes; Brabazon, Dermot

2016-11-01

This paper presents a method for fabrication of microchannels on cyclic olefin polymer films that have application in the field of microfluidics and chemical sensing. Continuous microchannels were fabricated on 188-μm-thick cyclic olefin polymer substrates using a picosecond pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The effect of laser fluence on the microchannel morphology and dimensions was analysed via scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry. Single laser passes were found to produce v-shaped microchannels with depths ranging from 12 μm to 47 μm and widths from 44 μm to 154 μm. The ablation rate during processing was lower than predicted theoretically. Multiple laser passes were applied to examine the ability for finer control over microchannel morphology with channel depths ranging from 22 μm to 77 μm and channel widths from 59 μm to 155 μm. For up to five repeat passes, acceptable reproducibility was found in the produced microchannel morphology. Infrared spectroscopy revealed oxidation and dehydrogenation of the polymer surface following laser ablation. These results were compared to other work conducted on cyclic olefin polymers.

Modeling and Simulation of A Microchannel Cooling System for Vitrification of Cells and Tissues.

PubMed

Wang, Y; Zhou, X M; Jiang, C J; Yu, Y T

The microchannel heat exchange system has several advantages and can be used to enhance heat transfer for vitrification. To evaluate the microchannel cooling method and to analyze the effects of key parameters such as channel structure, flow rate and sample size. A computational flow dynamics model is applied to study the two-phase flow in microchannels and its related heat transfer process. The fluid-solid coupling problem is solved with a whole field solution method (i.e., flow profile in channels and temperature distribution in the system being simulated simultaneously). Simulation indicates that a cooling rate >10 4 C/min is easily achievable using the microchannel method with the high flow rate for a board range of sample sizes. Channel size and material used have significant impact on cooling performance. Computational flow dynamics is useful for optimizing the design and operation of the microchannel system.

Optimized evaporation from a microchannel heat sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monazami, Reza; Haj-Hariri, Hossein

2011-11-01

Two-phase heat transfer devices, benefiting the unique thermal capacities of phase- change, are considered as the top choice for a wide range of applications involving cooling and temperature control. Evaporation and condensation in these devices usually take place on porous structures. It is widely accepted that they improve the evaporation rates and the overall performance of the device. The liquid menisci formed on the pores of a porous material can be viewed as the active sites of evaporation. Therefore, quantifying the rate of evaporation from a single pore can be used to calculate the total evaporation taking place in the evaporator given the density and the average size of the pores. A microchannel heat sink can be viewed as an structured porous material. In this work, an analytical model is developed to predict the evaporation rate from a liquid meniscus enclosed in a microchannel. The effects of the wall superheat and the width of the channel on the evaporation profile through the meniscus are studied. The results suggest that there is an optimum size for the width of the channel in order to maximize the thermal energy absorbed by the unit area of the heat sink as an array of microchannels.

Extension of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity to the hydrophobic microchannels with velocity slip.

PubMed

Park, H M; Kim, T W

2009-01-21

Electrokinetic flows through hydrophobic microchannels experience velocity slip at the microchannel wall, which affects volumetric flow rate and solute retention time. The usual method of predicting the volumetric flow rate and velocity profile for hydrophobic microchannels is to solve the Navier-Stokes equation and the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for the electric potential with the boundary condition of velocity slip expressed by the Navier slip coefficient, which is computationally demanding and defies analytic solutions. In the present investigation, we have devised a simple method of predicting the velocity profiles and volumetric flow rates of electrokinetic flows by extending the concept of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity to microchannels with Navier slip. The extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity is simple to use and yields accurate results as compared to the exact solutions. Employing the extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity, the analytical expressions for volumetric flow rate and velocity profile for electrokinetic flows through rectangular microchannels with Navier slip have been obtained at high values of zeta potential. The range of validity of the extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity is also investigated.

Electrokinetic effects on motion of submicron particles in microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Yohei; Hishida, Koichi

2006-11-01

Two-fluid mixing utilizing electrokinetically driven flow in a micro-channel is investigated by micron-resolution particle image velocimetry and an image processing technique. Submicron particles are transported and mixed with deionized water by electrophoresis. The particle electrophoretic velocity that is proportional to an applied electric field is measured in a closed cell, which is used to calculate the electroosmotic flow velocity. At a constant electric field, addition of pressure-driven flow to electrokinetically driven flow in a T-shaped micro-channel enhances two-fluid mixing because the momentum flux is increased. On the other hand, on application of an alternative sinusoidal electric field, the velocity difference between pressure-driven and electroosmotic flows has a significant effect on increasing the length of interface formed between two fluids. It is concluded from the present experiments that the transport and mixing process in the micro-channel will be enhanced by accurate flow-rate control of both pressure-driven and electroosmotic flows.

Fabrication of three-dimensional helical microchannels with arbitrary length and uniform diameter inside fused silica.

PubMed

He, Shengguan; Chen, Feng; Liu, Keyin; Yang, Qing; Liu, Hewei; Bian, Hao; Meng, Xiangwei; Shan, Chao; Si, Jinhai; Zhao, Yulong; Hou, Xun

2012-09-15

We demonstrate an improved femtosecond laser irradiation followed by chemical etching process to create complex three-dimensional (3D) microchannels with arbitrary length and uniform diameter inside fused silica. A segmented chemical etching method of introducing extra access ports and a secondary power compensation is presented, which enables the fabrication of uniform 3D helical microchannels with length of 1.140 cm and aspect-ratio of 522. Based on this method, a micromixer which consists of a long helical microchannel and a y-tape microchannel was created inside the fused silica. We measured the mixing properties of the micromixer by injecting the phenolphthalein and NaOH solution through the two inlets of the y-tape microchannel. A rapid and efficient mixing was achieved in the 3D micromixer at a low Reynolds number.

Theoretical Study of Molecular Transport Through a Permeabilized Cell Membrane in a Microchannel.

PubMed

Mahboubi, Masoumeh; Movahed, Saeid; Hosseini Abardeh, Reza; Hoshyargar, Vahid

2017-06-01

A two-dimensional model is developed to study the molecular transport into an immersed cell in a microchannel and to investigate the effects of finite boundary (a cell is suspended in a microchannel), amplitude of electric pulse, and geometrical parameter (microchannel height and size of electrodes) on cell uptake. Embedded electrodes on the walls of the microchannel generate the required electric pulse to permeabilize the cell membrane, pass the ions through the membrane, and transport them into the cell. The shape of electric pulses is square with the time span of 6 ms; their intensities are in the range of 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 3 V. Numerical simulations have been performed to comprehensively investigate the molecular uptake into the cell. The obtained results of the current study demonstrate that calcium ions enter the cell from the anodic side (the side near positive electrode); after a while, the cell faces depletion of the calcium ions on a positive electrode-facing side within the microchannel; the duration of depletion depends on the amplitude of electric pulse and geometry that lasts from microseconds to milliseconds. By keeping geometrical parameters and time span constant, increment of a pulse intensity enhances molecular uptake and rate of propagation inside the cell. If a ratio of electrode size to cell diameter is larger than 1, the transported amount of Ca 2+ into the cell, as well as the rate of propagation, will be significantly increased. By increasing the height of the microchannel, the rate of uptake is decreased. In an infinite domain, the peak concentration becomes constant after reaching the maximum value; this value depends on the intra-extracellular conductivity and diffusion coefficient of interior and exterior domains of the cell. In comparison, the maximum concentration is changed by geometrical parameters in the microchannel. After reaching the maximum value, the peak concentration reduces due to the depletion of Ca 2+ ions within the

Laminated microchannel devices, mixing units and method of making same

DOEpatents

Bennett, Wendy D [Kennewick, WA; Hammerstrom, Donald J [West Richland, WA; Martin, Peter M [Kennewick, WA; Matson, Dean W [Kennewick, WA

2002-10-17

A laminated microchannel device is described in which there is a unit operation process layer that has longitudinal channel. The longitudinal channel is cut completely through the layer in which the unit process operation resides. Both the device structure and method of making the device provide significant advantages in terms of simplicity and efficiency. A static mixing unit that can be incorporated in the laminated microchannel device is also described.

Image intensification; Proceedings of the Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 17, 18, 1989

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Csorba, Illes P.

Various papers on image intensification are presented. Individual topics discussed include: status of high-speed optical detector technologies, super second generation imge intensifier, gated image intensifiers and applications, resistive-anode position-sensing photomultiplier tube operational modeling, undersea imaging and target detection with gated image intensifier tubes, image intensifier modules for use with commercially available solid state cameras, specifying the components of an intensified solid state television camera, superconducting IR focal plane arrays, one-inch TV camera tube with very high resolution capacity, CCD-Digicon detector system performance parameters, high-resolution X-ray imaging device, high-output technology microchannel plate, preconditioning of microchannel plate stacks, recent advances in small-pore microchannel plate technology, performance of long-life curved channel microchannel plates, low-noise microchannel plates, development of a quartz envelope heater.

Study of Static Microchannel Plate Saturation Effects for the Fast Plasma Investigation Dual Electron Spectrometers on NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Avanov, L. A.; Gliese, U.; Pollock, C. J.; Moore, T. E.; Chornay, D. J.; Barrie, A. C.; Kujawski, J. T.; Gershman, D. J.; Tucker, C. J.; Mariano, A.;

Laser-assisted heating of a plasmonic nanofluid in a microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, Timothy

The work presented in this study analyses the theoretical modeling and experimentation of laser-assisted heating of plasmonic nanofluids (PNFs) in a microchannel for accurate, efficient, and ultra-fast heating of a microdroplet. Suspended plasmonic nanoparticles exhibit strong light absorption and scattering upon the excitation of localized surface plasmons (LSPs), resulting in intense and rapid photothermal heating. Several multi-stepped computational models were utilized to theoretically characterize and verify the laser-assisted heating behavior of gold nanoshells (GNS) and gold nanorod (GNR) plasmonic nanofluid droplets in a microchannel. From the experimental investigation, a full range of controllable steady-state temperatures, room temperature to 100°C, are confirmed to be achievable for the 780-nm-tuned plasmonic nanofluid. Droplet fluid heating is verified to occur as a result of LSP excitation, in time scales of milliseconds, and to be repeatable over many cycles. Additionally, the significance and effects of parameters in the process, such as nanoparticle structure, volumetric concentration, microchannel depth, and laser power density are established. The obtained results in this research may be integrated into other existing microfluidic technologies and biological techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction, where accurate and ultra-fast heating of microdroplets in a microchannel can greatly improve efficiency.

Measurement and modeling of R141b condensation heat transfer in silicon rectangular microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dong, Tao; Yang, Zhaochu

2008-08-01

A special test apparatus for microchannel condensation was designed and fabricated based on silicon microfabrication processes, in which the condensing die was sandwiched by two cooling dies on both sides. Micro thermal sensors were integrated on both the surfaces of the condensing die to measure the wall temperature. Experimental investigations of R141b condensation were carried out in rectangular microchannels with hydraulic diameters of 117.3 µm, 92.3 µm and 66.7 µm, and with the mass velocity ranging from 50 to 500 kg m-2 s-1. Characteristics of the heat transfer and pressure drop in microchannel condensation were analyzed and discussed. With the annular flow and slug/bubbly flow of microchannel condensation considered, by introducing a parameter of flow-pattern fraction, a model was developed to predict the characteristic of condensation heat transfer in microchannels with hydraulic diameter below 200 µm. It shows that the measured Nusselt number depends heavily on both the condensate mass velocity and the condensation heat flux, but depends less on the hydraulic diameter of the microchannels of the present study. The results show that the Nusselt number predicted by the model has a good accordance with the measured results, with a maximum deviation of 20%.

Multifrequency Ultra-High Resolution Miniature Scanning Microscope Using Microchannel And Solid-State Sensor Technologies And Method For Scanning Samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Yu (Inventor)

2006-01-01

A miniature, ultra-high resolution, and color scanning microscope using microchannel and solid-state technology that does not require focus adjustment. One embodiment includes a source of collimated radiant energy for illuminating a sample, a plurality of narrow angle filters comprising a microchannel structure to permit the passage of only unscattered radiant energy through the microchannels with some portion of the radiant energy entering the microchannels from the sample, a solid-state sensor array attached to the microchannel structure, the microchannels being aligned with an element of the solid-state sensor array, that portion of the radiant energy entering the microchannels parallel to the microchannel walls travels to the sensor element generating an electrical signal from which an image is reconstructed by an external device, and a moving element for movement of the microchannel structure relative to the sample. Discloses a method for scanning samples whereby the sensor array elements trace parallel paths that are arbitrarily close to the parallel paths traced by other elements of the array.

Experimental investigation and numerical simulation of a copper micro-channel heat exchanger with HFE-7200 working fluid

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borquist, Eric

Ever increasing cost and consumption of global energy resources has inspired the development of energy harvesting techniques which increase system efficiency, sustainability, and environmental impact by using waste energy otherwise lost to the surroundings. As part of a larger effort to produce a multi-energy source prototype, this study focused on the fabrication and testing of a waste heat recovery micro-channel heat exchanger. Reducing cost and facility requirements were a priority for potential industry and commercial adoption of such energy harvesting devices. During development of the micro-channel heat exchanger, a new fabrication process using mature technologies was created that reduced cost, time, and required equipment. Testing involved filling the micro-channel heat exchanger with 3MTM NovecTM HFE-7200 working fluid. The working fluid was chosen for appropriate physical and environmental properties for the prototypes intended application. Using a dry heat exchanger as the baseline, the addition of the working fluid proved advantageous by increasing energy output by 8% while decreasing overall device temperatures. Upon successful experimental testing of the physical device, internal operation was determined based on implementation of the lattice Boltzmann method, a physics-based statistical method that actively tracked the phase change occurring in a simulated micro-channel. The simulation demonstrated three primary areas of phase change occurring, surfaces adjacent to where the heat source and heat sink were located and the bulk vapor-liquid interface, which agreed with initial device design intentions. Condensation film thickness grew to 5microm over the time interval, while the bulk interface tracked from initial 12microm from the lid to 20microm from the lid. Surface tension effects dominating vapor pressure kept the liquid near the heat source; however, the temperature and pressure VLE data suggested vapor interface growth from the heated surface to

Investigation of saturated critical heat flux in a single, uniformly heated microchannel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wojtan, Leszek; Revellin, Remi; Thome, John R.

2006-08-15

A series of tests have been performed to determine the saturated critical heat flux (CHF) in 0.5 and 0.8mm internal diameter microchannel tubes as a function of refrigerant mass velocity, heated length, saturation temperature and inlet liquid subcooling. The tested refrigerants were R-134a and R-245fa and the heated length of microchannel was varied between 20 and 70mm. The results show a strong dependence of CHF on mass velocity, heated length and microchannel diameter but no influence of liquid subcooling (2-15{sup o}C) was observed. The experimental results have been compared to the well-known CHF single-channel correlation of Y. Katto and H.more » Ohno [An improved version of the generalized correlation of critical heat flux for the forced convective boiling in uniformly heated vertical tubes, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer 27 (9) (1984) 1641-1648] and the multichannel correlation of W. Qu and I. Mudawar [Measurement and correlation of critical heat flux in two-phase microchannel heat sinks, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer 47 (2004) 2045-2059]. The comparison shows that the correlation of Katto-Ohno predicts microchannel data with a mean absolute error of 32.8% with only 41.2% of the data falling within a +/-15% error band. The correlation of Qu and Mudawar shows the same trends as the CHF data but significantly overpredicts them. Based on the present experimental data, a new microscale version of the Katto-Ohno correlation for the prediction of CHF during saturated boiling in microchannels has been proposed. (author)« less

3D printed microchannel networks to direct vascularisation during endochondral bone repair.

PubMed

Daly, Andrew C; Pitacco, Pierluca; Nulty, Jessica; Cunniffe, Gráinne M; Kelly, Daniel J

2018-04-01

Bone tissue engineering strategies that recapitulate the developmental process of endochondral ossification offer a promising route to bone repair. Clinical translation of such endochondral tissue engineering strategies will require overcoming a number of challenges, including the engineering of large and often anatomically complex cartilage grafts, as well as the persistence of core regions of avascular cartilage following their implantation into large bone defects. Here 3D printing technology is utilized to develop a versatile and scalable approach to guide vascularisation during endochondral bone repair. First, a sacrificial pluronic ink was used to 3D print interconnected microchannel networks in a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) laden gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel. These constructs (with and without microchannels) were next chondrogenically primed in vitro and then implanted into critically sized femoral bone defects in rats. The solid and microchanneled cartilage templates enhanced bone repair compared to untreated controls, with the solid cartilage templates (without microchannels) supporting the highest levels of total bone formation. However, the inclusion of 3D printed microchannels was found to promote osteoclast/immune cell invasion, hydrogel degradation, and vascularisation following implantation. In addition, the endochondral bone tissue engineering strategy was found to support comparable levels of bone healing to BMP-2 delivery, whilst promoting lower levels of heterotopic bone formation, with the microchanneled templates supporting the lowest levels of heterotopic bone formation. Taken together, these results demonstrate that 3D printed hypertrophic cartilage grafts represent a promising approach for the repair of complex bone fractures, particularly for larger defects where vascularisation will be a key challenge. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Method and apparatus for enhancing microchannel plate data

DOEpatents

Thoe, R.S.

1983-10-24

A method and apparatus for determining centroid channel locations are disclosed for use in a system activated by one or more multichannel plates and including a linear diode array providing channels of information 1, 2, ...,n, ..., N containing signal amplitudes A/sub n/. A source of analog A/sub n/ signals, and a source of digital clock signals n, are provided. Non-zero A/sub n/ values are detected in a discriminator. A digital signal representing p, the value of n immediately preceding that whereat A/sub n/ takes its first non-zero value, is generated in a scaler. The analog A/sub n/ signals are converted to digital in an analog to digital converter. The digital A/sub n/ signals are added to produce a digital ..sigma..A/sub n/ signal in a full adder. Digital 1, 2, ..., m signals representing the number of non-zero A/sub n/ are produced by a discriminator pulse counter. Digital signals representing 1 A/sub p+1/, 2 A/sub p+2/, ..., m A/sub p+m/ are produced by pairwise multiplication in multiplier. These signal are added in multiplier summer to produce a digital ..sigma..nA/sub n/ - p..sigma..A/sub n/ signal. This signal is divided by the digital ..sigma..A/sub n/ signal in divider to provide a digital (..sigma..nA/sub n//..sigma..A/sub n/) -p signal. Finally, this last signal is added to the digital p signal in an offset summer to provide ..sigma..nA/sub n//..sigma..A/sub n/, the centroid channel locations.

Nanoparticle coating of a microchannel surface is an effective method for increasing the critical heat flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shustov, M. V.; Kuzma-Kichta, Yu. A.; Lavrikov, A. V.

2017-04-01

Results are presented of an investigation into water boiling in a single microchannel 0.2 mm high, 3 mm wide, and 13.7 mm long with a smooth heating surface or with a coating from aluminum oxide nanoparticles. The experimental procedure and the test setup are described. The top wall of the microchannel is made of glass so that video recording in the reflected light of the process can be made. A coating of Al2O3 particles is applied onto the heating surface before the experiments using a method developed by the authors of the paper. The experiments yielded data on heat transfer and void fraction and its fluctuations for the bubble and transient boiling in the microchannel. The dependence was established of the heat flux on the temperature of the microchannel wall with a smooth surface or a surface with Al2O3 nanoparticle coating for various mass flows in the microchannel. The boiling crisis has been found to occur in the microchannel with a nanoparticle coating at a considerably higher heat flux than that in the channel without coating. The experimental data also suggest that the nanoparticle coating improves heat transfer in the transition boiling region. Processing of the data obtained using a high-speed video revealed void fraction fluctuations enabling us to describe two-phase flow regimes with the flow boiling in a microchannel. It has been found that a return flow occurs in the microchannel under certain conditions. A hypothesis for its causes is proposed. The dependence of the void fraction on the steam quality in the microchannel with or without a nanoparticle coating was determined from the video records. The experimental data on void fraction for boiling in the microchannel without coating are approximated by an empirical correlation. The experiments demonstrate that the void fraction during boiling in the microchannel with a nanoparticle coating is higher than during boiling in the channel without coating (where φ and x are the void fraction and the

Fabrication of microchannels in polycrystalline diamond using pre-fabricated Si substrates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chandran, Maneesh; Elfimchev, Sergey; Michaelson, Shaul; Akhvlediani, Rozalia; Ternyak, Orna; Hoffman, Alon

2017-10-01

In this paper, we report on a simple, feasible method to fabricate microchannels in diamond. Polycrystalline diamond microchannels were produced by fabricating trenches in a Si wafer and subsequently depositing a thin layer of diamond onto this substrate using the hot filament vapor deposition technique. Fabrication of trenches in the Si substrate at different depths was carried out by standard photolithography, and the subsequent deposition of the diamond layer was performed by the hot filament chemical vapor deposition technique. The growth mechanism of diamond that leads to the formation of closed diamond microchannels is discussed in detail based on the Knudsen number and growth chemistry of diamond. Variations in the crystallite size, crystalline quality, and thickness of the diamond layer along the trench depths were systematically analyzed using cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Defect density and formation of non-diamond forms of carbon in the diamond layer were found to increase with the trench depth, which sets a limit of 5-45 μm trench depth (or an aspect ratio of 1-9) for the fabrication of diamond microchannels using this method under the present conditions.

Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluid microchannels

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Stephen C [Knoxville, TN; Ramsey, J Michael [Knoxville, TN; Culbertson, Christopher T [Oak Ridge, TN; Whitten, William B [Lancing, TN; Foote, Robert S [Oak Ridge, TN

2011-12-27

A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.

Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Stephen C [Knoxville, TN; Ramsey, J Michael [Knoxville, TN; Culbertson, Christopher T [Oak Ridge, TN; Whitten, William B [Lancing, TN; Foote, Robert S [Oak Ridge, TN

2011-03-22

A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.

Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Stephen C.; Ramsey, J. Michael

2007-11-20

A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.

Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Stephen C.; Ramsey, J. Michael; Culbertson, Christopher T.; Whitten, William B.; Foote, Robert S.

2004-02-03

A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microchannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.

Optimization of a Circular Microchannel With Entropy Generation Minimization Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jafari, Arash; Ghazali, Normah Mohd

2010-06-01

New advances in micro and nano scales are being realized and the contributions of micro and nano heat dissipation devices are of high importance in this novel technology development. Past studies showed that microchannel design depends on its thermal resistance and pressure drop. However, entropy generation minimization (EGM) as a new optimization theory stated that the rate of entropy generation should be also optimized. Application of EGM in microchannel heat sink design is reviewed and discussed in this paper. Latest principles for deriving the entropy generation relations are discussed to present how this approach can be achieved. An optimization procedure using EGM method with the entropy generation rate is derived for a circular microchannel heat sink based upon thermal resistance and pressure drop. The equations are solved using MATLAB and the obtained results are compared to similar past studies. The effects of channel diameter, number of channels, heat flux, and pumping power on the entropy generation rate and Reynolds number are investigated. Analytical correlations are utilized for heat transfer and friction coefficients. A minimum entropy generation has been observed for N = 40 and channel diameter of 90μm. It is concluded that for N = 40 and channel hydraulic diameter of 90μm, the circular microchannel heat sink is on its optimum operating point based on second law of thermodynamics.

Microchannel Reactor System for Catalytic Hydrogenation

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adeniyi Lawal; Woo Lee; Ron Besser

2010-12-22

We successfully demonstrated a novel process intensification concept enabled by the development of microchannel reactors, for energy efficient catalytic hydrogenation reactions at moderate temperature, and pressure, and low solvent levels. We designed, fabricated, evaluated, and optimized a laboratory-scale microchannel reactor system for hydrogenation of onitroanisole and a proprietary BMS molecule. In the second phase of the program, as a prelude to full-scale commercialization, we designed and developed a fully-automated skid-mounted multichannel microreactor pilot plant system for multiphase reactions. The system is capable of processing 1 – 10 kg/h of liquid substrate, and an industrially relevant immiscible liquid-liquid was successfully demonstratedmore » on the system. Our microreactor-based pilot plant is one-of-akind. We anticipate that this process intensification concept, if successfully demonstrated, will provide a paradigm-changing basis for replacing existing energy inefficient, cost ineffective, environmentally detrimental slurry semi-batch reactor-based manufacturing practiced in the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries.« less

Electrochemical Assay of Gold-Plating Solutions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chiodo, R.

1982-01-01

Gold content of plating solution is assayed by simple method that required only ordinary electrochemical laboratory equipment and materials. Technique involves electrodeposition of gold from solution onto electrode, the weight gain of which is measured. Suitable fast assay methods are economically and practically necessary in electronics and decorative-plating industries. If gold content in plating bath is too low, poor plating may result, with consequent economic loss to user.

Condensation heat transfer and flow friction in silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Huiying; Wu, Xinyu; Qu, Jian; Yu, Mengmeng

2008-11-01

An experimental investigation was performed on heat transfer and flow friction characteristics during steam condensation flow in silicon microchannels. Three sets of trapezoidal silicon microchannels, with hydraulic diameters of 77.5 µm, 93.0 µm and 128.5 µm respectively, were tested under different flow and cooling conditions. It was found that both the condensation heat transfer Nusselt number (Nu) and the condensation two-phase frictional multiplier (phi2Lo) were dependent on the steam Reynolds number (Rev), condensation number (Co) and dimensionless hydraulic diameter (Dh/L). With the increase in the steam Reynolds number, condensation number and dimensionless hydraulic diameter, the condensation Nusselt number increased. However, different variations were observed for the condensation two-phase frictional multiplier. With the increase in the steam Reynolds number and dimensionless hydraulic diameter, the condensation two-phase frictional multiplier decreased, while with the increase in the condensation number, the condensation two-phase frictional multiplier increased. Based on the experimental results, dimensionless correlations for condensation heat transfer and flow friction in silicon microchannels were proposed for the first time. These correlations can be used to determine the condensation heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop in silicon microchannels if the steam mass flow rate, cooling rate and geometric parameters are fixed. It was also found that the condensation heat transfer and flow friction have relations to the injection flow (a transition flow pattern from the annular flow to the slug/bubbly flow), and with injection flow moving toward the outlet, both the condensation heat transfer coefficient and the condensation two-phase frictional multiplier increased.

Method and apparatus for enhancing microchannel plate data

DOEpatents

Thoe, Robert S.

1987-01-01

A method and apparatus for determining centroid channel locations is disclosed for use in a system activated by one or more multichannel plates (16,18) and including a linear diode array (24) providing channels of information 1, 2, . . . , n, . . . , N containing signal amplitudes A.sub.n. A source of analog A.sub.n signals (40), and a source of digital clock signals n (48), are provided. Non-zero A.sub.n values are detected in a discriminator (42). A digital signal representing p, the value of n immediately preceding that whereat A.sub.n takes its first non-zero value, is generated in a scaler (50). The analog A.sub.n signals are converted to digital in an analog to digital converter (44). The digital A.sub.n signals are added to produce a digital .SIGMA.A.sub.n signal in a full adder (46). Digital 1, 2, . . . , m signals representing the number of non-zero A.sub.n are produced by a discriminator pulse counter (52). Digital signals representing 1 A.sub.p+ 1, 2 A.sub.p+2, . . . , m A.sub.p+m are produced by pairwise multiplication in multiplier (54). These signals are added in multiplier summer (56) to produce a digital .SIGMA.nA.sub.n -p.SIGMA.A.sub.n signal. This signal is divided by the digital .SIGMA.A.sub.n signal in divider (58) to provide a digital (.SIGMA.nA.sub.n /.SIGMA.A.sub.n) -p signal. Finally, this last signal is added to the digital p signal in an offset summer (60) to provide .SIGMA.nA.sub.n /.SIGMA.A.sub.n, the centroid channel locations.

Optimal design of wavy microchannel and comparison of heat transfer characteristics with zigzag and straight geometries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parlak, Zekeriya

2018-05-01

Design concept of microchannel heat exchangers is going to plan with new flow microchannel configuration to reduce the pressure drop and improve heat transfer performance. The study aims to find optimum microchannel design providing the best performance of flow and heat transfer characterization in a heat sink. Therefore, three different types of microchannels in which water is used, straight, wavy and zigzag have been studied. The optimization operation has been performed to find optimum geometry with ANSYS's Response Surface Optimization Tool. Primarily, CFD analysis has been performed by parameterizing a wavy microchannel geometry. Optimum wavy microchannel design has been obtained by the response surface created for the range of velocity from 0.5 to 5, the range of amplitude from 0.06 to 0.3, the range of microchannel height from 0.1 to 0.2, the range of microchannel width from 0.1 to 0.2 and range of sinusoidal wave length from 0.25 to 2.0. All simulations have been performed in the laminar regime for Reynolds number ranging from 100 to 900. Results showed that the Reynolds number range corresponding to the industrial pressure drop limits is between 100 and 400. Nu values obtained in this range for optimum wavy geometry were found at a rate of 10% higher than those of the zigzag channel and 40% higher than those of the straight channels. In addition, when the pressure values of the straight channel did not exceed 10 kPa, the inlet pressure data calculated for zigzag and wavy channel data almost coincided with each other.

Flow and Thermal Performance of a Water-Cooled Periodic Transversal Elliptical Microchannel Heat Sink for Chip Cooling.

PubMed

Wei, Bo; Yang, Mo; Wang, Zhiyun; Xu, Hongtao; Zhang, Yuwen

2015-04-01

Flow and thermal performance of transversal elliptical microchannels were investigated as a passive scheme to enhance the heat transfer performance of laminar fluid flow. The periodic transversal elliptical micro-channel is designed and its pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics in laminar flow are numerically investigated. Based on the comparison with a conventional straight micro- channel having rectangular cross section, it is found that periodic transversal elliptical microchannel not only has great potential to reduce pressure drop but also dramatically enhances heat transfer performance. In addition, when the Reynolds number equals to 192, the pressure drop of the transversal elliptical channel is 36.5% lower than that of the straight channel, while the average Nusselt number is 72.8% higher; this indicates that the overall thermal performance of the periodic transversal elliptical microchannel is superior to the conventional straight microchannel. It is suggested that such transversal elliptical microchannel are attractive candidates for cooling future electronic chips effectively with much lower pressure drop.

Inertial effects on heat transfer in superhydrophobic microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, Adam; Maynes, Daniel; Crockett, Julie; Iverson, Brian; BYU Fluids Team

2015-11-01

This work numerically studies the effects of inertia on thermal transport in superhydrophbic microchannels. An infinite parallel plate channel comprised of structured superhydrophbic walls is considered. The structure of the superhydrophobic surfaces consists of square pillars organized in a square array aligned with the flow direction. Laminar, fully developed flow is explored. The flow is assumed to be non-wetting and have an idealized flat meniscus. A shear-free, adiabatic boundary condition is used at the liquid/gas interface, while a no-slip, constant heat flux condition is used at the liquid/solid interface. A wide range of Peclet numbers, relative channel spacing distances, and relative pillar sizes are considered. Results are presented in terms of Poiseuille number, Nusselt number, hydrodynamic slip length, and temperature jump length. Interestingly, the thermal transport is varied only slightly by inertial effects for a wide range of parameters explored and compares well with other analytical and numerical work that assumed Stokes flow. It is only for very small relative channel spacing and large Peclet number that inertial effects exert significant influence. Overall, the heat transfer is reduced for the superhydrophbic channels in comparison to classic smooth walled channels. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) - United States (Grant No. CBET-1235881).

Effects of surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow in microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Masilamani, Kannan; Ganguly, Suvankar; Feichtinger, Christian; Bartuschat, Dominik; Rüde, Ulrich

2015-06-01

In this paper, a hybrid lattice-Boltzmann and finite-difference (LB-FD) model is applied to simulate the effects of three-dimensional surface roughness and electrokinetic heterogeneity on electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a microchannel. The lattice-Boltzmann (LB) method has been employed to obtain the flow field and a finite-difference (FD) method is used to solve the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation for the electrostatic potential distribution. Numerical simulation of flow through a square cross-section microchannel with designed roughness is conducted and the results are critically analysed. The effects of surface heterogeneity on the electroosmotic transport are investigated for different roughness height, width, roughness interval spacing, and roughness surface potential. Numerical simulations reveal that the presence of surface roughness changes the nature of electroosmotic transport through the microchannel. It is found that the electroosmotic velocity decreases with the increase in roughness height and the velocity profile becomes asymmetric. For the same height of the roughness elements, the EOF velocity rises with the increase in roughness width. For the heterogeneously charged rough channel, the velocity profile shows a distinct deviation from the conventional plug-like flow pattern. The simulation results also indicate locally induced flow vortices which can be utilized to enhance the flow and mixing within the microchannel. The present study has important implications towards electrokinetic flow control in the microchannel, and can provide an efficient way to design a microfluidic system of practical interest.

Thermal relaxation and critical instability of near-critical fluid microchannel flow.

PubMed

Chen, Lin; Zhang, Xin-Rong; Okajima, Junnosuke; Maruyama, Shigenao

2013-04-01

We present two-dimensional numerical investigations of the temperature and velocity evolution of a pure near-critical fluid confined in microchannels. The fluid is subjected to two sides heating after it reached isothermal steady state. We focus on the abnormal behaviors of the near-critical fluid in response to the sudden imposed heat flux. New thermal-mechanical effects dominated by fluid instability originating from the boundary and local equilibrium process are reported. Near the microchannel boundaries, the instability grows very quickly and an unexpected vortex formation mode is identified when near-critical thermal-mechanical effect is interacting with the microchannel shear flow. The mechanism of the new kind of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability induced by boundary expansion and density stratification processes is also discussed in detail. This mechanism may bring about innovations in the field of microengineering.

Thermal relaxation and critical instability of near-critical fluid microchannel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Lin; Zhang, Xin-Rong; Okajima, Junnosuke; Maruyama, Shigenao

2013-04-01

We present two-dimensional numerical investigations of the temperature and velocity evolution of a pure near-critical fluid confined in microchannels. The fluid is subjected to two sides heating after it reached isothermal steady state. We focus on the abnormal behaviors of the near-critical fluid in response to the sudden imposed heat flux. New thermal-mechanical effects dominated by fluid instability originating from the boundary and local equilibrium process are reported. Near the microchannel boundaries, the instability grows very quickly and an unexpected vortex formation mode is identified when near-critical thermal-mechanical effect is interacting with the microchannel shear flow. The mechanism of the new kind of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability induced by boundary expansion and density stratification processes is also discussed in detail. This mechanism may bring about innovations in the field of microengineering.

An experimental study on flow friction and heat transfer of water in sinusoidal wavy silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Houxue; Wu, Huiying; Zhang, Chi

2018-05-01

Sinusoidal wavy microchannels have been known as a more heat transfer efficient heat sink for the cooling of electronics than normal straight microchannels. However, the existing experimental study on wavy silicon microchannels with different phase differences are few. As a result of this, in this paper an experimental study has been conducted to investigate the single phase flow friction and heat transfer of de-ionized water in eight different sinusoidal wavy silicon microchannels (SWSMCs) and one straight silicon microchannel (SMC). The SWSMCs feature different phase differences (α  =  0 to π) and different relative wavy amplitudes (β  =  A/l  =  0.05 to 0.4), but the same average hydraulic diameters (D h  =  160 µm). It is found that both flow friction constant fRe and the Nusselt number depend on the phase difference and relative wavy amplitude. For sinusoidal wavy microchannels with a relative wavy amplitude (β  =  0.05), the Nusselt number increased noticeably with the phase difference for Re  >  250, but the effect was insignificant for Re  <  250 however, both pressure drop and apparent flow friction constant fRe increased with the increase in phase difference. For sinusoidal wavy microchannels with 0 phase difference, the increase in relative wavy amplitude obtained by reducing the wavy wave length induced higher pressure drop and apparent friction constant fRe, while the Nusselt number increased with relative wavy amplitude for Re  >  300. The results indicate that the thermal resistances of sinusoidal wavy silicon microchannels were generally lower than that of straight silicon microchannels, and the thermal resistance decreased with the increase in relative wavy amplitude. The enhancement of thermal performance is attributed to the flow re-circulation occurring in the corrugation troughs and the secondary flows or Dean vortices introduced by curved channels. It is concluded that

Distillation process using microchannel technology

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee [Dublin, OH; Simmons, Wayne W [Dublin, OH; Silva, Laura J [Dublin, OH; Qiu, Dongming [Carbondale, IL; Perry, Steven T [Galloway, OH; Yuschak, Thomas [Dublin, OH; Hickey, Thomas P [Dublin, OH; Arora, Ravi [Dublin, OH; Smith, Amanda [Galloway, OH; Litt, Robert Dwayne [Westerville, OH; Neagle, Paul [Westerville, OH

2009-11-03

The disclosed invention relates to a distillation process for separating two or more components having different volatilities from a liquid mixture containing the components. The process employs microchannel technology for effecting the distillation and is particularly suitable for conducting difficult separations, such as the separation of ethane from ethylene, wherein the individual components are characterized by having volatilities that are very close to one another.

Design of well and groove microchannel bioreactors for cell culture.

PubMed

Korin, Natanel; Bransky, Avishay; Khoury, Maria; Dinnar, Uri; Levenberg, Shulamit

2009-03-01

Microfluidic bioreactors have been shown valuable for various cellular applications. The use of micro-wells/grooves bioreactors, in which micro-topographical features are used to protect sensitive cells from the detrimental effects of fluidic shear stress, is a promising approach to culture sensitive cells in these perfusion microsystems. However, such devices exhibit substantially different fluid dynamics and mass transport characteristics compared to conventional planar microchannel reactors. In order to properly design and optimize these systems, fluid and mass transport issues playing a key role in microscale bioreactors should be adequately addressed. The present work is a parametric study of micro-groove/micro-well microchannel bioreactors. Operation conditions and design parameters were theoretically examined via a numerical model. The complex flow pattern obtained at grooves of various depths was studied and the shear protection factor compared to planar microchannels was evaluated. 3D flow simulations were preformed in order to examine the shear protection factor in micro-wells, which were found to have similar attributes as the grooves. The oxygen mass transport problem, which is coupled to the fluid mechanics problem, was solved for various groove geometries and for several cell types, assuming a defined shear stress limitation. It is shown that by optimizing the groove depth, the groove bioreactor may be used to effectively maximize the number of cells cultured within it or to minimize the oxygen gradient existing in such devices. Moreover, for sensitive cells having a high oxygen demand (e.g., hepatocytes) or low endurance to shear (e.g., human embryonic stem cells), results show that the use of grooves is an enabling technology, since under the same physical conditions the cells cannot be cultured for long periods of time in a planar microchannel. In addition to the theoretical model findings, the culture of human foreskin fibroblasts in groove (30

Characterization of x-ray framing cameras for the National Ignition Facility using single photon pulse height analysis.

PubMed

Holder, J P; Benedetti, L R; Bradley, D K

2016-11-01

Single hit pulse height analysis is applied to National Ignition Facility x-ray framing cameras to quantify gain and gain variation in a single micro-channel plate-based instrument. This method allows the separation of gain from detectability in these photon-detecting devices. While pulse heights measured by standard-DC calibration methods follow the expected exponential distribution at the limit of a compound-Poisson process, gain-gated pulse heights follow a more complex distribution that may be approximated as a weighted sum of a few exponentials. We can reproduce this behavior with a simple statistical-sampling model.

A regenerative microchannel device for recording multiple single-unit action potentials in awake, ambulatory animals.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Akhil; Tipton, John; Tahilramani, Mayank; Kharbouch, Adel; Gaupp, Eric; Song, Chao; Venkataraman, Poornima; Falcone, Jessica; Lacour, Stéphanie P; Stanley, Garrett B; English, Arthur W; Bellamkonda, Ravi V

2016-02-01

Despite significant advances in robotics, commercially advanced prosthetics provide only a small fraction of the functionality of the amputated limb that they are meant to replace. Peripheral nerve interfacing could provide a rich controlling link between the body and these advanced prosthetics in order to increase their overall utility. Here, we report on the development of a fully integrated regenerative microchannel interface with 30 microelectrodes and signal extraction capabilities enabling evaluation in an awake and ambulatory rat animal model. In vitro functional testing validated the capability of the microelectrodes to record neural signals similar in size and nature to those that occur in vivo. In vitro dorsal root ganglia cultures revealed striking cytocompatibility of the microchannel interface. Finally, in vivo, the microchannel interface was successfully used to record a multitude of single-unit action potentials through 63% of the integrated microelectrodes at the early time point of 3 weeks. This marks a significant advance in microchannel interfacing, demonstrating the capability of microchannels to be used for peripheral nerve interfacing. © 2015 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Dean Flow Dynamics in Low-Aspect Ratio Spiral Microchannels

PubMed Central

Nivedita, Nivedita; Ligrani, Phillip; Papautsky, Ian

2017-01-01

A wide range of microfluidic cell-sorting devices has emerged in recent years, based on both passive and active methods of separation. Curvilinear channel geometries are often used in these systems due to presence of secondary flows, which can provide high throughput and sorting efficiency. Most of these devices are designed on the assumption of two counter rotating Dean vortices present in the curved rectangular channels and existing in the state of steady rotation and amplitude. In this work, we investigate these secondary flows in low aspect ratio spiral rectangular microchannels and define their development with respect to the channel aspect ratio and Dean number. This work is the first to experimentally and numerically investigate Dean flows in microchannels for Re > 100, and show presence of secondary Dean vortices beyond a critical Dean number. We further demonstrate the impact of these multiple vortices on particle and cell focusing. Ultimately, this work offers new insights into secondary flow instabilities for low-aspect ratio, spiral microchannels, with improved flow models for design of more precise and efficient microfluidic devices for applications such as cell sorting and micromixing. PMID:28281579

Gain Evaluation of Micro-Channel-Plate Photomultipliers in the Upgraded High-B Test Facility at Jefferson Lab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barber, Corinne; DIRC at EIC Collaboration

2015-10-01

The High-B test facility at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility allows researchers to evaluate the gain of compact photon sensors, such as Micro-Channel-Plate Photomultipliers (MCP-PMTs), in magnetic fields up to 5 T. These ongoing studies support the development of a Detector of Internally Reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) to be used in an Electron Ion Collider (EIC). Here, we present our summer 2015 activities to upgrade and improve the facility, and we show results for MCP-PMT gain changes in high B-fields. To monitor the light stability delivered to the MCP-PMTs being tested, we implemented a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) in the setup and calibrated the ADC reading this sensor. A 405-nm Light-Emitting Diode (LED) housed in an optical tube compatible with neutral density filters was also installed. The filters provide an alternative way of reducing the light output of the LED to operate the MCP-PMTs in a single-photon mode. We calibrated a set of filters by means of a photodiode and measured the photon flux at multiple positions relative to the LED. This information helped us to design 3D-printed holders unique to each MCP-PMT so that the photocathode receives the greatest amount of light. The improvements to the setup allow for more precise PMT gain evaluation. This team includes 7 collaborators/co-authors besides myself: Yordanka Ilieva, Kijun Park, Greg Kalicy, Carl Zorn, Pawel Nadel-Turonski, Tongtong Cao, and Lee.

A flow boiling microchannel thermosyphon for fuel cell thermal management

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garrity, Patrick Thomas

To provide a high power density thermal management system for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications, a passively driven thermal management system was assembled to operate in a closed loop two-phase thermosyphon. The system has two major components; a microchannel evaporator plate and a condenser. The microchannel evaporator plate was fabricated with 56 square channels that have a 1 mm x 1 mm cross section and are 115 mm long. Experiments were conducted with a liquid cooled condenser with heat flux as the control variable. Measurements of mass flow rate, temperature field, and pressure drop have been made for the thermosyphon loop. A model is developed to predict the system characteristics such as the temperature and pressure fields, flow rate, flow regime, heat transfer coefficient, and maximum heat flux. When the system is subjected to a heat load that exceeds the maximum heat flux, an unstable flow regime is observed that causes flow reversal and eventual dryout near the evaporator plate wall. This undesirable phenomenon is modeled based on a quasi-steady state assumption, and the model is capable of predicting the heat flux at the onset of instability for quasi-steady two-phase flow. Another focus of this work is the performance of the condenser portion of the loop, which will be air cooled in practice. The aim is to reduce air side thermal resistance and increase the condenser performance, which is accomplished with extended surfaces. A testing facility is assembled to observe the air side heat transfer performance of three aluminum foam samples and three modified carbon foam samples, used as extended surfaces. The aluminum foam samples have a bulk density of 216 kilograms per cubic meter with pore sizes of 0.5, 1, and 2 mm. The modified carbon foam samples have bulk densities of 284, 317, and 400 kilograms per cubic meter and machined flow passages of 3.2 mm. in diameter. Each sample is observed under forced convection with air velocity as the

Forced convection flow boiling and two-phase flow phenomena in a microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Na, Yun Whan

2008-07-01

The present study was performed to numerically analyze the evaporation phenomena through the liquid-vapor interface and to investigate bubble dynamics and heat transfer behavior during forced convective flow boiling in a microchannel. Flow instabilities of two-phase flow boiling in a microchannel were studied as well. The main objective of this research is to investigate the fundamental mechanisms of two-phase flow boiling in a microchannel and provide predictive tools to design thermal management systems, for example, microchannel heat sinks. The numerical results obtained from this study were qualitatively and quantitatively compared with experimental results in the open literature. Physical and mathematical models, accounting for evaporating phenomena through the liquid-vapor interface in a microchannel at constant heat flux and constant wall temperature, have been developed, respectively. The heat transfer mechanism is affected by the dominant heat conduction through the thin liquid film and vaporization at the liquid-vapor interface. The thickness of the liquid film and the pressure of the liquid and vapor phases were simultaneously solved by the governing differential equations. The developed semi-analytical evaporation model that takes into account of the interfacial phenomena and surface tension effects was used to obtain solutions numerically using the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. The effects of heat flux 19 and wall temperature on the liquid film were evaluated. The obtained pressure drops in a microchannel were qualitatively consistent with the experimental results of Qu and Mudawar (2004). Forced convective flow boiling in a single microchannel with different channel heights was studied through a numerical simulation to investigate bubble dynamics, flow patterns, and heat transfer. The momentum and energy equations were solved using the finite volume method while the liquid-vapor interface of a bubble is captured using the VOF (Volume of Fluid

A Criterion for the Complete Deposition of Magnetic Beads on the Walls of Microchannels

PubMed Central

Pallares, Jordi

2016-01-01

This paper analyzes numerical simulations of the trajectories of magnetic beads in a microchannel, with a nearby permanent cubical magnet, under different flow and magnetic conditions. Analytically derived local fluid velocities and local magnetic forces have been used to track the particles. A centered position and a lateral position of the magnet above the microchannel are considered. The computed fractions of deposited particles on the walls are compared successfully with a new theoretically derived criterion that imposes a relation between the sizes of the magnet and the microchannel and the particle Stokes and Alfvén numbers to obtain the complete deposition of the flowing particles on the wall. In the cases in which all the particles, initially distributed uniformly across the section of the microchannel, are deposited on the walls, the simulations predict the accumulation of the major part of particles on the wall closest to the magnet and near the first half of the streamwise length of the magnet. PMID:27007336

Towards a microchannel-based X-ray detector with two-dimensional spatial and time resolution and high dynamic range

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Adams, Bernhard W.; Mane, Anil U.; Elam, Jeffrey W.

X-ray detectors that combine two-dimensional spatial resolution with a high time resolution are needed in numerous applications of synchrotron radiation. Most detectors with this combination of capabilities are based on semiconductor technology and are therefore limited in size. Furthermore, the time resolution is often realised through rapid time-gating of the acquisition, followed by a slower readout. Here, a detector technology is realised based on relatively inexpensive microchannel plates that uses GHz waveform sampling for a millimeter-scale spatial resolution and better than 100 ps time resolution. The technology is capable of continuous streaming of time- and location-tagged events at rates greatermore » than 10 7events per cm 2. Time-gating can be used for improved dynamic range.« less

Quantification of electrical field-induced flow reversal in a microchannel.

PubMed

Pirat, C; Naso, A; van der Wouden, E J; Gardeniers, J G E; Lohse, D; van den Berg, A

2008-06-01

We characterize the electroosmotic flow in a microchannel with field effect flow control. High resolution measurements of the flow velocity, performed by micro particle image velocimetry, evidence the flow reversal induced by a local modification of the surface charge due to the presence of the gate. The shape of the microchannel cross-section is accurately extracted from these measurements. Experimental velocity profiles show a quantitative agreement with numerical results accounting for this exact shape. Analytical predictions assuming a rectangular cross-section are found to give a reasonable estimate of the velocity far enough from the walls.

Cooling Performance of Additively Manufactured Microchannels and Film Cooling Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stimpson, Curtis K.

Additive manufacturing (AM) enables fabrication of components that cannot be made with any other manufacturing method. Significant advances in metal-based AM systems have made this technology feasible for building production parts to be used use in commercial products. In particular, the gas turbine industry benefits from AM as a manufacturing technique especially for development of components subjected to high heat flux. It has been shown that the use of microchannels in high heat flux components can lead to more efficient cooling designs than those that presently exist. The current manufacturing methods have prevented the use of microchannels in such parts, but AM now makes them manufacturable. However, before such designs can become a reality, much research must be done to characterize impacts on flow and heat transfer of AM parts. The current study considers the effect on flow and heat transfer through turbine cooling features made with AM. Specifically, the performance of microchannels and film cooling holes made with laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) is assessed. A number of test coupons containing microchannels were built from high temperature alloy powders on a commercially available L-PBF machine. Pressure drop and heat transfer experiments characterized the flow losses and convective heat transfer of air passing through the channels at various Reynolds numbers and Mach numbers. The roughness of the channels' surfaces was characterized in terms of statistical roughness parameters; the morphology of the roughness was examined qualitatively. Magnitude and morphology of surface roughness found on AM parts is unlike any form of roughness seen in the literature. It was found that the high levels of roughness on AM surfaces result in markedly augmented pressure loss and heat transfer at all Reynolds numbers, and conventional flow and heat transfer correlations produce erroneous estimates. The physical roughness measurements made in this study were correlated to

Active Mixing in Microchannels using Surface Acoustic Wave Streaming on Lithium Niobate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Branch, Darren W.; Meyer, Grant D.; Bourdon, Christopher Jay

2005-11-01

We present an active method for mixing fluid streams in microchannels at low Reynolds number with no dead volume. To overcome diffusion limited mixing in microchannels, surface acoustic wave streaming offers an extremely effective approach to rapidly homogenize fluids. This is a pivotal improvement over mixers based on complex 3D microchannels which have significant dead volume resulting in trapping or loss of sample. Our micromixer is integrable and highly adaptable for use within existing microfluidic devices. Surface acoustic wave devices fabricated on 128° YX LiNbO 3 permitted rapid mixing of flow streams as evidenced by fluorescence microscopy. Longitudinal waves createdmore » at the solid-liquid interface were capable of inducing strong nonlinear gradients within the bulk fluid. In the highly laminar regime (Re = 2), devices achieved over 93% mixing efficacy in less than a second. Micro-particle imaging velicometry was used to determine the mixing behavior in the microchannels and indicated that the liquid velocity can be controlled by varying the input power. Fluid velocities in excess of 3 cm•s -1 were measured in the main excitation region at low power levels (2.8mW). We believe that this technology will be pivotal in the development and advancement of microfluidic devices and applications.« less

Effect of supersaturation on L-glutamic acid polymorphs under droplet-based microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Nan; Wang, Zhanzhong; Dang, Leping; Wei, Hongyuan

2016-07-01

Supersaturation is an important controlling factor for crystallization process and polymorphism. Droplet-based microchannels and conventional crystallization were used to investigate polymorphs of L-gluatamic acid in this work. The results illustrate that it is easy to realize the accurate and rapid control of the crystallization temperature in the droplets, which is especially beneficial to heat and mass transfer during crystallization. It is also noted that higher degree of supersaturation favors the nucleation of α crystal form, while lower degree of supersaturation favors the nucleation of β crystal form under droplet-based microchannels for L-gluatamic acid. In addition, there is a different nucleation behavior to be found under droplet-based microchannels both for the β form and α form of L-glutamic acid. This new finding can provide important insight into the development and design of investigation meanings for drug polymorph.

An approach to architecture 3D scaffold with interconnective microchannel networks inducing angiogenesis for tissue engineering.

PubMed

Sun, Jiaoxia; Wang, Yuanliang; Qian, Zhiyong; Hu, Chenbo

2011-11-01

The angiogenesis of 3D scaffold is one of the major current limitations in clinical practice tissue engineering. The new strategy of construction 3D scaffold with microchannel circulation network may improve angiogenesis. In this study, 3D poly(D: ,L: -lactic acid) scaffolds with controllable microchannel structures were fabricated using sacrificial sugar structures. Melt drawing sugar-fiber network produced by a modified filament spiral winding method was used to form the microchannel with adjustable diameters and porosity. This fabrication process was rapid, inexpensive, and highly scalable. The porosity, microchannel diameter, interconnectivity and surface topographies of the scaffold were characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were evaluated by compression tests. The mean porosity values of the scaffolds were in the 65-78% and the scaffold exhibited microchannel structure with diameter in the 100-200 μm range. The results showed that the scaffolds exhibited an adequate porosity, interconnective microchannel network, and mechanical properties. The cell culture studies with endothelial cells (ECs) demonstrated that the scaffold allowed cells to proliferate and penetrate into the volume of the entire scaffold. Overall, these findings suggest that the fabrication process offers significant advantages and flexibility in generating a variety of non-cytotoxic tissue engineering scaffolds with controllable distributions of porosity and physical properties that could provide the necessary physical cues for ECs and further improve angiogenesis for tissue engineering.

Fabrication of cylindrical superhydrophobic microchannels by replicating lotus leaf structures on internal walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Das, Ajit; Bhaumik, Soubhik Kumar

2018-04-01

Cylindrical superhydrophobic microchannels are fabricated by replicating lotus leaf structures on internal walls. The fabrication process comprises of three steps: the creation of a cylindrical mold of a glass rod (125 µm) with polystyrene films bearing negative imprints of lotus leaf (superhydrophobic) structures; casting polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS, Sylgard 184) over the mold; and solvent-assisted pulling off of the glass rod to leave a positive replica on the inner wall of the PDMS cast. The last crucial step is achieved through selective dissolution of the intermediate negative replica layer in the cylindrical mold without any swelling effect. The high fidelity of the replication process is confirmed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. The attained superhydrophobicity is assessed by comparing the dynamics of the advancing meniscus in the fabricated microchannels with that over a similarly fabricated smooth microchannel. Contact angle studies of the meniscus reveal a lower capillary effect and drag force experienced by the superhydrophobic microchannel compared to smooth ones. Studies based on velocity lead to a prediction of a drag reduction of 35%. A new avenue is thus opened up for microfabrication and flow analysis of closed superhydrophobic (SH) conduits in lab on chip and microfluidic applications.

Hydrogen production through aqueous-phase reforming of ethylene glycol in a washcoated microchannel.

PubMed

D'Angelo, M Fernanda Neira; Ordomsky, Vitaly; Paunovic, Violeta; van der Schaaf, John; Schouten, Jaap C; Nijhuis, T Alexander

2013-09-01

Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) of biocarbohydrates is conducted in a catalytically stable washcoated microreactor where multiphase hydrogen removal enhances hydrogen efficiency. Single microchannel experiments are conducted following a simplified model based on the microreactor concept. A coating method to deposit a Pt-based catalyst on the microchannel walls is selected and optimized. APR reactivity tests are performed by using ethylene glycol as the model compound. Optimum results are achieved with a static washcoating technique; a highly uniform and well adhered 5 μm layer is deposited on the walls of a 320 μm internal diameter (ID) microchannel in one single step. During APR of ethylene glycol, the catalyst layer exhibits high stability over 10 days after limited initial deactivation. The microchannel presents higher conversion and selectivity to hydrogen than a fixed-bed reactor. The benefits of using a microreactor for APR can be further enhanced by utilizing increased Pt loadings, higher reaction temperatures, and larger carbohydrates (e.g., glucose). The use of microtechnology for aqueous-phase reforming will allow for a great reduction in the reformer size, thus rendering it promising for distributed hydrogen production. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The behavior of vapor bubbles during boiling enhanced with acoustics and open microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boziuk, Thomas; Smith, Marc K.; Glezer, Ari

2012-11-01

Boiling heat transfer on a submerged heated surface is enhanced by combining a grid of surface micromachined open channels and ultrasonic acoustic actuation to control the formation and evolution of vapor bubbles and to inhibit the instability that leads to film boiling at the critical heat flux (CHF). The microchannels provide nucleation sites for vapor bubble formation and enable the entrainment of bulk subcooled fluid to these sites for sustained evaporation. Acoustic actuation excites interfacial oscillations of the detached bubbles and leads to accelerated condensation in the bulk fluid, thereby limiting the formation of vapor columns that precede the CHF instability. The combined effects of microchannels and acoustic actuation are investigated experimentally with emphasis on bubble nucleation, growth, detachment, and condensation. It is shown that this hybrid approach leads to a significant increase in the critical heat flux, a reduction of the vapor mass above the surface, and the breakup of low-frequency vapor slug formation. A large-scale model of the microchannel grid reveals details of the flow near the nucleation site and shows that the presence of the microchannels decreases the surface superheat at a given heat flux. Supported by ONR.

Simulation of Non-Newtonian Emulsion Flows in Microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Malanichev, I. V.; Akhmadiev, F. G.

2015-11-01

Simulation of emulsion flows in differently shaped microchannels to reproduce the choking of such flows as a result of the effect of dynamic blocking has been made. A model of a highly concentrated emulsion as a structure of tightly packed deformed droplets surrounded by elastic shells is considered. The motion of liquid was determined by the method of the lattice Boltzmann equations together with the immersed boundary method. The influence of the non-Newtonian properties and of elastic turbulence of the indicated emulsion, as well as of the elasticity of the shells of its droplets and of the interaction of these shells on the emulsion motion in a microchannel, has been investigated. It is shown that the flow of this emulsion can be slowed down substantially only due to the mutual attraction of the shells of its droplets.

Lymphocyte migration in the micro-channel of splenic sheathed capillaries in Chinese soft-shelled turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis.

PubMed

Zhang, Qian; Ullah, Shakeeb; Liu, Yi; Yang, Ping; Chen, Bing; Waqas, Yasir; Bao, Huijun; Hu, Lisi; Li, Quanfu; Chen, Qiusheng

2016-01-01

The structural characteristics of the splenic sheathed capillary were investigated using light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study mainly focused on lymphocyte migration to the splenic white pulp via micro-channels in Chinese soft-shelled turtles, Pelodiscus sinensis. The results showed that the sheathed capillaries in the turtle spleen were high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels. These capillaries consist of micro-channels that facilitate lymphocyte migration to the splenic white pulp. The micro-channel is a dynamic structure comprising processes of endothelial cells, supporting cells, and ellipsoid-associated cells (EACs), which provides a microenvironment for lymphocyte migration. The pattern of lymphocyte migration in the micro-channel of the turtle spleen includes the following steps: (i) lymphocyte first adheres to the endothelium of the sheathed capillary, passes through the endothelial cells, and traverses through the basement membrane of the sheathed capillary; (ii) it then enters into the ellipsoid combined with supporting cells and EACs; and (iii) lymphocyte migrates from the ellipsoid to the periellipsoidal lymphatic sheath (PELS) via the micro-channel. This study provides morphological evidence for lymphocyte migration in the micro-channels of turtle spleens and also an insight into the mechanism of lymphocyte homing to the splenic white pulp of reptiles. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Optimization of porous microchannel heat exchanger

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozhukhov, N. N.; Konovalov, D. A.

2017-11-01

The technical progress in information and communication sphere leads to a sharp increase in the use of radio electronic devices. Functioning of radio electronics is accompanied by release of thermal energy, which must be diverted from the heat-stressed element. Moreover, using of electronics at negative temperatures, on the contrary, requires supply of a certain amount of heat to start the system. There arises the task of creating a system that allows both to supply and to divert the necessary amount of thermal energy. The development of complex thermostabilization systems for radio electronic equipment is due to increasing the efficiency of each of its elements separately. For more efficient operation of a heat exchanger, which directly affects the temperature of the heat-stressed element, it is necessary to calculate the mode characteristics and to take into account the effect of its design parameters. The results of optimizing the microchannel heat exchanger are presented in the article. The target optimization functions are the mass, pressure drop and temperature. The parameters of optimization are the layout of porous fins, their geometric dimensions and coolant flow. For the given conditions, the optimum variant of porous microchannel heat exchanger is selected.

Novel dense CO2 technique for beta-galactosidase immobilization in polystyrene microchannels.

PubMed

Leclair Ellis, Jeffrey; Tomasko, David L; Dehghani, Fariba

2008-03-01

In this study we design new fabrication techniques and demonstrate the potential of using dense CO2 for facilitating crucial steps in the fabrication of polymeric lab-on-a-chip microdevices by embedding biomolecules at temperatures well below the polymer's glass transition temperature (T(g)). These new techniques are environmentally friendly and done without the use of a clean room. Carbon dioxide at 40 degrees C and between 4.48 and 6.89 MPa was used to immobilize the biologically active molecule, beta-galactosidase (beta-gal), on the surface of polystyrene microchannels. To our knowledge, this is the first time dense CO2 has been used to directly immobilize an enzyme in a microchannel. beta-gal activity was maintained and shown via a fluorescent reaction product, after enzyme immobilization and microchannel capping by the designed fabrication steps at 40 degrees C and pressures up to 6.89 MPa.

Fluorinated silica microchannel surfaces

DOEpatents

Kirby, Brian J.; Shepodd, Timothy Jon

2005-03-15

A method for surface modification of microchannels and capillaries. The method produces a chemically inert surface having a lowered surface free energy and improved frictional properties by attaching a fluorinated alkane group to the surface. The coating is produced by hydrolysis of a silane agent that is functionalized with either alkoxy or chloro ligands and an uncharged C.sub.3 -C.sub.10 fluorinated alkane chain. It has been found that the extent of surface coverage can be controlled by controlling the contact time from a minimum of about 2 minutes to a maximum of 120 minutes for complete surface coverage.

Direct simulation Monte Carlo method for gas flows in micro-channels with bends with added curvature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tisovský, Tomáš; Vít, Tomáš

Gas flows in micro-channels are simulated using an open source Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) code dsmcFOAM for general application to rarefied gas flow written within the framework of the open source C++ toolbox called OpenFOAM. Aim of this paper is to investigate the flow in micro-channel with bend with added curvature. Results are compared with flows in channel without added curvature and equivalent straight channel. Effects of micro-channel bend was already thoroughly investigated by White et al. Geometry proposed by White is also used here for refference.

High density, optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, v-groove monolithic laser diode array

DOEpatents

Freitas, Barry L.

1998-01-01

An optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, high density laser diode array achieves stacking pitches to 33 bars/cm by mounting laser diodes into V-shaped grooves. This design will deliver>4kW/cm2 of directional pulsed laser power. This optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, high density laser is usable in all solid state laser systems which require efficient, directional, narrow bandwidth, high optical power density pump sources.

Fabrication of rectangular cross-sectional microchannels on PMMA with a CO2 laser and underwater fabricated copper mask

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prakash, Shashi; Kumar, Subrata

2017-09-01

CO2 lasers are commonly used for fabricating polymer based microfluidic devices. Despite several key advantages like low cost, time effectiveness, easy to operate and no requirement of clean room facility, CO2 lasers suffer from few disadvantages like thermal bulging, improper dimensional control, difficulty to produce microchannels of other than Gaussian cross sectional shapes and inclined surface walls. Many microfluidic devices require square or rectangular cross-sections which are difficult to produce using normal CO2 laser procedures. In this work, a thin copper sheet of 40 μm was used as a mask above the PMMA (Polymethyl-methacrylate) substrate while fabricating the microchannels utilizing the raster scanning feature of the CO2 lasers. Microchannels with different width dimensions were fabricated utilizing a CO2 laser in with mask and without-mask conditions. A comparison of both the fabricating process has been made. It was found that microchannels with U shape cross section and rectangular cross-section can efficiently be produced using the with mask technique. In addition to this, this technique can provide perfect dimensional control and better surface quality of the microchannel walls. Such a microchannel fabrication process do not require any post-processing. The fabrication of mask using a nanosecond fiber laser has been discussed in details. An underwater laser fabrication method was adopted to overcome heat related defects in mask preparation. Overall, the technique was found to be easy to adopt and significant improvements were observed in microchannel fabrication.

Enhancement of Natural Convection by Carbon Nanotube Films Covered Microchannel-Surface for Passive Electronic Cooling Devices.

PubMed

Zhang, Guang; Jiang, Shaohui; Yao, Wei; Liu, Changhong

2016-11-16

Owing to the outstanding properties of thermal conduction, lightweight, and chemical durability, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have revealed promising applications in thermal management materials. Meanwhile, the increasingly popular portable electronics and the rapid development of space technology need lighter weight, smaller size, and more effective thermal management devices. Here, a novel kind of heat dissipation devices based on the superaligned CNT films and underlying microchannels is proposed, and the heat dissipation properties are measured at the natural condition. Distinctive from previous studies, by combining the advantages of microchannels and CNTs, such a novel heat dissipation device enables superior natural convection heat transfer properties. Our findings prove that the novel CNT-based devices could show an 86.6% larger total natural heat dissipation properties than bare copper plate. Further calculations of the radiation and natural convection heat transfer properties demonstrate that the excellent passive cooling properties of these CNT-based devices are primarily caused by the reinforcement of the natural convection heat transfer properties. Furthermore, the heat dissipation mechanisms are briefly discussed, and we propose that the very high heat transfer coefficients and the porous structures of superaligned CNT films play critical roles in reinforcing the natural convection. The novel CNT-based heat dissipation devices also have advantages of energy-saving, free-noise, and without additional accessories. So we believe that the CNT-based heat dissipation devices would replace the traditional metal-finned heat dissipation devices and have promising applications in electronic devices, such as photovoltaic devices, portable electronic devices, and electronic displays.

Numerical analysis of field-modulated electroosmotic flows in microchannels with arbitrary numbers and configurations of discrete electrodes.

PubMed

Chao, Kan; Chen, Bo; Wu, Jiankang

2010-12-01

The formation of an electric double layer and electroosmosis are important theoretic foundations associated with microfluidic systems. Field-modulated electroosmotic flows in microchannels can be obtained by applying modulating electric fields in a direction perpendicular to a channel wall. This paper presents a systematic numerical analysis of modulated electroosmotic flows in a microchannel with discrete electrodes on the basis of the Poisson equation of electric fields in a liquid-solid coupled domain, the Navier-Stokes equation of liquid flow, and the Nernst-Planck equation of ion transport. These equations are nonlinearly coupled and are simultaneously solved numerically for the electroosmotic flow velocity, electric potential, and ion concentrations in the microchannel. A number of numerical examples of modulated electroosmotic flows in microchannels with discrete electrodes are presented, including single electrodes, symmetric/asymmetric double electrodes, and triple electrodes. Numerical results indicate that chaotic circulation flows, micro-vortices, and effective fluid mixing can be realized in microchannels by applying modulating electric fields with various electrode configurations. The interaction of a modulating field with an applied field along the channel is also discussed.

Improved normal tissue protection by proton and X-ray microchannels compared to homogeneous field irradiation.

PubMed

Girst, S; Marx, C; Bräuer-Krisch, E; Bravin, A; Bartzsch, S; Oelfke, U; Greubel, C; Reindl, J; Siebenwirth, C; Zlobinskaya, O; Multhoff, G; Dollinger, G; Schmid, T E; Wilkens, J J

2015-09-01

The risk of developing normal tissue injuries often limits the radiation dose that can be applied to the tumour in radiation therapy. Microbeam Radiation Therapy (MRT), a spatially fractionated photon radiotherapy is currently tested at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) to improve normal tissue protection. MRT utilizes an array of microscopically thin and nearly parallel X-ray beams that are generated by a synchrotron. At the ion microprobe SNAKE in Munich focused proton microbeams ("proton microchannels") are studied to improve normal tissue protection. Here, we comparatively investigate microbeam/microchannel irradiations with sub-millimetre X-ray versus proton beams to minimize the risk of normal tissue damage in a human skin model, in vitro. Skin tissues were irradiated with a mean dose of 2 Gy over the irradiated area either with parallel synchrotron-generated X-ray beams at the ESRF or with 20 MeV protons at SNAKE using four different irradiation modes: homogeneous field, parallel lines and microchannel applications using two different channel sizes. Normal tissue viability as determined in an MTT test was significantly higher after proton or X-ray microchannel irradiation compared to a homogeneous field irradiation. In line with these findings genetic damage, as determined by the measurement of micronuclei in keratinocytes, was significantly reduced after proton or X-ray microchannel compared to a homogeneous field irradiation. Our data show that skin irradiation using either X-ray or proton microchannels maintain a higher cell viability and DNA integrity compared to a homogeneous irradiation, and thus might improve normal tissue protection after radiation therapy. Copyright © 2015 Associazione Italiana di Fisica Medica. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Slippage on a particle-laden liquid-gas interface in textured microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaddam, Anvesh; Agrawal, Amit; Joshi, Suhas S.; Thompson, Mark C.

2018-03-01

Despite numerous investigations in the literature on slip flows in textured microchannels, experimental results were seldom in agreement with the theory. It is conjectured that contamination of the liquid-gas interface by impurities might be one of the sources of this discrepancy. However, the effect of impurities on slippage at the liquid-gas interface is neither understood nor previously reported. To this end, this work presents numerical investigation on the flow past a liquid-gas interface embedded with solid particles in textured microchannels. Initially, we present numerical simulations past transverse ribs with cylindrical particles on the liquid-gas interface. A reduction in effective slip length (or slip loss) with respect to the particle-free interface as a function of gas fraction, constriction ratio, and particle position was quantified. A significant slip loss (˜20-80%) was induced, owing to acceleration-deceleration cycles experienced by the liquid advecting across the particle-laden liquid-gas interface. Even a small number of solid particles adsorbed on a liquid-gas interface were shown to reduce the effective slip length considerably. This renders a textured microchannel with the particle-laden interface to be ineffective as compared to a completely wetted textured microchannel under certain conditions. Furthermore, a flow past two bi-dimensional textures, viz. posts and holes, with their interfaces embedded with spherical particles was also simulated. Our results show that texture configurations with an unbounded liquid-gas interface can mitigate the detrimental effects of particles adsorbed at the interface. The results presented here will help guide in designing efficient textured surfaces in future.

Diamond Microchannel Heat Sink Designs For High Heat Flux Thermal Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Corbin, Michael V.; DeBenedictis, Matthew M.; James, David B.; LeBlanc, Stephen P.; Paradis, Leo R.

2002-08-01

Directed energy weapons, wide band gap semiconductor based radars, and other powerful systems present significant thermal control challenges to component designers. heat Flux levels approaching 2000 W/cm(2) are encountered at the base of laser diodes, and levels as high as 500 WI /cm(2) are expected in laser slabs and power amplifier tube collectors. These impressive heat flux levels frequently combine with strict operating temperature requirements to further compound the thermal control problem. Many investigators have suggested the use of diamond heat spreaders to reduce flux levels at or near to its source, and some have suggested that diamond microchannel heat sinks ultimately may play a significant role in the solution of these problems. Design engineers at Raytheon Company have investigated the application of all-diamond microchannel heat sinks to representative high heat flux problems and have found the approach promising. Diamond microchannel fabrication feasibility has been demonstrated; integration into packaging systems and the accompanying material compatibility issues have been addressed; and thermal and hydrodynamic performance predictions have been made for selected, possible applications. An example of a practical, all diamond microchannel heat sink has been fabricated, and another is in process and will be performance tested. The heat sink assembly is made entirely of optical quality, CVD diamond and is of sufficient strength to withstand the thermal and pressure-induced mechanical loads associated with manufacture and use in tactical weapons environment. The work presented describes the development program's accomplishments to date, and highlights many of the areas for future study.

Thermal control of electroosmotic flow in a microchannel through temperature-dependent properties.

PubMed

Kwak, Ho Sang; Kim, Hyoungsoo; Hyun, Jae Min; Song, Tae-Ho

2009-07-01

A numerical investigation is conducted on the electroosmotic flow and associated heat transfer in a two-dimensional microchannel. The objective of this study is to explore a new conceptual idea that is control of an electroosmotic flow by using a thermal field effect through the temperature-dependent physical properties. Two exemplary problems are examined: a flow in a microchannel with a constant vertical temperature difference between two horizontal walls and a flow in a microchannel with the wall temperatures varying horizontally in a sinusoidal manner. The results of numerical computations showed that a proper control of thermal field may be a viable means to manipulate various non-plug-like flow patterns. A constant vertical temperature difference across the channel produces a shear flow. The horizontally-varying thermal condition results in spatial variation of physical properties to generate fluctuating flow patterns. The temperature variation at the wall with alternating vertical temperature gradient induces a wavy flow.

Characterization of enzymatic micromachining for construction of variable cross-section microchannel topologies

PubMed Central

Ruggles, Molly E.; Jayaraman, Arul; Ugaz, Victor M.

2016-01-01

The ability to harness enzymatic activity as an etchant to precisely machine biodegradable substrates introduces new possibilities for microfabrication. This flow-based etching is straightforward to implement, enabling patterning of microchannels with topologies that incorporate variable depth along the cross-sectional dimension. Additionally, unlike conventional small-molecule formulations, the macromolecular nature of enzymatic etchants enables features to be precisely positioned. Here, we introduce a kinetic model to characterize the enzymatic machining process and its localization by co-injection of a macromolecular inhibitor species. Our model captures the interaction between enzyme, inhibitor, and substrate under laminar flow, enabling rational prediction of etched microchannel profiles so that cross-sectional topologies incorporating complex lateral variations in depth can be constructed. We also apply this approach to achieve simultaneous widening of an entire network of microchannels produced in the biodegradable polymeric substrate poly(lactic acid), laying a foundation to construct systems incorporating a broad range of internal cross-sectional dimensions by manipulating the process conditions. PMID:27190566

Initial investigation of SU-8 photopolymer as a material for noninvasive endothelial cell research platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Westwood, S.; Gojova, A.; Kuo, B.; Barakat, A. I.; Gray, B. L.

2007-01-01

This paper presents a preliminary investigation in the usage of the micromachining polymer material SU-8 for the noninvasive shape control and functional study of vascular endothelial cells (ECs). We previously demonstrated a silicon and glass modular microinstrument platform that allowed for a wide range of EC functional response studies. However, we expect SU-8 to provide a more versatile fabrication technology and material for microchannel fabrication and instrumentation, since it is capable of achieving high aspect ratio sensor-compatible structures through simple photopatterning. In this paper, SU-8 microchannels were fabricated on glass slides for straightforward optical observation and biological sampling. Channel widths ranged from 50 to 210 µm, length varied from 100 to 2100 µm, with depth fixed at 100 µm. We plated bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) in the microchannels and used image analysis to determine cellular elongation and orientation. Similar to silicon-on-glass microchannels, the cells become more elongated and oriented along the microchannel axis as the width of the microchannel decreases. Initial results indicate cells plate in the microchannels and on the SU-8 surfaces, whereas in a previous silicon microchannel study, cells plated exclusively on the glass bottom surfaces. This finding has implications for SU-8 as a structural material for microchannel instrumentation.

High density, optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, v-groove monolithic laser diode array

DOEpatents

Freitas, B.L.

1998-10-27

An optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, high density laser diode array achieves stacking pitches to 33 bars/cm by mounting laser diodes into V-shaped grooves. This design will deliver > 4kW/cm{sup 2} of directional pulsed laser power. This optically corrected, micro-channel cooled, high density laser is usable in all solid state laser systems which require efficient, directional, narrow bandwidth, high optical power density pump sources. 13 figs.

Modeling the interactions between compliant microcapsules and pillars in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Guangdong; Alexeev, Alexander; Kumacheva, Eugenia; Balazs, Anna C.

2007-07-01

Using a computational model, we investigate the motion of microcapsules inside a microchannel that encompasses a narrow constriction. The microcapsules are composed of a compliant, elastic shell and an encapsulated fluid; these fluid-filled shells model synthetic polymeric microcapsules or biological cells (e.g., leukocytes). Driven by an imposed flow, the capsules are propelled along the microchannel and through the constricted region, which is formed by two pillars that lie in registry, extending from the top and bottom walls of the channels. The tops of these pillars (facing into the microchannel) are modified to exhibit either a neutral or an attractive interaction with the microcapsules. The pillars (and constriction) model topological features that can be introduced into microfluidic devices or the physical and chemical heterogeneities that are inherently present in biological vessels. To simulate the behavior of this complex system, we employ a hybrid method that integrates the lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) for fluid dynamics and the lattice spring model (LSM) for the micromechanics of elastic solids. Through this LBM/LSM technique, we probe how the capsule's stiffness and interaction with the pillars affect its passage through the chambers. The results yield guidelines for regulating the movement of microcarriers in microfluidic systems and provide insight into the flow properties of biological cells in capillaries.

Feasibility investigations on multi-cutter milling process: A novel fabrication method for microreactors with multiple microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Minqiang; Zeng, Dehuai; Tang, Yong

A novel multi-cutter milling process for multiple parallel microchannels with manifolds is proposed to address the challenge of mass manufacture as required for cost-effective commercial applications. Several slotting cutters are stacked together to form a composite tool for machining microchannels simultaneously. The feasibility of this new fabrication process is experimentally investigated under different machining conditions and reaction characteristics of methanol steam reforming for hydrogen production. The influences of cutting parameters and the composite tool on the microchannel qualities and burr formation are analyzed. Experimental results indicate that larger cutting speed, smaller feed rate and cutting depth are in favor of obtaining relatively good microchannel qualities and small burrs. Of all the cutting parameters considered in these experiments, 94.2 m min -1 cutting speed, 23.5 mm min -1 feed rate and 0.5 mm cutting depth are found to be the optimum value. According to the comparisons of experimental results of multi-cutter milling process and estimated one of other alternative methods, it is found that multi-cutter milling process shows much shorter machining time and higher work removal rate than that of other alternative methods. Reaction characteristics of methanol steam reforming in microchannels also indicate that multi-cutter milling process is probably suitable for a commercial application.

The theoretical simulation on electrostatic distribution of 1st proximity region in proximity focusing low-light-level image intensifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Liandong; Bai, Xiaofeng; Song, De; Fu, Shencheng; Li, Ye; Duanmu, Qingduo

2015-03-01

Low-light-level night vision technology is magnifying low light level signal large enough to be seen by naked eye, which uses the photons - photoelectron as information carrier. Until the micro-channel plate was invented, it has been possibility for the realization of high performance and miniaturization of low-light-level night vision device. The device is double-proximity focusing low-light-level image intensifier which places a micro-channel plate close to photocathode and phosphor screen. The advantages of proximity focusing low-light-level night vision are small size, light weight, small power consumption, no distortion, fast response speed, wide dynamic range and so on. It is placed parallel to each other for Micro-channel plate (both sides of it with metal electrode), the photocathode and the phosphor screen are placed parallel to each other. The voltage is applied between photocathode and the input of micro-channel plate when image intensifier works. The emission electron excited by photo on the photocathode move towards to micro-channel plate under the electric field in 1st proximity focusing region, and then it is multiplied through the micro-channel. The movement locus of emission electrons can be calculated and simulated when the distributions of electrostatic field equipotential lines are determined in the 1st proximity focusing region. Furthermore the resolution of image tube can be determined. However the distributions of electrostatic fields and equipotential lines are complex due to a lot of micro-channel existing in the micro channel plate. This paper simulates electrostatic distribution of 1st proximity region in double-proximity focusing low-light-level image intensifier with the finite element simulation analysis software Ansoft maxwell 3D. The electrostatic field distributions of 1st proximity region are compared when the micro-channel plates' pore size, spacing and inclination angle ranged. We believe that the electron beam movement

Surface cell immobilization within perfluoroalkoxy microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stojkovič, Gorazd; Krivec, Matic; Vesel, Alenka; Marinšek, Marjan; Žnidaršič-Plazl, Polona

2014-11-01

Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) is one of the most promising materials for the fabrication of cheap, solvent resistant and reusable microfluidic chips, which have been recently recognized as effective tools for biocatalytic process development. The application of biocatalysts significantly depends on efficient immobilization of enzymes or cells within the reactor enabling long-term biocatalyst use. Functionalization of PFA microchannels by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (ATPES) and glutaraldehyde was used for rapid preparation of microbioreactors with surface-immobilized cells. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to accurately monitor individual treatment steps and to select conditions for cell immobilization. The optimized protocol for Saccharomyces cerevisiae immobilization on PFA microchannel walls comprised ethanol surface pretreatment, 4 h contacting with 10% APTES aqueous solution, 10 min treatment with 1% glutaraldehyde and 20 min contacting with cells in deionized water. The same protocol enabled also immobilization of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus subtilis cells on PFA surface in high densities. Furthermore, the developed procedure has been proved to be very efficient also for surface immobilization of tested cells on other materials that are used for microreactor fabrication, including glass, polystyrene, poly (methyl methacrylate), polycarbonate, and two olefin-based polymers, namely Zeonor® and Topas®.

Electrokinetic instability in microchannel ferrofluid/water co-flows

PubMed Central

Song, Le; Yu, Liandong; Zhou, Yilong; Antao, Asher Reginald; Prabhakaran, Rama Aravind; Xuan, Xiangchun

2017-01-01

Electrokinetic instability refers to unstable electric field-driven disturbance to fluid flows, which can be harnessed to promote mixing for various electrokinetic microfluidic applications. This work presents a combined numerical and experimental study of electrokinetic ferrofluid/water co-flows in microchannels of various depths. Instability waves are observed at the ferrofluid and water interface when the applied DC electric field is beyond a threshold value. They are generated by the electric body force that acts on the free charge induced by the mismatch of ferrofluid and water electric conductivities. A nonlinear depth-averaged numerical model is developed to understand and simulate the interfacial electrokinetic behaviors. It considers the top and bottom channel walls’ stabilizing effects on electrokinetic flow through the depth averaging of three-dimensional transport equations in a second-order asymptotic analysis. This model is found accurate to predict both the observed electrokinetic instability patterns and the measured threshold electric fields for ferrofluids of different concentrations in shallow microchannels. PMID:28406228

Thermoplastic microchannel fabrication using carbon dioxide laser ablation.

PubMed

Wang, Shau-Chun; Lee, Chia-Yu; Chen, Hsiao-Ping

2006-04-14

We report the procedures of machining microchannels on Vivak co-polyester thermoplastic substrates using a simple industrial CO(2) laser marker. To avoid overheating the substrates, we develop low-power marking techniques in nearly anaerobic environment. These procedures are able to machine microchannels at various aspect ratios. Either straight or serpent channel can be easily marked. Like the wire-embossed channel walls, the ablated channel surfaces become charged after alkaline hydrolysis treatment. Stable electroosmotic flow in the charged conduit is observed to be of the same order of magnitude as that in fused silica capillary. Typical dynamic coating protocols to alter the conduit surface properties are transferable to the ablated channels. The effects of buffer acidity on electroosmotic mobility in both bare and coated channels are similar to those in fused silica capillaries. Using video microscopy we also demonstrate that this device is useful in distinguishing the electrophoretic mobility of bare and latex particles from that of functionalized ones.

A simple process to achieve microchannels geometries able to produce hydrodynamic cavitation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qiu, X.; Cherief, W.; Colombet, D.; Ayela, F.

2017-04-01

We present a simple process to perform microchannels in which cavitating two phase flows are easily producible. Up to now, hydrodynamic cavitation ‘on a chip’ was reached with small flow rates inside microchannels whose micromachining had involved a deep reactive ion etching (D-RIE). The process we present here does not require a D-RIE reactor, as it is only funded on a wet etching of silicon. It leads to a so-called microstep profile, and large cavitating flow rates become possible together with moderate pressure drops.

Methods for forming small-volume electrical contacts and material manipulations with fluidic microchannels

DOEpatents

Jacobson, Stephen C [Knoxville, TN; Ramsey, J Michael [Knoxville, TN; Culbertson, Christopher T [Oak Ridge, TN; Whitten, William B [Lancing, TN; Foote, Robert S [Oak Ridge, TN

2011-04-26

A microfabricated device employing a bridging membrane and methods for electrokinetic transport of a liquid phase biological or chemical material using the same are described. The bridging membrane is deployed in or adjacent to a microchannel and permits either ionic current flow or the transport of gas species, while inhibiting the bulk flow of material. The use of bridging membranes in accordance with this invention is applicable to a variety of processes, including electrokinetically induced pressure flow in a region of a microehannel that is not influenced by an electric field, sample concentration enhancement and injection, as well as improving the analysis of materials where it is desired to eliminate electrophoretic bias. Other applications of the bridging membranes according to this invention include the separation of species from a sample material, valving of fluids in a microchannel network, mixing of different materials in a microchannel, and the pumping of fluids.

An Analytical-Numerical Model for Two-Phase Slug Flow through a Sudden Area Change in Microchannels

DOE PAGES

Momen, A. Mehdizadeh; Sherif, S. A.; Lear, W. E.

2016-01-01

In this article, two new analytical models have been developed to calculate two-phase slug flow pressure drop in microchannels through a sudden contraction. Even though many studies have been reported on two-phase flow in microchannels, considerable discrepancies still exist, mainly due to the difficulties in experimental setup and measurements. Numerical simulations were performed to support the new analytical models and to explore in more detail the physics of the flow in microchannels with a sudden contraction. Both analytical and numerical results were compared to the available experimental data and other empirical correlations. Results show that models, which were developed basedmore » on the slug and semi-slug assumptions, agree well with experiments in microchannels. Moreover, in contrast to the previous empirical correlations which were tuned for a specific geometry, the new analytical models are capable of taking geometrical parameters as well as flow conditions into account.« less

Innovative microchannel plate with reformulation of composition and modification of microstructure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Jingsheng; Lv, Jingwen; Kesaev, S. A.; Liu, Shulin; Liu, Zhanying; Li, Junguo; Chong, Xiaoqin; Shu, Detan

2009-07-01

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and mean time to failure (MTTF) are two important attributes to describe the performance and operation life of an image intensifier. The presents of the ion barrier film (IBF) in Gen. III image intensifier, which used to suppress MCP's ion feedback, while dramatically improve the MTTF but significantly reduce the SNR, so more completely diminishing the ion poisoning source within the channels of MCP are crucial for improved Gen. III; image intensifier to thinned thickness IBF and achieving this two conflicting attributes promotion simultaneously. This research was originally initiated to develop a MCP with glass composition redesigned specially for GaAs photocathode image intensifier, proved which can be imposed an exceedingly intensive electron bombard degassing but without suffering a fatal gain degrade, and had achieved significantly improved SNR of Gen. III image intensifier but with a short distance to meet the lifetime success, so that our research work step forward to intent upon the restriction of ion poisoning source formation within the MCP substrate, we reformulated the MCP glass composition, and modified the microstructure of this MCP glass substrate though a glass-crystal phase transition during the MCP fabricate heating process, we present an innovative MCP based on a glass-ceramic substrate, with reformulated composition and close-linked network microstructure mix with many of nanometer size crystal grains, provide this MCP with sustainable high gain, lower ion feedback and less outgasing performance, this glass-ceramic MCPs are assembled to Gen. III image intensifiers which results showing promoting both the MTTF and SNR of Gen. III image intensifier.

Circuit for high resolution decoding of multi-anode microchannel array detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kasle, David B. (Inventor)

1995-01-01

A circuit for high resolution decoding of multi-anode microchannel array detectors consisting of input registers accepting transient inputs from the anode array; anode encoding logic circuits connected to the input registers; midpoint pipeline registers connected to the anode encoding logic circuits; and pixel decoding logic circuits connected to the midpoint pipeline registers is described. A high resolution algorithm circuit operates in parallel with the pixel decoding logic circuit and computes a high resolution least significant bit to enhance the multianode microchannel array detector's spatial resolution by halving the pixel size and doubling the number of pixels in each axis of the anode array. A multiplexer is connected to the pixel decoding logic circuit and allows a user selectable pixel address output according to the actual multi-anode microchannel array detector anode array size. An output register concatenates the high resolution least significant bit onto the standard ten bit pixel address location to provide an eleven bit pixel address, and also stores the full eleven bit pixel address. A timing and control state machine is connected to the input registers, the anode encoding logic circuits, and the output register for managing the overall operation of the circuit.

Crustal gravitational potential energy change at the convergent plate boundary near Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, C.; Hsu, S.

2003-12-01

The Taiwan orogen has formed due to the convergence between the Philippine Sea plate and Eurasian plate. Numerous earthquakes are occurring along the active convergent plate boundary in eastern Taiwan. To the northeast, the Philippine Sea plates is subducting northwards beneath the Ryukyu Arc. To the south, the Eurasian plate is subducting eastwards beneath the Luzon Arc. The plate interaction has caused crustal deformation and produced earthquakes. The earthquakes have caused radial permanent displacement of the crust and have altered the crustal gravitational potential energy. Here we use the earthquake source mechanisms, determined by the Broadband Array in Taiwan for Seismology (BATs) from 1995 to 2003, to calculate the crustal gravitational potential energy (GPE) change and discuss their tectonic implication along the convergent plate boundary. In Ilan Plain, the westernmost Okinawa Trough, it shows a crustal GPE loss. It is related to the crustal subsidence because of the backarc extension of the Okinawa Trough. In contrast, due to the Philippine Sea plate subucting northwards beneath Eurasian Plate, the Ryukyu convergent boundary shows systematic crustal GPE gain. Near Taiwan, the crustal GPE change is gained, indicating the collisional convergence of the Luzon Arc. To the south of Taiwan, along the Luzon Arc the crustal GPE is also gain, representing the initial uplifting of the Taiwan mountain belt.

Fabrication of microchannels in fused silica using femtosecond Bessel beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yashunin, D. A., E-mail: yashuninda@yandex.ru; Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University, 24 Minin St., Nizhny Novgorod 603950; Malkov, Yu. A.

Extended birefringent waveguiding microchannels up to 15 mm long were created inside fused silica by single-pulse irradiation with femtosecond Bessel beams. The birefringent refractive index change of 2–4 × 10{sup −4} is attributed to residual mechanical stress. The microchannels were chemically etched in KOH solution to produce 15 mm long microcapillaries with smooth walls and a high aspect ratio of 1:250. Bessel beams provide higher speed of material processing compared to conventional multipulse femtosecond laser micromachining techniques and permit simple control of the optical axis direction of the birefringent waveguides, which is important for practical applications [Corrielli et al., “Rotated waveplates inmore » integrated waveguide optics,” Nat. Commun. 5, 4249 (2014)].« less

Experimental study on steam condensation with non-condensable gas in horizontal microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ma, Xuehu; Fan, Xiaoguang; Lan, Zhong; Jiang, Rui; Tao, Bai

2013-07-01

This paper experimentally studied steam condensation with non-condensable gas in trapezoidal microchannels. The effect of noncondensable gas on condensation two-phase flow patterns and the characteristics of heat transfer and frictional pressure drop were investigated. The visualization study results showed that the special intermittent annular flow was found in the microchannel under the condition of larger mole fraction of noncondensable gas and lower steam mass flux; the apical area of injection was much larger and the neck of injection was longer for mixture gas with lower mole fraction of noncondensable gas in comparison with pure steam condensation; meanwhile, the noncondensable gas resulted in the decrease of flow patterns transitional steam mass flux and quality. The experimental results also indicated that the frictional pressure drop increased with the increasing mole fraction of noncondensable gas when the steam mass flux was fixed. Unlike nature convective condensation heat transfer, the mole fraction of noncondensable gas had little effect on Nusselt number. Based on experimental data, the predictive correlation of Nusselt number for mixture gas condensation in microchannels was established showed good agreement with experimental data.

Microchannel array flow analyzer for measurement of whole blood rheology and flow characteristics of leukocytes activated by bacterial stimulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, Yuji; Fujieda, Sadao; Kikuchi, Hiroko E.

1997-03-01

Microgrooves (width 6, 7, and 8 micrometer, each with length 20, 30, and 40 micrometers, respectively; depth 4.5 micrometers; number 4704 in parallel of one size per chip; chip dimensions 12 multiplied by 12 mm) photofabricated in the surface of a single-crystal silicon substrate were converted to leak-proof microchannels by tightly covering them with an optically flat glass plate. Using the microchannels as a model of physiological capillaries, total flow rate of heparinized whole blood taken from healthy subjects was determined under a constant suction of 20 cmH2O, while flow behavior of blood cells through individual channels was microscopically observed. The apparent viscosity (ratio to that of saline) of whole blood was obtained as 4.7 plus or minus 0.5, 3.7 plus or minus 0.3, and 3.4 plus or minus 0.2 (mean plus or minus SD, n equals 4) for 6, 7, and 8 micrometer width channels, respectively. Normal leukocytes passed, showing a round shape, through the channels much more slowly then erythrocytes, but caused no appreciable interference with passage of erythrocytes. Meanwhile, cells exposed to the chemotactic peptide FMLP (1 - 10 nM) and bacterial cells (Escherichia coli K 12; 6 multiplied by 106/ml) slowed further greatly, showing very irregular shapes, and eventually blocked the channels. Such a response of leukocytes took place immediately after the exposure to FMLP, but it appeared gradually with time after the exposure to the cells.

Self-separation of blood plasma from whole blood during the capillary flow in microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nunna, Bharath Babu; Zhuang, Shiqiang; Lee, Eon Soo

2017-11-01

Self-separation of blood plasma from whole blood in microchannels is of great importance due to the enormous range of applications in healthcare and diagnostics. Blood is a multiphase complex fluid, composed of cells suspended in blood plasma. RBCs are the suspended particles whose shape changes during the flow of blood. The primary constituents of blood are erythrocytes or red blood cells (RBCs), leukocytes or white blood cells (WBCs), thrombocytes or platelets and blood plasma. The existence of RBCs in blood makes the blood a non-Newtonian fluid. The current study of separation of blood plasma from whole blood during self-driven flows in a single microchannel without bifurcation, by enhancing the capillary effects. The change in the capillary effect results in a change in contact angle which directly influences the capillary flow. The flow velocity directly influences the net force acting on the RBCs and influence the separation process. The experiments are performed on the PDMS microchannels with different contact angles by altering the surface characteristics using plasma treatment. The change in the separation length is studied during the capillary flow of blood in microchannel. Bharath Babu Nunna is a researcher in mechanical engineering and implementing the novel and innovative technologies in the biomedical devices to enhance the sensitivity of the disease diagnosis.

Experimental studying of local characteristics of gas-liquid flow in microchannels by optical methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartkus, German V.; Kuznetsov, Vladimir V.

2018-03-01

The local characteristics of the gas-liquid two-phase flow in rectangular microchannels 420 × 280 μm and 395 × 205 μm with T-shaped mixer inlet were experimentally investigated in this work. Visualization of flow regimes and measurement of local characteristics were carried out using a high-speed video camera Optronis CX600x2 and laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method. Deionized water and ethanol were used as the liquid phase, and nitrogen - as the gas phase. The Rhodamine 6G dye was added to the liquid. The location of the microchannel in space (horizontal, vertical) was changed. The profiles of the liquid film along the long side of the microchannel were obtained, the local film thickness was measured in the channel`s central section for the elongated bubble flow and the transition flow of the deionized water-nitrogen mixture. The unevenness of liquid film thickness at the channel cross-section and along the bubble was experimentally shown. The temporal dynamics of two-phase flow for the ethanol-nitrogen mixture was shown. It was found that most of the liquid flows in the meniscus on the short side of the microchannel for the present gas and liquid flow rates.

Contact angle hysteresis in a microchannel: statics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatipogullari, Metin; Wylock, Christophe; Pradas, Marc; Kalliadasis, Serafim; Colinet, Pierre

2017-11-01

We study contact angle hysteresis by tracking static meniscus configurations upon varying the volume of a liquid inside a chemically heterogeneous microchannel. We first construct a graphical force balance similar to the classical theory of Joanny and de Gennes for this system, though here with a straight contact line (2D channel). Hysteresis is induced by wettability gradients above a finite threshold value. This is also visualized in a phase plot enabling to easily predict stick-slip events of the contact line and the occurrence of hysteresis. Above the threshold and for non-overlapping Gaussian defects, we find good agreement with the classical formulas for the hysteresis amplitude induced by a dilute system of defects. In particular it is found to be proportional to the square of the defect force and to the defect concentration. For a sinusoidal heterogeneity, decreasing the ratio between the heterogeneity wavelength and the microchannel gap size, brings the system from a sub threshold regime, to a stick-slip dominated regime, and finally to a regime with a quasi-constant advancing and receding angle. In the latter, the hysteresis amplitude is found to be proportional to the defect force.

Fabrication, measurement, and modeling of electro-osmotic flow in micromachined polymer microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suriyage, Nihal U.; Ghantasala, Muralidhar K.; Iovenitti, Pio; Harvey, Erol C.

2004-03-01

Electroosmotic pumping in the microchannels fabricated in polycarbonate (PC), polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) and SU-8 polymer substrates was investigated and species transportation was modeled, in an attempt to show the suitability of low cost polymer materials for the development of disposable microfluidic devices. Microchannels and the fluid reservoirs were fabricated using excimer laser ablation and hot embossing techniques. Typical dimensions of the microchannels were 60μm (width) x 50μm (depth) x 45mm (length). Species transportation in the microchannels under electroosmosis was modeled by finite element method (FEM) with the help of NetFlow module of the CoventorWareTM computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package. In particular, electroosmosis and electrophoresis in a crossed microfluidic channel was modeled to calculate the percentage species mass transportation when the concentration shape of the Gaussian input species plug and the location of the injection point are varied. Change in the concentration shape of the initial species plug while it is electroosmotically transported along the crossed fluidic channel was visualized. Results indicated that Excimer laser ablated PC and PET devices have electroosmotic mobility in the range 2 to 5 x10-4 cm2/V.s, zeta potential 30 to 70 mV and flow rates of the order of 1 to 3 nL/s under an electric field of 200 V/cm. With the electroosmotic mobility value of PC the simulation results show that a crossed fluidic channel is electroosmotically pumping about 91% of the species mass injected along one of its straight channels.

Unsteady electroosmosis in a microchannel with Poisson-Boltzmann charge distribution.

PubMed

Chang, Chien C; Kuo, Chih-Yu; Wang, Chang-Yi

2011-11-01

The present study is concerned with unsteady electroosmotic flow (EOF) in a microchannel with the electric charge distribution described by the Poisson-Boltzmann (PB) equation. The nonlinear PB equation is solved by a systematic perturbation with respect to the parameter λ which measures the strength of the wall zeta potential relative to the thermal potential. In the small λ limits (λ<1), we recover the linearized PB equation - the Debye-Hückel approximation. The solutions obtained by using only three terms in the perturbation series are shown to be accurate with errors <1% for λ up to 2. The accurate solution to the PB equation is then used to solve the electrokinetic fluid transport equation for two types of unsteady flow: transient flow driven by a suddenly applied voltage and oscillatory flow driven by a time-harmonic voltage. The solution for the transient flow has important implications on EOF as an effective means for transporting electrolytes in microchannels with various electrokinetic widths. On the other hand, the solution for the oscillatory flow is shown to have important physical implications on EOF in mixing electrolytes in terms of the amplitude and phase of the resulting time-harmonic EOF rate, which depends on the applied frequency and the electrokinetic width of the microchannel as well as on the parameter λ. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

In situ nuclear magnetic resonance microimaging of live biofilms in a microchannel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Renslow, R. S.; Marshall, M. J.; Tucker, A. E.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) microimaging and spectroscopy was used to interrogate fluids of biological importance (e.g., water, buffer, medium solution) and live biofilms in a microchannel compatible for analyses at ambient pressure and under vacuum. Studies using buffer, growth medium, and actively growing Shewanella oneidensis biofilms were used to demonstrate in situ NMR microimaging measurement capabilities including velocity mapping, diffusion coefficient mapping, relaxometry, localized spectroscopy, and 2D and 3D imaging within a microchannel suitable for different analytical platforms. This technique is promising for diverse applications of correlative imaging using a portable microfluidic platform.

Determination and characterization by numerical simulations of flow mixing due to electrokinetic instabilities in cross-shaped microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guerrero, Esteban; Chen, Daming; Hageman, Logan; Guzman, Amador

2017-11-01

This article describes a computational study of flow mixing in microchannels due to electrokinetic instabilities that are compared to experimental results obtained in a cross- microchannel with an ionic solution of potassium chloride with two different ionic concentrations, with the purpose of determining the parameter combinations to produce the onset of flow mixing and its characteristics. For the numerical simulation process carried out using a finite element method-based commercial code, we applied a typical zeta potential used in other articles as a boundary condition for the microchannel walls. For the experiments, we used a commercial silicon glass (Caliper NS95) microchannel. For determining a flow mixing regime, we use the concept of ``mixing index'' established by (Fu et al., 2005) for an electrical conductivity ratio range of 18 to 52 with an electric field range of 1100 to 1900 V/cm. From our numerical simulation results we have found a threshold for the electrical Rayleigh number for starting a flow mixing regime, and a minimum microchannel characteristic length for achieving a 90% of flow mixing that will allow us to significantly reduce the mixing time. Vicerrectoria de Investigacion y Departamento de Ingeniera Mecánica y Metalúrgica Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.

Improved Detection System Description and New Method for Accurate Calibration of Micro-Channel Plate Based Instruments and Its Use in the Fast Plasma Investigation on NASA's Magnetospheric MultiScale Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gliese, U.; Avanov, L. A.; Barrie, A. C.; Kujawski, J. T.; Mariano, A. J.; Tucker, C. J.; Chornay, D. J.; Cao, N. T.; Gershman, D. J.; Dorelli, J. C.;

Simulation and experimental research on micro-channel for detecting cell status in bio-artificial liver.

PubMed

Wu, Changzhe; Cao, Yue; Huo, Xiaolin; Li, Ming

2015-01-01

Bioartificial liver support system (BALSS) based on culturing hepatocytes is an important research field for the treatment of acute liver failure. It is necessary to monitor the state of liver cell functions during the treatment of BALSS in order to guide clinical treatment. To design a micro-channel chip to achieve flash mixing for timely detection of liver cell status in bioreactors and improving liver cells growth environment to ensure the efficacy of the bio-artificial liver support system. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Urea are chosen as detection indicators to reflect the degree of liver cell injury and the detoxification function. A diamond tandem structure micro-channel is designed and optimized to achieve the efficient mixing of serum and ALT or Urea reagent. The simulation and experimental results show that the diamond tandem structure micro-channel can significantly improve the mixing efficiency and meet the online detecting requirements. The easily controllable diamond tandem structure micro-channel combines the advantages of active and passive mixer and can effectively mix the serum and ALT or Urea reagent. It lays the foundation for online monitoring of liver cells and will help to improve the viability of liver cell in the bioreactor.

AC electroosmosis in microchannels packed with a porous medium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Yuejun; Yang, Chun; Huang, Xiaoyang

2004-08-01

This paper presents a theoretical study on ac-driven electroosmotic flow in both open-end and closed-end microchannels packed with uniform charged spherical microparticles. The time-periodic oscillating electroosmotic flow in an open-end capillary in response to the application of an alternating (ac) electric field is obtained using the Green function approach. The analysis is based on the Carman-Kozeny theory. The backpressure associated with the counter-flow in a closed-end capillary is obtained by analytically solving the modified Brinkman momentum equation. It is demonstrated that in a microchannel with its two ends connected to reservoirs and subject to ambient pressure, the oscillating Darcy velocity profile depends on both the pore size and the excitation frequency; such effects are coupled through an important aspect ratio of the tubule radius to the Stokes penetration depth. For a fixed pore size, the magnitude of the ac electroosmotic flow decreases with increasing frequency. With increasing pore size, however, the magnitude of the maximum velocity shows two different trends with respect to the excitation frequency: it gets higher in the low frequency domain, and gets lower in the high frequency domain. In a microchannel with closed ends, for a fixed excitation frequency, use of smaller packing particles can generate higher backpressure. For a fixed pore size, the backpressure magnitude shows two different trends changing with the excitation frequency. When the excitation frequency is lower than the system characteristic frequency, the backpressure decreases with increasing excitation frequency. When the excitation frequency is higher than the system characteristic frequency, the backpressure increases with increasing excitation frequency.

Effect of viscoelasticity on the flow pattern and the volumetric flow rate in electroosmotic flows through a microchannel.

PubMed

Park, H M; Lee, W M

2008-07-01

Many lab-on-a-chip based microsystems process biofluids such as blood and DNA solutions. These fluids are viscoelastic and show extraordinary flow behaviors, not existing in Newtonian fluids. Adopting appropriate constitutive equations these exotic flow behaviors can be modeled and predicted reasonably using various numerical methods. In the present paper, we investigate viscoelastic electroosmotic flows through a rectangular straight microchannel with and without pressure gradient. It is shown that the volumetric flow rates of viscoelastic fluids are significantly different from those of Newtonian fluids under the same external electric field and pressure gradient. Moreover, when pressure gradient is imposed on the microchannel there appear appreciable secondary flows in the viscoelastic fluids, which is never possible for Newtonian laminar flows through straight microchannels. The retarded or enhanced volumetric flow rates and secondary flows affect dispersion of solutes in the microchannel nontrivially.

Enhanced flow boiling in microchannels through integrating multiple micro-nozzles and reentry microcavities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Wenming; Qu, Xiaopeng; Alam, Tamanna; Yang, Fanghao; Chang, Wei; Khan, Jamil; Li, Chen

2017-01-01

In a microchannel system, a higher mass velocity can lead to enhanced flow boiling performances, but at a cost of two-phase pressure drop. It is highly desirable to achieve a high heat transfer rate and critical heat flux (CHF) exceeding 1 kW/cm2 without elevating the pressure drop, particularly, at a reduced mass velocity. In this study, we developed a microchannel configuration that enables more efficient utilization of the coolant through integrating multiple microscale nozzles connected to auxiliary channels as well as microscale reentry cavities on sidewalls of main microchannels. We achieved a CHF of 1016 W/cm2 with a 50% less mass velocity, i.e., 680 kg/m2s, compared to the two-nozzle configuration developed in our previous studies. Two primary enhancement mechanisms are: (a) the enhanced global liquid supply by four evenly distributed micronozzles, particularly near the outlet region and (b) the effective management of local dryout by the capillary flow-induced sustainable thin liquid film resulting from an array of microscale cavities. A significantly improved heat transfer coefficient of 131 kW/m2 K at a mass velocity of 680 kg/m2s is attributed to the enhanced nucleate boiling, the established capillary/thin film evaporation, and the induced advection from the present microchannel configuration. All these significant enhancements have been achieved with a ˜55% lower two-phase pressure drop.

"Processing and Mechanical Properties of NiTi-Nb Porous Structures with Microchannels"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bewerse, Catherine Nicole

Nickel-Titanium alloys are able to recover high amounts of strain (~5-8%) through a reversible phase transformation. This shape recovery, and its accompanying toughness and high yield strength, make the material attractive for biomedical, actuation, and energy absorption applications. Porous structures made out of NiTi are particularly interesting, as the mechanical properties can be tailored close to that of bone. While various methods exist to create NiTi porous structures, many are limited by pore interconnectivity, pore geometry and spatial arrangement, or undesirable formation of intermetallics. In this dissertation, we present three different processing methods to fabricate NiTi(Nb) porous structures with 3D fully interconnected microchannels. These structures have controllable volume fraction, orientation, and spatial distribution of the microchannels. In addition, we characterize the NiTi-Nb eutectic material used to bond the porous structures and investigate the strain field and stress concentrations around a model pore though Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and FEM. We first present a method using hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) with a steel wire scaffold to create a structure with a 60% volume fraction of a regular 3D network of orthogonally interconnected microchannels. This structure exhibited an effective stiffness similar to cortical bone, but exhibited brittle fracture at a relatively low strength, implying poor NiTi powder bonding. This prompted the use of liquid phase sintering instead of HIPing in our second method, where a quasi-binary NiTi-Nb eutectic was used to bond the NiTi powders. The resulting structure contained 34% channel porosity with 16% matrix porosity due to void consolidation and a clearly defined 3D network of interconnected microchannels with circular cross sections. In an effort to simplify the processing of these NiTi-Nb structures and enable scalability, the final method presented employs slip casting with and without

Method of producing microchannel and nanochannel articles

DOEpatents

D'Urso, Brian R.

2010-05-04

A method of making an article having channels therethrough includes the steps of: providing a ductile structure defining at least one macro-channel, the macro-channel containing a salt; drawing the ductile structure in the axial direction of the at least one macro-channel to reduce diameter of the macro-channel; and contacting the salt with a solvent to dissolve the salt to produce an article having at least one microchannel.

Measurement of Zeta-Potential at Microchannel Wall by a Nanoscale Laser Induced Fluorescence Imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazoe, Yutaka; Sato, Yohei

A nanoscale laser induced fluorescence imaging was proposed by using fluorescent dye and the evanescent wave with total internal reflection of a laser beam. The present study focused on the two-dimensional measurement of zeta-potential at the microchannel wall, which is an electrostatic potential at the wall surface and a dominant parameter of electroosmotic flow. The evanescent wave, which decays exponentially from the wall, was used as an excitation light of the fluorescent dye. The fluorescent intensity detected by a CCD camera is closely related to the zeta-potential. Two kinds of fluorescent dye solution at different ionic concentrations were injected into a T-shaped microchannel, and formed a mixing flow field in the junction area. The two-dimensional distribution of zeta-potential at the microchannel wall in the pressure-driven flow field was measured. The obtained zeta-potential distribution has a transverse gradient toward the mixing flow field and was changed by the difference in the averaged velocity of pressure-driven flow. To understand the ion motion in the mixing flow field, the three-dimensional flow structure was analyzed by the velocity measurement using micron-resolution particle image velocimetry and the numerical simulation. It is concluded that the two-dimensional distribution of zeta-potential at the microchannel wall was dependent on the ion motion in the flow field, which was governed by the convection and molecular diffusion.

Protein labeling reactions in electrochemical microchannel flow: Numerical simulation and uncertainty propagation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debusschere, Bert J.; Najm, Habib N.; Matta, Alain; Knio, Omar M.; Ghanem, Roger G.; Le Maître, Olivier P.

2003-08-01

This paper presents a model for two-dimensional electrochemical microchannel flow including the propagation of uncertainty from model parameters to the simulation results. For a detailed representation of electroosmotic and pressure-driven microchannel flow, the model considers the coupled momentum, species transport, and electrostatic field equations, including variable zeta potential. The chemistry model accounts for pH-dependent protein labeling reactions as well as detailed buffer electrochemistry in a mixed finite-rate/equilibrium formulation. Uncertainty from the model parameters and boundary conditions is propagated to the model predictions using a pseudo-spectral stochastic formulation with polynomial chaos (PC) representations for parameters and field quantities. Using a Galerkin approach, the governing equations are reformulated into equations for the coefficients in the PC expansion. The implementation of the physical model with the stochastic uncertainty propagation is applied to protein-labeling in a homogeneous buffer, as well as in two-dimensional electrochemical microchannel flow. The results for the two-dimensional channel show strong distortion of sample profiles due to ion movement and consequent buffer disturbances. The uncertainty in these results is dominated by the uncertainty in the applied voltage across the channel.

The measurements of water flow rates in the straight microchannel based on the scanning micro-PIV technique

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, H. L.; Han, W.; Xu, M.

2011-12-01

Measurement of the water flow rate in microchannel has been one of the hottest points in the applications of microfluidics, medical, biological, chemical analyses and so on. In this study, the scanning microscale particle image velocimetry (scanning micro-PIV) technique is used for the measurements of water flow rates in a straight microchannel of 200μm width and 60μm depth under the standard flow rates ranging from 2.481μL/min to 8.269μL/min. The main effort of this measurement technique is to obtain three-dimensional velocity distribution on the cross sections of microchannel by measuring velocities of the different fluid layers along the out-of-plane direction in the microchannel, so the water flow rates can be evaluated from the discrete surface integral of velocities on the cross section. At the same time, the three-dimensional velocity fields in the measured microchannel are simulated numerically using the FLUENT software in order to verify the velocity accuracy of measurement results. The results show that the experimental values of flow rates are well consistent to the standard flow rates input by the syringe pump and the compared results between numerical simulation and experiment are consistent fundamentally. This study indicates that the micro-flow rate evaluated from three-dimensional velocity by the scanning micro-PIV technique is a promising method for the micro-flow rate research.

Entropy generation of nanofluid flow in a microchannel heat sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manay, Eyuphan; Akyürek, Eda Feyza; Sahin, Bayram

2018-06-01

Present study aims to investigate the effects of the presence of nano sized TiO2 particles in the base fluid on entropy generation rate in a microchannel heat sink. Pure water was chosen as base fluid, and TiO2 particles were suspended into the pure water in five different particle volume fractions of 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%. Under laminar, steady state flow and constant heat flux boundary conditions, thermal, frictional, total entropy generation rates and entropy generation number ratios of nanofluids were experimentally analyzed in microchannel flow for different channel heights of 200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm and 500 μm. It was observed that frictional and total entropy generation rates increased as thermal entropy generation rate were decreasing with an increase in particle volume fraction. In microchannel flows, thermal entropy generation could be neglected due to its too low rate smaller than 1.10e-07 in total entropy generation. Higher channel heights caused higher thermal entropy generation rates, and increasing channel height yielded an increase from 30% to 52% in thermal entropy generation. When channel height decreased, an increase of 66%-98% in frictional entropy generation was obtained. Adding TiO2 nanoparticles into the base fluid caused thermal entropy generation to decrease about 1.8%-32.4%, frictional entropy generation to increase about 3.3%-21.6%.

Performance Characterization of a Microchannel Liquid/Liquid Heat Exchanger Throughout an Extended Duration Life Test

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sheth, Rubik B.; Stephan, Ryan A.; Hawkins-Reynolds Ebony

2011-01-01

Liquid/Liquid Heat Exchangers (L/L HX) are an integral portion of any spacecraft active thermal control system. For this study the X-38 L/L HX was used as a baseline. As detailed in a previous ICES manuscript, NASA paired with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop a Microchannel L/L HX (MHX). This microchannel HX was designed to meet the same performance characteristics as the aforementioned X-38 HX. The as designed Microchannel HX has a 26% and 60% reduction in mass and volume, respectively. Due to the inherently smaller flow passages the design team was concerned about fouling affecting performance during extended missions. To address this concern, NASA has developed a test stand and is currently performing an 18 month life test on the MHX. This report will detail the up-to-date performance of the MHX during life testing.

Microchannel-electrode alignment and separation parameters comparison in microchip capillary electrophoresis by scanning electrochemical microscopy.

PubMed

Wang, Kang; Xia, Xing-Hua

2006-03-31

The end of separation channel in a microchip was electrochemically mapped using the feedback imaging mode of scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). This method provides a convenient way for microchannel-electrode alignment in microchip capillary electrophoresis. Influence of electrode-to-channel positions on separation parameters in this capillary electrophoresis-electrochemical detection (CE-ED) was then investigated. For the trapezoid shaped microchannel, detection in the central area resulted in the best apparent separation efficiency and peak shape. In the electrode-to-channel distance ranging from 65 to 15mum, the limiting peak currents of dopamine increased with the decrease of the detection distance due to the limited diffusion and convection of the sample band. Results showed that radial position and axial distance of the detection electrode to microchannel was important for the improvement of separation parameters in CE amperometric detection.

Low GWP Refrigerants Modelling Study for a Room Air Conditioner Having Microchannel Heat Exchangers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shen, Bo; Bhandari, Mahabir S

Microchannel heat exchangers (MHX) have found great successes in residential and commercial air conditioning applications, being compact heat exchangers, to reduce refrigerant charge and material cost. This investigation aims to extend the application of MHXs in split, room air conditioners (RAC), per fundamental heat exchanger and system modelling. For this paper, microchannel condenser and evaporator models were developed, using a segment-to-segment modelling approach. The microchannel heat exchanger models were integrated to a system design model. The system model is able to predict the performance indices, such as cooling capacity, efficiency, sensible heat ratio, etc. Using the calibrated system and heatmore » exchanger models, we evaluated numerous low GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants. The predicted system performance indices, e.g. cooling efficiency, compressor discharge temperature, and required compressor displacement volume etc., are compared. Suitable replacements for R22 and R-410A for the room air conditioner application are recommended.« less

Experimental and CFD modeling of fluid mixing in sinusoidal microchannels with different phase shift between side walls

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khosravi Parsa, Mohsen; Hormozi, Faramarz

2014-06-01

In the present work, a passive model of a micromixer with sinusoidal side walls, a convergent-divergent cross section and a T-shape entrance was experimentally fabricated and modeled. The main aim of this modeling was to conduct a study on the Dean and separation vortices created inside the sinusoidal microchannels with a convergent-divergent cross section. To fabricate the microchannels, CO2 laser micromachining was utilized and the fluid mixing pattern is observed using a digital microscope imaging system. Also, computational fluid dynamics was applied with the finite element method to solve Navier-Stokes equations and the diffusion-convection mode in inlet Reynolds numbers of 0.2-75. Numerically obtained results were in reasonable agreement with experimental data. According to the previous studies, phase shift and wavelength of side walls are important parameters in designing sinusoidal microchannels. An increase of phase shift between side walls of microchannels leads the cross section being convergent-divergent. Results also show that at an inlet Reynolds number of <20 the molecular diffusion is the dominant mixing factor and the mixing index extent is nearly identical in all designs. For higher inlet Reynolds numbers (>20), secondary flow is the main factor of mixing. Noticeably, mixing index drastically depends on phase shift (ϕ) and wavelength of side walls (λ) such that the best mixing can be observed in ϕ = 3π/4 and at a wavelength to amplitude ratio of 3.3. Likewise, the maximum pressure drop is reported at ϕ = π. Therefore, the sinusoidal microchannel with phase shifts between π/2 and 3π/4 is the best microchannel for biological and chemical analysis, for which a mixing index value higher than 90% and a pressure drop less than 12 kPa is reported.

A strategy for design and fabrication of low cost microchannel for future reproductivity of bio/chemical lab-on-chip application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Humayun, Q.; Hashim, U.; Ruzaidi, C. M.; Noriman, N. Z.

2017-03-01

The fabrication and characterization of sensitive and selective fluids delivery system for the application of nano laboratory on a single chip is a challenging task till to date. This paper is one of the initial attempt to resolve this challenging task by using a simple, cost effective and reproductive technique for pattering a microchannel structures on SU-8 resist. The objective of the research is to design, fabricate and characterize polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel. The proposed device mask was designed initially by using AutoCAD software and then the designed was transferred to transparency sheet and to commercial chrome mask for better photo masking process. The standard photolithography process coupled with wet chemical etching process was used for the fabrication of proposed microchannel. This is a low cost fabrication technique for the formation of microchannel structure at resist. The fabrication process start from microchannel formation and then the structure was transformed to PDMS substrate, the microchannel structure was cured from mold and then the cured mold was bonded with the glass substrate by plasma oxidation bonding process. The surface morphology was characterized by high power microscope (HPM) and the structure was characterized by Hawk 3 D surface nanoprofiler. The next part of the research will be focus onto device testing and validation by using real biological samples by the implementation of a simple manual injection technique.

Cavitation in flow through a micro-orifice inside a silicon microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mishra, Chandan; Peles, Yoav

2005-01-01

Hydrodynamic cavitation in flows through a micro-orifice entrenched in a microchannel has been detected and experimentally investigated. Microfabrication techniques have been employed to design and develop a microfluidic device containing an 11.5μm wide micro-orifice inside a 100.2μm wide and 101.3μm deep microchannel. The flow of de-ionized water through the micro-orifice reveals the presence of multifarious cavitating flow regimes. This investigation divulges both similarities and differences between cavitation in micro-orifices and cavitation in their macroscale counterparts. The low incipient cavitation number obtained from the current experiments suggests a dominant size scale effect. Choking cavitation is observed to be independent of any pressure or velocity scale effects. However, choking is significantly influenced by the small stream nuclei residence time at such scales. Flow rate choking leads to the establishment of a stationary cavity. Large flow and cavitation hysteresis have been detected at the microscale leading to very high desinent cavitation numbers. The rapid transition from incipient bubbles to choking cavitation and subsequent supercavitation suggests the presence of radically different flow patterns at the microscale. Supercavitation results in a thick cavity, which extends throughout the microchannel, and is encompassed by the liquid. Cavitation at the microscale is expected to considerably influence the design of innovative high-speed microfluidic systems.

Pressure and partial wetting effects on superhydrophobic friction reduction in microchannel flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Tae Jin; Hidrovo, Carlos

2012-11-01

Friction reduction in microchannel flows can help alleviate the inherently taxing pumping power requirements associated with the dimensions involved. One possible way of achieving friction reduction is through the introduction of surface microtexturing that can lead to a superhydrophobic Cassie-Baxter state. The Cassie-Baxter state is characterized by the presence of air pockets within the surface microtexturing believed to act as an effective "shear free" (or at least shear reduced) layer, decreasing the overall friction characteristics of the surface. Most work in this area has concentrated on optimizing the surface microtexturing geometry to maximize the friction reduction effects and overall stability of the Cassie-Baxter state. However, less attention has been paid to the effects of partially wetted conditions induced by pressure and the correlation between the liquid-gas interface location within the surface microtexturing and the microchannel flow characteristics. This is mainly attributed to the difficulty in tracking the interface shape and location within the microtexturing in the typical top-down view arrangements used in most studies. In this paper, a rectangular microchannel with regular microtexturing on the sidewalls is used to visualize and track the location of the air-water interface within the roughness elements. While visually tracking the wetting conditions in the microtextures, pressure drops versus flow rates for each microchannel are measured and analyzed in terms of the non-dimensional friction coefficient. The frictional behavior of the Poiseuille flow suggests that (1) the air-water interface more closely resembles a no-slip boundary rather than a shear-free one, (2) the friction is rather insensitive to the degree of microtexturing wetting, and (3) the fully wetted (Wenzel state) microtexturing provides lower friction than the non-wetted one (Cassie state), in corroboration with observations (1) and (2).

Controlled double emulsification utilizing 3D PDMS microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Fu-Che; Su, Yu-Chuan

2008-06-01

This paper presents a PDMS emulsification device that is capable of generating water-in-oil-in-water double emulsions in a controlled manner. Specially designed 3D microchannels are utilized to steer the independently driven water- and oil-phase flows (especially to restrict the attachment of the middle oil-phase flow on the channel surfaces), and to break the continuous flows into monodisperse double emulsions. In addition to channel geometries and fluid flow rates, surfactants and osmotic agents are employed to facilitate the breakup process and stabilize the resulting emulsion structures. In the prototype demonstration, two-level SU-8 molds were fabricated to duplicate PDMS microstructures, which were surface treated and bonded irreversibly to form 3D microchannels. Throughout the emulsification trials, dripping was intentionally induced to generate monodisperse double emulsions with single or multiple aqueous droplets inside each oil drop. It is found that the overall and core sizes of the resulting double emulsions could be adjusted independently, mainly by varying the outer and inner fluid flow rates, respectively. As such, the presented double emulsification device could potentially realize the controllability on emulsion structure and size distribution, which is desired for a variety of biological and pharmaceutical applications.

A reusable microfluidic plate with alternate-choice architecture for assessing growth preference in tissue culture.

PubMed

Wittig, John H; Ryan, Allen F; Asbeck, Peter M

2005-05-15

We present the design of a chamber to evaluate in vitro how species and concentrations of soluble molecules control features of cell growth-potentially including cell proliferation, cell motility, process extension, and process termination. We have created a reusable cell culture plate that integrates a microfluidic media delivery network with standard cell culture environment. The microfluidic network delivers a stream of cell culture media with a step-like concentration gradient down a 50-100 microm wide microchannel called the presentation region. Migrating cells or growing cell processes freely choose between the two distinct chemical environments in the presentation region, but they are forced to exclusively choose either one environment or the other when they grow past a physical barrier acting as a decision point. Our fabrication technique requires little specialized equipment, and can be carried out in approximately 4 days per plate. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our plates as neurites from spiral ganglion explants preferentially grow in media containing neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) as opposed to media without NT-3. Our design could be used without modification to study dissociated cell responses to soluble growth cues, and for behavioral screening of small motile organisms.

Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels with Non-Circular Cross Section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckett, Chris A.; Strumpf, Hal J.

2002-11-01

Two-phase flow in microchannels is of practical importance in several microgravity space technology applications. These include evaporative and condensing heat exchangers for thermal management systems and vapor cycle systems, phase separators, and bioreactors. The flow passages in these devices typically have a rectangular cross-section or some other non-circular cross-section; may include complex flow paths with branches, merges and bends; and may involve channel walls of different wettability. However, previous experimental and analytical investigations of two-phase flow in reduced gravity have focussed on straight, circular tubes. This study is an effort to determine two-phase flow behavior, both with and without heat transfer, in microchannel configurations other than straight, circular tubes. The goals are to investigate the geometrical effects on flow pattern, pressure drop and liquid holdup, as well as to determine the relative importance of capillary, surface tension, inertial, and gravitational forces in such geometries. An evaporative heat exchanger for microgravity thermal management systems has been selected as the target technology in this investigation. Although such a heat exchanger has never been developed at Honeywell, a preliminary sizing has been performed based on knowledge of such devices in normal gravity environments. Fin shapes considered include plain rectangular, offset rectangular, and wavy fin configurations. Each of these fin passages represents a microchannel of non-circular cross section. The pans at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger are flow branches and merges, with up to 90-deg bends. R-134a has been used as the refrigerant fluid, although ammonia may well be used in the eventual application.

Uniform electric field generation in circular multi-well culture plates using polymeric inserts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tsai, Hsieh-Fu; Cheng, Ji-Yen; Chang, Hui-Fang; Yamamoto, Tadashi; Shen, Amy Q.

2016-05-01

Applying uniform electric field (EF) in vitro in the physiological range has been achieved in rectangular shaped microchannels. However, in a circular-shaped device, it is difficult to create uniform EF from two electric potentials due to different electrical resistances originated from the length difference between the diameter of the circle and the length of any parallel chord of the bottom circular chamber where cells are cultured. To address this challenge, we develop a three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided designed (CAD) polymeric insert to create uniform EF in circular shaped multi-well culture plates. A uniform EF with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 1.2% in the 6-well plate can be generated with an effective stimulation area percentage of 69.5%. In particular, NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells are used to validate the performance of the 3D designed Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) inserts in a circular-shaped 6-well plate. The CAD based inserts can be easily scaled up (i.e., 100 mm dishes) to further increase effective stimulation area percentages, and also be implemented in commercially available cultureware for a wide variety of EF-related research such as EF-cell interaction and tissue regeneration studies.

Effect of microculture on cell metabolism and biochemistry: do cells get stressed in microchannels?

PubMed

Su, Xiaojing; Theberge, Ashleigh B; January, Craig T; Beebe, David J

2013-02-05

Microfluidics is emerging as a promising platform for cell culture, enabling increased microenvironment control and potential for integrated analysis compared to conventional macroculture systems such as well plates and Petri dishes. To advance the use of microfluidic devices for cell culture, it is necessary to better understand how miniaturization affects cell behavior. In particular, microfluidic devices have significantly higher surface-area-to-volume ratios than conventional platforms, resulting in lower volumes of media per cell, which can lead to cell stress. We investigated cell stress under a variety of culture conditions using three cell lines: parental HEK (human embryonic kidney) cells and transfected HEK cells that stably express wild-type (WT) and mutant (G601S) human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channel protein. These three cell lines provide a unique model system through which to study cell-type-specific responses in microculture because mutant hERG is known to be sensitive to environmental conditions, making its expression a particularly sensitive readout through which to compare macro- and microculture. While expression of WT-hERG was similar in microchannel and well culture, the expression of mutant G601S-hERG was reduced in microchannels. Expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress marker immunoglobulin binding protein (BiP) was upregulated in all three cell lines in microculture. Using BiP expression, glucose consumption, and lactate accumulation as readouts we developed methods for reducing ER stress including properly increasing the frequency of media replacement, reducing cell seeding density, and adjusting the serum concentration and buffering capacity of culture medium. Indeed, increasing the buffering capacity of culture medium or frequency of media replacement partially restored the expression of the G601S-hERG in microculture. This work illuminates how biochemical properties of cells differ in macro- and

Inertial migration of deformable droplets in a microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Xiaodong; Xue, Chundong; Zhang, Li; Hu, Guoqing; Jiang, Xingyu; Sun, Jiashu

2014-11-01

The microfluidic inertial effect is an effective way of focusing and sorting droplets suspended in a carrier fluid in microchannels. To understand the flow dynamics of microscale droplet migration, we conduct numerical simulations on the droplet motion and deformation in a straight microchannel. The results are compared with preliminary experiments and theoretical analysis. In contrast to most existing literature, the present simulations are three-dimensional and full length in the streamwise direction and consider the confinement effects for a rectangular cross section. To thoroughly examine the effect of the velocity distribution, the release positions of single droplets are varied in a quarter of the channel cross section based on the geometrical symmetries. The migration dynamics and equilibrium positions of the droplets are obtained for different fluid velocities and droplet sizes. Droplets with diameters larger than half of the channel height migrate to the centerline in the height direction and two equilibrium positions are observed between the centerline and the wall in the width direction. In addition to the well-known Segré-Silberberg equilibrium positions, new equilibrium positions closer to the centerline are observed. This finding is validated by preliminary experiments that are designed to introduce droplets at different initial lateral positions. Small droplets also migrate to two equilibrium positions in the quarter of the channel cross section, but the coordinates in the width direction are between the centerline and the wall. The equilibrium positions move toward the centerlines with increasing Reynolds number due to increasing deformations of the droplets. The distributions of the lift forces, angular velocities, and the deformation parameters of droplets along the two confinement direction are investigated in detail. Comparisons are made with theoretical predictions to determine the fundamentals of droplet migration in microchannels. In

Detector arrays for photometric measurements at soft X-ray, ultraviolet and visible wavelengths

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Timothy, J. G.; Mount, G. H.; Bybee, R. L.

1979-01-01

The construction and modes of operation of the Multi-Anode Microchannel Array (MAMA) detectors are described, and the designs of spectrometers utilizing them are outlined. MAMA consists of a curved microchannel array plate, an opaque photocathode (peak quantum efficiency of 19% at 1216 A), and a multi-anode (either discrete- or coincidence-anode) readout array. Designed for use in instruments on spaceborne telescopes, MAMA can be operated in a windowless configuration in extreme-ultraviolet and soft X-ray wavelengths, or in a sealed configuration at UV and visible wavelengths. Advantages of MAMA include low applied potential (less than 3.0 kV), high gain (greater than 10 to the 6th electrons/pulse), low sensitivity to high-energy charged particles, and immunity to external magnetic fields of less than 500 Gauss

Theoretical modeling of electroosmotic flow in soft microchannels: A variational approach applied to the rectangular geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, Arman

2018-03-01

Modeling of fluid flow in polyelectrolyte layer (PEL)-grafted microchannels is challenging due to their two-layer nature. Hence, the pertinent studies are limited only to circular and slit geometries for which matching the solutions for inside and outside the PEL is simple. In this paper, a simple variational-based approach is presented for the modeling of fully developed electroosmotic flow in PEL-grafted microchannels by which the whole fluidic area is considered as a single porous medium of variable properties. The model is capable of being applied to microchannels of a complex cross-sectional area. As an application of the method, it is applied to a rectangular microchannel of uniform PEL properties. It is shown that modeling a rectangular channel as a slit may lead to considerable overestimation of the mean velocity especially when both the PEL and electric double layer (EDL) are thick. It is also demonstrated that the mean velocity is an increasing function of the fixed charge density and PEL thickness and a decreasing function of the EDL thickness and PEL friction coefficient. The influence of the PEL thickness on the mean velocity, however, vanishes when both the PEL thickness and friction coefficient are sufficiently high.

An experimental analysis of process parameters to manufacture micro-channels in AISI H13 tempered steel by laser micro-milling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Teixidor, D.; Ferrer, I.; Ciurana, J.

2012-04-01

This paper reports the characterization of laser machining (milling) process to manufacture micro-channels in order to understand the incidence of process parameters on the final features. Selection of process operational parameters is highly critical for successful laser micromachining. A set of designed experiments is carried out in a pulsed Nd:YAG laser system using AISI H13 hardened tool steel as work material. Several micro-channels have been manufactured as micro-mold cavities varying parameters such as scanning speed (SS), pulse intensity (PI) and pulse frequency (PF). Results are obtained by evaluating the dimensions and the surface finish of the micro-channel. The dimensions and shape of the micro-channels produced with laser-micro-milling process exhibit variations. In general the use of low scanning speeds increases the quality of the feature in both surface finishing and dimensional.

Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration from Plasma Micro-Channel Targets

PubMed Central

Zou, D. B.; Pukhov, A.; Yi, L. Q.; Zhou, H. B.; Yu, T. P.; Yin, Y.; Shao, F. Q.

2017-01-01

Efficient energy boost of the laser-accelerated ions is critical for their applications in biomedical and hadron research. Achiev-able energies continue to rise, with currently highest energies, allowing access to medical therapy energy windows. Here, a new regime of simultaneous acceleration of ~100 MeV protons and multi-100 MeV carbon-ions from plasma micro-channel targets is proposed by using a ~1020 W/cm2 modest intensity laser pulse. It is found that two trains of overdense electron bunches are dragged out from the micro-channel and effectively accelerated by the longitudinal electric-field excited in the plasma channel. With the optimized channel size, these “superponderomotive” energetic electrons can be focused on the front surface of the attached plastic substrate. The much intense sheath electric-field is formed on the rear side, leading to up to ~10-fold ionic energy increase compared to the simple planar geometry. The analytical prediction of the optimal channel size and ion maximum energies is derived, which shows good agreement with the particle-in-cell simulations. PMID:28218247

Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration from Plasma Micro-Channel Targets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zou, D. B.; Pukhov, A.; Yi, L. Q.; Zhou, H. B.; Yu, T. P.; Yin, Y.; Shao, F. Q.

2017-02-01

Efficient energy boost of the laser-accelerated ions is critical for their applications in biomedical and hadron research. Achiev-able energies continue to rise, with currently highest energies, allowing access to medical therapy energy windows. Here, a new regime of simultaneous acceleration of ~100 MeV protons and multi-100 MeV carbon-ions from plasma micro-channel targets is proposed by using a ~1020 W/cm2 modest intensity laser pulse. It is found that two trains of overdense electron bunches are dragged out from the micro-channel and effectively accelerated by the longitudinal electric-field excited in the plasma channel. With the optimized channel size, these “superponderomotive” energetic electrons can be focused on the front surface of the attached plastic substrate. The much intense sheath electric-field is formed on the rear side, leading to up to ~10-fold ionic energy increase compared to the simple planar geometry. The analytical prediction of the optimal channel size and ion maximum energies is derived, which shows good agreement with the particle-in-cell simulations.

Surface Modification of SiO2 Microchannels with Biocompatible Polymer Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saito, Tatsuro; Momose, Takeshi; Hoshi, Toru; Takai, Madoka; Ishihara, Kazuhiko; Shimogaki, Yukihiro

2010-11-01

The surface of 500-mm-long microchannels in SiO2 microchips was modified using supercritical CO2 (scCO2) and a biocompatible polymer was coated on it to confer biocompatibility to the SiO2 surface. In this method, the SiO2 surface of a microchannel was coated with poly(ethylene glycol monomethacrylate) (PEGMA) as the biocompatible polymer using allyltriethoxysilane (ATES) as the anchor material in scCO2 as the reactive medium. Results were compared with those using the conventional wet method. The surface of a microchannel could not be modified by the wet method owing to the surface tension and viscosity of the liquid, but it was modified uniformly by the scCO2 method probably owing to the near-zero surface tension, low viscosity, and high diffusivity of scCO2. The effect of the surface modification by the scCO2 method to prevent the adsorption of protein was as high as that of the modification by the wet method. Modified microchips can be used in biochemical and medical analyses.

Analysis of Condensation Heat Transfer Performance in Curved Triangle Microchannels Based on the Volume of Fluid Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Yuchuan; Chen, Zhenqian; Shi, Juan

2017-12-01

Numerical simulations of condensation heat transfer of R134a in curved triangle microchannels with various curvatures are proposed. The model is established on the volume of fluid (VOF) approach and user-defined routines which including mass transfer at the vapor-liquid interface and latent heat. Microgravity operating condition is assumed in order to highlight the surface tension. The predictive accuracy of the model is assessed by comparing the simulated results with available correlations in the literature. Both an increased mass flux and the decreased hydraulic diameter could bring better heat transfer performance. No obvious effect of the wall heat flux is observed in condensation heat transfer coefficient. Changes in geometry and surface tension lead to a reduction of the condensate film thickness at the sides of the channel and accumulation of the condensate film at the corners of the channel. Better heat transfer performance is obtained in the curved triangle microchannels over the straight ones, and the performance could be further improved in curved triangle microchannels with larger curvatures. The minimum film thickness where most of the heat transfer process takes place exists near the corners and moves toward the corners in curved triangle microchannels with larger curvatures.

Self-Sealed Bionic Long Microchannels with Thin Walls and Designable Nanoholes Prepared by Line-Contact Capillary-Force Assembly.

PubMed

Lao, Zhao-Xin; Hu, Yan-Lei; Pan, Deng; Wang, Ren-Yan; Zhang, Chen-Chu; Ni, Jin-Cheng; Xu, Bing; Li, Jia-Wen; Wu, Dong; Chu, Jia-Ru

2017-06-01

Long microchannels with thin walls, small width, and nanoholes or irregular shaped microgaps, which are similar to capillaries or cancerous vessels, are urgently needed to simulate the physiological activities in human body. However, the fabrication of such channels remains challenging. Here, microchannels with designable holes are manufactured by combining laser printing with line-contact capillary-force assembly. Two microwalls are first printed by femtosecond laser direct-writing, and subsequently driven to collapse into a channel by the capillary force that arises in the evaporation of developer. The channel can remain stable in solvent due to the enhanced Van der Waals' force caused by the line-contact of microwalls. Microchannels with controllable nanoholes and almost arbitrary patterns can be fabricated without any bonding or multistep processes. As-prepared microchannels, with wall thicknesses less than 1 µm, widths less than 3 µm, lengths more than 1 mm, are comparable with human capillaries. In addition, the prepared channels also exhibit the ability to steer the flow of liquid without any external pump. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A dimensional comparison between embedded 3D-printed and silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

O'Connor, J.; Punch, J.; Jeffers, N.; Stafford, J.

2014-07-01

The subject of this paper is the dimensional characterization of embedded microchannel arrays created using contemporary 3D-printing fabrication techniques. Conventional microchannel arrays, fabricated using deep reactive ion etching techniques (DRIE) and wet-etching (KOH), are used as a benchmark for comparison. Rectangular and trapezoidal cross-sectional shapes were investigated. The channel arrays were 3D-printed in vertical and horizontal directions, to examine the influence of print orientation on channel characteristics. The 3D-printed channels were benchmarked against Silicon channels in terms of the following dimensional characteristics: cross-sectional area (CSA), perimeter, and surface profiles. The 3D-printed microchannel arrays demonstrated variances in CSA of 6.6-20% with the vertical printing approach yielding greater dimensional conformity than the horizontal approach. The measured CSA and perimeter of the vertical channels were smaller than the nominal dimensions, while the horizontal channels were larger in both CSA and perimeter due to additional side-wall roughness present throughout the channel length. This side-wall roughness caused significant shape distortion. Surface profile measurements revealed that the base wall roughness was approximately the resolution of current 3D-printers. A spatial periodicity was found along the channel length which appeared at different frequencies for each channel array. This paper concludes that vertical 3D-printing is superior to the horizontal printing approach, in terms of both dimensional fidelity and shape conformity and can be applied in microfluidic device applications.

Flow analysis for efficient design of wavy structured microchannel mixing devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kanchan, Mithun; Maniyeri, Ranjith

2018-04-01

Microfluidics is a rapidly growing field of applied research which is strongly driven by demands of bio-technology and medical innovation. Lab-on-chip (LOC) is one such application which deals with integrating bio-laboratory on micro-channel based single fluidic chip. Since fluid flow in such devices is restricted to laminar regime, designing an efficient passive modulator to induce chaotic mixing for such diffusion based flow is a major challenge. In the present work two-dimensional numerical simulation of viscous incompressible flow is carried out using immersed boundary method (IBM) to obtain an efficient design for wavy structured micro-channel mixing devices. The continuity and Navier-Stokes equations governing the flow are solved by fractional step based finite volume method on a staggered Cartesian grid system. IBM uses Eulerian co-ordinates to describe fluid flow and Lagrangian co-ordinates to describe solid boundary. Dirac delta function is used to couple both these co-ordinate variables. A tether forcing term is used to impose the no-slip boundary condition on the wavy structure and fluid interface. Fluid flow analysis by varying Reynolds number is carried out for four wavy structure models and one straight line model. By analyzing fluid accumulation zones and flow velocities, it can be concluded that straight line structure performs better mixing for low Reynolds number and Model 2 for higher Reynolds number. Thus wavy structures can be incorporated in micro-channels to improve mixing efficiency.

Capillary flow enhancement in rectangular polymer microchannels with a deformable wall.

PubMed

Anoop, R; Sen, A K

2015-07-01

We report the capillary flow enhancement in rectangular polymer microchannels, when one of the channel walls is a deformable polymer membrane. We provide detailed insight into the physics of elastocapillary interaction between the capillary flow and elastic membrane, which leads to significant improvements in capillary flow performance. As liquid flows by capillary action in such channels, the deformable wall deflects inwards due to the Young-Laplace pressure drop across the liquid meniscus. This, in turn, decreases the radius of curvature of the meniscus and increases the driving capillary pressure. A theoretical model is proposed to predict the resultant increase in filling speed and rise height, respectively, in deformable horizontal and vertical microchannels having large aspect ratios. A non-dimensional parameter J, which represents the ratio of the capillary force to the mechanical restoring force, is identified to quantify the elastocapillary effects in terms of the improvement in filling speed (for J>0.238) and the condition for channel collapse (J>1). The theoretical predictions show good agreement with experimental data obtained using deformable rectangular poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchannels. Both model predictions and experimental data show that over 15% improvement in the Washburn coefficient in horizontal channels, and over 30% improvement in capillary rise height in vertical channels, are possible prior to channel collapse. The proposed technique of using deformable membranes as channel walls is a viable method for capillary flow enhancement in microfluidic devices.

Pool boiling of ethanol and FC-72 on open microchannel surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaniowski, Robert; Pastuszko, Robert

2018-06-01

The paper presents experimental investigations into pool boiling heat transfer for open microchannel surfaces. Parallel microchannels fabricated by machining were about 0.3 mm wide, and 0.2 to 0.5 mm deep and spaced every 0.1 mm. The experiments were carried out for ethanol, and FC-72 at atmospheric pressure. The image acquisition speed was 493 fps (at resolution 400 × 300 pixels with Photonfocus PHOT MV-D1024-160-CL camera). Visualization investigations aimed to identify nucleation sites and flow patterns and to determine the bubble departure diameter and frequency at various superheats. The primary factor in the increase of heat transfer coefficient at increasing heat flux was a growing number of active pores and increased departure frequency. Heat transfer coefficients obtained in this study were noticeably higher than those from a smooth surface.

An acoustofluidic micromixer via bubble inception and cavitation from microchannel sidewalls.

PubMed

Ozcelik, Adem; Ahmed, Daniel; Xie, Yuliang; Nama, Nitesh; Qu, Zhiguo; Nawaz, Ahmad Ahsan; Huang, Tony Jun

2014-05-20

During the deep reactive ion etching process, the sidewalls of a silicon mold feature rough wavy structures, which can be transferred onto a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel through the soft lithography technique. In this article, we utilized the wavy structures of PDMS microchannel sidewalls to initiate and cavitate bubbles in the presence of acoustic waves. Through bubble cavitation, this acoustofluidic approach demonstrates fast, effective mixing in microfluidics. We characterized its performance by using viscous fluids such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). When two PEG solutions with a resultant viscosity 54.9 times higher than that of water were used, the mixing efficiency was found to be 0.92, indicating excellent, homogeneous mixing. The acoustofluidic micromixer presented here has the advantages of simple fabrication, easy integration, and capability to mix high-viscosity fluids (Reynolds number: ~0.01) in less than 100 ms.

An Acoustofluidic Micromixer via Bubble Inception and Cavitation from Microchannel Sidewalls

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

During the deep reactive ion etching process, the sidewalls of a silicon mold feature rough wavy structures, which can be transferred onto a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel through the soft lithography technique. In this article, we utilized the wavy structures of PDMS microchannel sidewalls to initiate and cavitate bubbles in the presence of acoustic waves. Through bubble cavitation, this acoustofluidic approach demonstrates fast, effective mixing in microfluidics. We characterized its performance by using viscous fluids such as poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). When two PEG solutions with a resultant viscosity 54.9 times higher than that of water were used, the mixing efficiency was found to be 0.92, indicating excellent, homogeneous mixing. The acoustofluidic micromixer presented here has the advantages of simple fabrication, easy integration, and capability to mix high-viscosity fluids (Reynolds number: ∼0.01) in less than 100 ms. PMID:24754496

Electroosmotic flow and mixing in microchannels with the lattice Boltzmann method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, G. H.; Li, Zhuo; Wang, J. K.; He, Y. L.; Tao, W. Q.

2006-11-01

Understanding the electroosmotic flow in microchannels is of both fundamental and practical significance for the design and optimization of various microfluidic devices to control fluid motion. In this paper, a lattice Boltzmann equation, which recovers the nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation, is used to solve the electric potential distribution in the electrolytes, and another lattice Boltzmann equation, which recovers the Navier-Stokes equation including the external force term, is used to solve the velocity fields. The method is validated by the electric potential distribution in the electrolytes and the pressure driven pulsating flow. Steady-state and pulsating electroosmotic flows in two-dimensional parallel uniform and nonuniform charged microchannels are studied with this lattice Boltzmann method. The simulation results show that the heterogeneous surface potential distribution and the electroosmotic pulsating flow can induce chaotic advection and thus enhance the mixing in microfluidic systems efficiently.

Experimental study of multichromatic terahertz wave propagation through planar micro-channels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shin, Young-Min -Min; Northern Illinois Univ., Dekalb, IL; Fermi National Accelerator Lab.

2012-04-10

Previous theoretical and numerical studies [Y. M. Shin and L. R. Barnett, Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 091501 (2008) and Y. M. Shin et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 93, 221504 (2008)] have reported that a planar micro-channel with an asymmetric corrugation array supports strongly confined propagation of broadband THz plasmonic waves. The highly broad spectral response is experimentally demonstrated in the near-THz regime of 0.19-0.265 THz. Signal reflection and transmission tests on the three designed micro-channels including directional couplers resulted in a full-width-half-maximum bandwidth of ~ 50-60GHz with an insertion loss of approximately -5 dB, which is in good agreement withmore » simulation data. As a result, these micro-structures can be utilized for free electron beam and electronic/optic integrated devices« less

Development of betavoltaic cell technology production based on microchannel silicon and its electrical parameters evaluation.

PubMed

Krasnov, A A; Starkov, V V; Legotin, S A; Rabinovich, O I; Didenko, S I; Murashev, V N; Cheverikin, V V; Yakimov, E B; Fedulova, N A; Rogozev, B I; Laryushkin, A S

2017-03-01

In the paper a manufacturing process of three-dimensional (3D) microchannel structure by silicon (Si) anodic etching was discussed. The possibility of microchannels formation allows to increase the active area more than 100 times. In this structure the p-n junction on the whole Si surface was formed. The obtained data allowed to evaluate the characteristics of the betavoltaic converter with a 3D structure by using isotope 63Ni with a specific activity of 10Ci/g. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two-phase flow regimes in a horizontal microchannel with the height of 50 μm and width of 10 mm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fina, V. P.; Ronshin, F. V.

2017-11-01

Two-phase flows of distilled deionized nanofiltered water and nitrogen gas in a microchannel with a height of 50 μm and a width of 10 mm have been investigated experimentally. The schlieren method has been used to determine main features of the two-phase flow in the microchannel. This method allows detecting the liquid film on the lower and upper walls of the microchannel as well as droplets of various shapes and sizes or vertical liquid bridges. Two-phase flow regimes have been observed, and their boundaries precisely determined using post-processing of the recordings. The following flow regimes have been distinguished: bubble, churn, jet, stratified and annular. Comparison of regime maps for channels of different widths has been carried out, and this parameter showed to have a significant impact on the boundaries between the regimes in microchannels of a height of less than 100 μm.

Fabrication of Super-Hydrophobic Microchannels via Strain-Recovery Deformations of Polystyrene and Oxygen Reactive Ion Etch.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Anirban; Xiang, Mingming; Luo, Cheng

2013-08-19

In this article, we report a simple approach to generate micropillars (whose top portions are covered by sub-micron wrinkles) on the inner surfaces of polystyrene (PS) microchannels, as well as on the top surface of the PS substrate, based on strain-recovery deformations of the PS and oxygen reactive ion etch (ORIE). Using this approach, two types of micropillar-covered microchannels are fabricated. Their widths range from 118 μm to 132 μm, depths vary from 40 μm to 44 μm, and the inclined angles of their sidewalls are from 53° to 64°. The micropillars enable these microchannels to have super-hydrophobic properties. The contact angles observed on the channel-structured surfaces are above 162°, and the tilt angles to make water drops roll off from these channel-structured substrates can be as small as 1°.

MCP performance improvement using alumina thin film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Yuzhen; Yan, Baojun; Liu, Shulin; Zhao, Tianchi; Yu, Yang; Wen, Kaile; Li, Yumei; Qi, Ming

2017-10-01

The performance improvement using alumina thin film on a dual microchannel plate (MCP) detector for single electron counting was investigated. The alumina thin film was coated on all surfaces of the MCPs by atomic layer deposition method. It was found that the gain, the single electron resolution and the peak-to-valley ratio of the dual MCP detector were significantly enhanced by coating the alumina thin film. The optimum operating conditions of the new dual MCP detector have been studied.

Estimation of zeta potential of electroosmotic flow in a microchannel using a reduced-order model.

PubMed

Park, H M; Hong, S M; Lee, J S

2007-10-01

A reduced-order model is derived for electroosmotic flow in a microchannel of nonuniform cross section using the Karhunen-Loève Galerkin (KLG) procedure. The resulting reduced-order model is shown to predict electroosmotic flows accurately with minimal consumption of computer time for a wide range of zeta potential zeta and dielectric constant epsilon. Using the reduced-order model, a practical method is devised to estimate zeta from the velocity measurements of the electroosmotic flow in the microchannel. The proposed method is found to estimate zeta with reasonable accuracy even with noisy velocity measurements.

Comparison of heat transfer coefficients of open micro-channels and plain micro-fins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaniowski, Robert; Pastuszko, Robert

2018-06-01

The paper describes results of analysis of pool boiling heat transfer on enhanced surfaces. Two types of structural surfaces were used: open microchannel surfaces consisting of a system of parallel micro-channels 0.3 mm wide, from 0.2 to 0.5 mm deep and with a pitch of 0.6 mm, and plain micro-fins 0.5 mm in height, uniformly spaced on the base surface with a spacing from 0.6 to1.5 mm. Pool boiling data at atmospheric pressure were obtained for saturated water, ethanol and FC-72. The effects of micro-channel/micro-fin dimensions on heat transfer coefficient in nucleate pool boiling were examined. Substantial enhancement of heat transfer coefficient was observed.

Thermal and hydrodynamic studies for micro-channel cooling for large area silicon sensors in high energy physics experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flaschel, Nils; Ariza, Dario; Díez, Sergio; Gerboles, Marta; Gregor, Ingrid-Maria; Jorda, Xavier; Mas, Roser; Quirion, David; Tackmann, Kerstin; Ullan, Miguel

2017-08-01

Micro-channel cooling initially aiming at small-sized high-power integrated circuits is being transferred to the field of high energy physics. Today's prospects of micro-fabricating silicon opens a door to a more direct cooling of detector modules. The challenge in high energy physics is to save material in the detector construction and to cool large areas. In this paper, we are investigating micro-channel cooling as a candidate for a future cooling system for silicon detectors in a generic research and development approach. The work presented in this paper includes the production and the hydrodynamic and thermal testing of a micro-channel equipped prototype optimized to achieve a homogeneous flow distribution. Furthermore, the device was simulated using finite element methods.

Normal Gravity Testing of a Microchannel Phase Separator for In Situ Resource Utilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

TeGrotenhuis, Ward E.; Stenkamp, Victoria S.; McQuillen, John (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

A microchannel separator, with 2.7 millimeters as the smallest dimension, was tested, and a pore throat structure captured and removed liquid from a gas-liquid stream. The microchannel device was tested over a of gas and liquid flow rates ranging from 0.0005 up to 0. 14 volume fraction of liquid. Four liquids were tested with air. The biggest factor affecting the throughput is the capacity of liquid flow through the pore throat, which is dictated by permeability, liquid viscosity, flow area, pore throat thickness, and pressure difference across the pore throat. Typically, complete separation of gas and liquid fractions was lost when the liquid flow rate reached about 40 to 60% of the pore throat capacity. However, this could occur over a range of 10 to 90% utilization of pore throat capacity. Breakthrough occurs in the microchannel phase separator at conditions similar to the annular to plug flow transition of two-phase microgravity pipe flow implying that operating in the proper flow regime is crucial. Analysis indicates that the Bond number did not affect performance, supporting the premise that hydrodynamic, interfacial, and capillary forces are more important than gravity. However, the relative importance of gravity is better discerned through testing under reduced gravity conditions.

Double-helix micro-channels on microfluidic chips for enhanced continuous on-chip derivatization followed by electrophoretic separation.

PubMed

Peng, Xianglu; Zhao, Lei; Guo, Jinxiu; Yang, Shenghong; Ding, Hui; Wang, Xiayan; Pu, Qiaosheng

2015-10-15

Micro-channels that contain a special inner structure are critical for efficient mixing and chemical reactions. In this paper, we described the facile fabrication of an integrated microchip with double-helix type micro-channels to improve mixing efficiency and to facilitate multi-step derivatization reactions prior to electrophoretic separation. With a prepared microchip, reagents, samples and reaction products could be driven through micro-channels by siphon, and no other pumping device was necessary. To test its performance, reductive amination of aldehydes with 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonate acid disodium (ANTS) was attempted via microchip electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence (LIF). The effect of the geometry of the reaction micro-channel on the reaction's efficiency was evaluated. Under the selected conditions, successful derivatization of five aldehydes was realized for highly reproducible analysis. The relative standard deviations of the peak areas for 30 consecutive injections were in the range of 0.28-1.61%. The method was applied for the determination of aldehydes in real samples with standard addition recoveries of 87.8-102.8%. Good tolerance of organic solvents was achieved, and the proposed method can potentially be employed for rapid screening of excessively added aldehyde food flavoring. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acoustically enhanced boiling heat transfer on a heated surface containing open microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boziuk, Thomas R.; Smith, Marc K.; Glezer, Ari

2011-11-01

Acoustic actuation is used to enhance boiling heat transfer on a submerged heated surface containing an array of open microchannels by controlling the formation and evolution of vapor bubbles and inhibiting the instability that leads to film boiling at the critical heat flux. The effect of actuation at millimeter and micrometer scales is investigated with emphasis on the behavior of bubble nucleation, growth, contact-line motion, condensation, and detachment. The results show that microchannels control the location of boiling and reduce the mean surface superheat. In addition, acoustic actuation increases the heat flux at a given surface temperature and leads to a significant increase in the critical heat flux, a reduction of the vapor mass above the surface, and the breakup of low-frequency vapor slug formation. Supported by ONR.

Behaviour and design considerations for continuous flow closed-open-closed liquid microchannels.

PubMed

Melin, Jessica; van der Wijngaart, Wouter; Stemme, Göran

2005-06-01

This paper introduces a method of combining open and closed microchannels in a single component in a novel way which couples the benefits of both open and closed microfluidic systems and introduces interesting on-chip microfluidic behaviour. Fluid behaviour in such a component, based on continuous pressure driven flow and surface tension, is discussed in terms of cross sectional flow behaviour, robustness, flow-pressure performance, and its application to microfluidic interfacing. The closed-open-closed microchannel possesses the versatility of upstream and downstream closed microfluidics along with open fluidic direct access. The device has the advantage of eliminating gas bubbles present upstream when these enter the open channel section. The unique behaviour of this device opens the door to applications including direct liquid sample interfacing without the need for additional and bulky sample tubing.

The Deflection Plate Analyzer: A Technique for Space Plasma Measurements Under Highly Disturbed Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, Kenneth H., Jr.; Dutton, Ken; Martinez, Nelson; Smith, Dennis; Stone, Nobie H.

2004-01-01

A technique has been developed to measure the characteristics of space plasmas under highly disturbed conditions; e.g., non-Maxwellian plasmas with strong drifting populations and plasmas contaminated by spacecraft outgassing. The present method is an extension of the capabilities of the Differential Ion Flux Probe (DIFP) to include a mass measurement that does not include either high voltage or contamination sensitive devices such as channeltron electron multipliers or microchannel plates. This reduces the complexity and expense of instrument fabrication, testing, and integration of flight hardware as compared to classical mass analyzers. The new instrument design is called the Deflection Plate Analyzer (DPA) and can deconvolve multiple ion streams and analyze each stream for ion flux intensity (density), velocity (including direction of motion), mass, and temperature (or energy distribution). The basic functionality of the DPA is discussed. The performance characteristics of a flight instrument as built for an electrodynamic tether mission, the Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS), and the instrument s role in measuring key experimental conditions are also discussed.

The Deflection Plate Analyzer: A Technique for Space Plasma Measurements Under Highly Disturbed Conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wright, Kenneth H., Jr.; Dutton, Ken; Martinez, Nelson; Smith, Dennis; Stone, Nobie H.

2003-01-01

A technique has been developed to measure the characteristics of space plasmas under highly disturbed conditions; e.g., non-Maxwellian plasmas with strong drifting populations and plasmas contaminated by spacecraft outgassing. The present method is an extension of the capabilities of the Differential Ion Flux Probe (DIFP) to include a mass measurement that does not include either high voltage or contamination sensitive devices such as channeltron electron multipliers or microchannel plates. This reduces the complexity and expense of instrument fabrication, testing, and integration of flight hardware as compared to classical mass analyzers. The new instrument design is called the Deflection Plate Analyzer (DPA) and can deconvolve multiple ion streams and analyze each stream for ion flux intensity (density), velocity (including direction of motion), mass, and temperature (or energy distribution). The basic functionality of the DPA is discussed. The performance characteristics of a flight instrument as built for an electrodynamic tether mission, the Propulsive Small Expendable Deployer System (ProSEDS), and the instrument s role in measuring key experimental conditions are also discussed.

Designing Energy-Efficient Heat Exchangers--- Creating Micro-Channels on the Aluminum Fin Surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ying, Jia; Sommers, Andrew; Eid, Khalid

2010-03-01

In this research, a method for patterning micro-channels on aluminum surfaces is described for the purpose of exploiting those features to affect the surface wettability. Minimizing water retention on aluminum is important in the design of energy-efficient heat exchangers because water retention can deteriorate the performance of such devices. It increases the air-side pressure drop and can decrease the sensible heat transfer coefficient thereby increasing energy consumption and contributing to higher pollution levels in the environment. Photolithography is used to create the micro-scale channels and a hydrophobic polymer is used to reduce the surface energy of the aluminum plates. Droplets are both injected on the surface using a micro-syringe and condensed on the surface using an environmentally-controlled chamber. A ram'e-hart goniometer is used to determine the advancing and receding contact angles of water droplets on these modified surfaces, and a tilt-table assembly is used to measure the critical inclination angle for sliding. Our results show that droplets placed on these patterned surfaces not only have significantly lower critical inclination angles for sliding but are easier to remove from the surface at low air flow rates. Efforts to model the onset of droplet movement on these surfaces using a simple force balance relationship are currently underway.

Two-phase flow pressure drop and heat transfer during condensation in microchannels with uniform and converging cross-sections

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuo, Ching Yi; Pan, Chin

2010-09-01

This study experimentally investigates steam condensation in rectangular microchannels with uniform and converging cross-sections and a mean hydraulic diameter of 135 µm. The steam flow in the microchannels was cooled by water cross-flowing along its bottom surface, which is different from other methods reported in the literature. The flow patterns, two-phase flow pressure drop and condensation heat transfer coefficient are determined. The microchannels with the uniform cross-section design have a higher heat transfer coefficient than those with the converging cross-section under condensation in the mist/annular flow regimes, although the latter work best for draining two-phase fluids composed of uncondensed steam and liquid water, which is consistent with the result of our previous study. From the experimental results, dimensionless correlations of condensation heat transfer for the mist and annular flow regions and a two-phase frictional multiplier are developed for the microchannels with both types of cross-section designs. The experimental data agree well with the obtained correlations, with the maximum mean absolute errors of 6.4% for the two-phase frictional multiplier and 6.0% for the condensation heat transfer.

Food Guide Pyramid Becomes a Plate

MedlinePlus

... plate also helps keep portion sizes in check. Super-big portionscan cause weight gain. What's a Grain Again? You know what fruits and vegetables are. But here's a reminder about what's included in the three other food groups: protein, grains, and dairy: Protein: Beef; poultry; ...

The Effect of Fluid Properties on Two-Phase Regimes of Flow in a Wide Rectangular Microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ronshin, F. V.; Cheverda, V. V.; Chinnov, E. A.; Kabov, O. A.

2018-04-01

We have experimentally studied a two-phase flow in a microchannel with a height of 150 μm and a width of 20 mm. Different liquids have been used, namely, a purified Milli-Q water, an 50% aqueous-ethanol solution, and FC-72. Before and after the experiment, the height of the microchannel was controlled, as well as the wettability of its walls and surface tension of liquids. Using the schlieren method, the main characteristics of two-phase flow in wide ranges of gas- and liquid-flow rates have been revealed. The flow regime-formation mechanism has been found to depend on the properties of the liquid used. The flow regime has been registered when the droplets moving along the microchannel are vertical liquid bridges. It has been shown that, when using FC-72 liquid, a film of liquid is formed on the upper channel wall in the whole range of gas- and liquid-flow rates.

Transient electroosmotic flow induced by AC electric field in micro-channel with patchwise surface heterogeneities.

PubMed

Luo, Win-Jet

2006-03-15

This paper investigates two-dimensional, time-dependent electroosmotic flow driven by an AC electric field via patchwise surface heterogeneities distributed along the micro-channel walls. The time-dependent flow fields through the micro-channel are simulated for various patchwise heterogeneous surface patterns using the backwards-Euler time stepping numerical method. Different heterogeneous surface patterns are found to create significantly different electrokinetic transport phenomena. The transient behavior characteristics of the generated electroosmotic flow are then discussed in terms of the influence of the patchwise surface heterogeneities, the direction of the applied AC electric field, and the velocity of the bulk flow. It is shown that the presence of oppositely charged surface heterogeneities on the micro-channel walls results in the formation of localized flow circulations within the bulk flow. These circulation regions grow and decay periodically in phase with the applied periodic AC electric field intensity. The location and rotational direction of the induced circulations are determined by the directions of the bulk flow velocity and the applied electric field.

Spermatozoa scattering by a microchannel feature: an elastohydrodynamic model

PubMed Central

Montenegro-Johnson, T. D.; Gadêlha, H.; Smith, D. J.

2015-01-01

Sperm traverse their microenvironment through viscous fluid by propagating flagellar waves; the waveform emerges as a consequence of elastic structure, internal active moments and low Reynolds number fluid dynamics. Engineered microchannels have recently been proposed as a method of sorting and manipulating motile cells; the interaction of cells with these artificial environments therefore warrants investigation. A numerical method is presented for large-amplitude elastohydrodynamic interaction of active swimmers with domain features. This method is employed to examine hydrodynamic scattering by a model microchannel backstep feature. Scattering is shown to depend on backstep height and the relative strength of viscous and elastic forces in the flagellum. In a ‘high viscosity’ parameter regime corresponding to human sperm in cervical mucus analogue, this hydrodynamic contribution to scattering is comparable in magnitude to recent data on contact effects, being of the order of 5°–10°. Scattering can be positive or negative depending on the relative strength of viscous and elastic effects, emphasizing the importance of viscosity on the interaction of sperm with their microenvironment. The modulation of scattering angle by viscosity is associated with variations in flagellar asymmetry induced by the elastohydrodynamic interaction with the boundary feature. PMID:26064617

Continuous Diffusion Flames and Flame Streets in Micro-Channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohan, Shikhar; Matalon, Moshe

2015-11-01

Experiments of non-premixed combustion in micro-channels have shown different modes of burning. Normally, a flame is established along, or near the axis of a channel that spreads the entire mixing layer and separates a region of fuel but no oxidizer from a region with only oxidizer. Often, however, a periodic sequence of extinction and reignition events, termed collectively as ``flame streets'', are observed. They constitute a series of diffusion flames, each with a tribrachial leading edge stabilized along the channel. This work focuses on understanding the underlying mechanism responsible for these distinct observations. Numerical simulations were conducted in the thermo-diffusive limit in order to study the effects of confinement and heat loss on non-premixed flames in three-dimensional micro-channels with low aspect ratios. The three dimensionality of the channel was captured qualitatively through a systematic asymptotic analysis that led to a two dimensional problem with an effective parameter representing heat losses in the vertical direction. There exist three key flame regimes: (1) a stable continuous diffusion flame, (2) an unsteady flame, and (3) a stable ``flame street'' the transition between regimes demarcated primarily by Reynolds and Nusselt numbers.

Exopolysaccharide microchannels direct bacterial motility and organize multicellular behavior

DOE PAGES

Berleman, James E.; Zemla, Marcin; Remis, Jonathan P.; ...

2016-05-06

The myxobacteria are a family of soil bacteria that form biofilms of complex architecture, aligned multilayered swarms or fruiting body structures that are simple or branched aggregates containing myxospores. Here, we examined the structural role of matrix exopolysaccharide (EPS) in the organization of these surface-dwelling bacterial cells. Using time-lapse light and fluorescence microscopy, as well as transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam/scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) electron microscopy, we found that Myxococcus xanthus cell organization in biofilms is dependent on the formation of EPS microchannels. Cells are highly organized within the three-dimensional structure of EPS microchannels that are required formore » cell alignment and advancement on surfaces. Mutants lacking EPS showed a lack of cell orientation and poor colony migration. Purified, cell-free EPS retains a channel-like structure, and can complement EPS - mutant motility defects. In addition, EPS provides the cooperative structure for fruiting body formation in both the simple mounds of M. xanthus and the complex, tree-like structures of Chondromyces crocatus. We furthermore investigated the possibility that EPS impacts community structure as a shared resource facilitating cooperative migration among closely related isolates of M. xanthus.« less

Complicated sternal dehiscence: reconstruction with plates, cables, and cannulated screws.

PubMed

Voss, Bernhard; Bauernschmitt, Robert; Brockmann, Gernot; Krane, Markus; Will, Albrecht; Lange, Rüdiger

2009-04-01

Sternal dehiscence after median sternotomy can be a challenging problem in case of multiple fractures or infection. For sternal refixation, the principles of rigid plate and screw osteosynthesis gained from orthopedic surgery have been recommended by several authors. We present a new system for sternal reconstruction consisting of reconstruction plates, steel cables, and cannulated screws.

The microchannel x-ray telescope status

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Götz, D.; Meuris, A.; Pinsard, F.; Doumayrou, E.; Tourrette, T.; Osborne, J. P.; Willingale, R.; Sykes, J. M.; Pearson, J. F.; Le Duigou, J. M.; Mercier, K.

2016-07-01

We present design status of the Microchannel X-ray Telescope, the focussing X-ray telescope on board the Sino- French SVOM mission dedicated to Gamma-Ray Bursts. Its optical design is based on square micro-pore optics (MPOs) in a Lobster-Eye configuration. The optics will be coupled to a low-noise pnCCD sensitive in the 0.2{10 keV energy range. With an expected point spread function of 4.5 arcmin (FWHM) and an estimated sensitivity adequate to detect all the afterglows of the SVOM GRBs, MXT will be able to provide error boxes smaller than 60 (90% c.l.) arc sec after five minutes of observation.

Optical fibre cavity ring down measurement of refractive index with a microchannel drilled by femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Kaiming; Webb, David; Mou, Chengbo; Farries, Mark; Hayes, Neil; Bennion, Ian

2009-10-01

μA microchannel was inscribed in the fibre of a ring cavity which was constructed from two 0.1%:99.9% couplers and a 10m fibre loop. Cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) was used to measure the refractive index (RI) of gels infused into the microchannel with high resolution. The ring down time discloses a nonlinear increase with respect to the RI of the gel and sensitivity up to 300μs/RI unit (RIU) and resolution of 5×10-4 were obtained.

Effect of Running Parameters on Flow Boiling Instabilities in Microchannels.

PubMed

Zong, Lu-Xiang; Xu, Jin-Liang; Liu, Guo-Hua

2015-04-01

Flow boiling instability (FBI) in microchannels is undesirable because they can induce the mechanical vibrations and disturb the heat transfer characteristics. In this study, the synchronous optical visualization experimental system was set up. The pure acetone liquid was used as the working fluid, and the parallel triangle silicon microchannel heat sink was designed as the experimental section. With the heat flux ranging from 0-450 kW/m2 the microchannel demand average pressure drop-heater length (Δp(ave)L) curve for constant low mass flux, and the demand pressure drop-mass flux (Δp(ave)G) curve for constant length on main heater surface were obtained and studied. The effect of heat flux (q = 188.28, 256.00, and 299.87 kW/m2), length of main heater surface (L = 4.5, 6.25, and 8.00 mm), and mass flux (G = 188.97, 283.45, and 377.94 kg/m2s) on pressure drops (Ap) and temperatures at the central point of the main heater surface (Twc) were experimentally studied. The results showed that, heat flux, length of the main heater surface, and mass flux were identified as the important parameters to the boiling instability process. The boiling incipience (TBI) and critical heat flux (CHF) were early induced for the lower mass flux or the main heater surface with longer length. With heat flux increasing, the pressure drops were linearly and slightly decreased in the single liquid region but increased sharply in the two phase flow region, in which the flow boiling instabilities with apparent amplitude and long period were more easily triggered at high heat flux. Moreover, the system pressure was increased with the increase of the heat flux.

Nanoscale coatings for erosion and corrosion protection of copper microchannel coolers for high powered laser diodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Flannery, Matthew; Fan, Angie; Desai, Tapan G.

2014-03-01

High powered laser diodes are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from telecommunications to industrial applications. Copper microchannel coolers (MCCs) utilizing high velocity, de-ionized water coolant are used to maintain diode temperatures in the recommended range to produce stable optical power output and control output wavelength. However, aggressive erosion and corrosion attack from the coolant limits the lifetime of the cooler to only 6 months of operation. Currently, gold plating is the industry standard for corrosion and erosion protection in MCCs. However, this technique cannot perform a pin-hole free coating and furthermore cannot uniformly cover the complex geometries of current MCCs involving small diameter primary and secondary channels. Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc., presents a corrosion and erosion resistant coating (ANCERTM) applied by a vapor phase deposition process for enhanced protection of MCCs. To optimize the coating formation and thickness, coated copper samples were tested in 0.125% NaCl solution and high purity de-ionized (DIW) flow loop. The effects of DIW flow rates and qualities on erosion and corrosion of the ANCERTM coated samples were evaluated in long-term erosion and corrosion testing. The robustness of the coating was also evaluated in thermal cycles between 30°C - 75°C. After 1000 hours flow testing and 30 thermal cycles, the ANCERTM coated copper MCCs showed a corrosion rate 100 times lower than the gold plated ones and furthermore were barely affected by flow rates or temperatures thus demonstrating superior corrosion and erosion protection and long term reliability.

Parallelization of Catalytic Packed-Bed Microchannels with Pressure-Drop Microstructures for Gas-Liquid Multiphase Reactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murakami, Sunao; Ohtaki, Kenichiro; Matsumoto, Sohei; Inoue, Tomoya

2012-06-01

High-throughput and stable treatments are required to achieve the practical production of chemicals with microreactors. However, the flow maldistribution to the paralleled microchannels has been a critical problem in achieving the productive use of multichannel microreactors for multiphase flow conditions. In this study, we newly designed and fabricated a glass four-channel catalytic packed-bed microreactor for the scale-up of gas-liquid multiphase chemical reactions. We embedded microstructures generating high pressure losses at the upstream side of each packed bed, and experimentally confirmed the efficacy of the microstructures in decreasing the maldistribution of the gas-liquid flow to the parallel microchannels.

Determination of the Navier slip coefficient of microchannels exploiting the streaming potential.

PubMed

Park, Hung Mok

2012-03-01

For most microchannels made of hydrophobic materials such as polymers, velocity slip occurs at the wall, affecting volumetric flow rate of electroosmotic flow Q(eof) and streaming potential (∂ϕ(str)/∂z). Since most techniques exploit Q(eof) or (∂ϕ(str)/∂z) to determine the zeta potential, ζ, it is very difficult to measure ζ of hydrophobic walls, if the slip coefficient b is not found a priori. Until now, Q(eof) and (∂ϕ(str)/∂z) are known to depend on ζ and b in a same functional form, which makes it impossible to estimate ζ or b separately using measurements of Q(eof) and (∂ϕ(str)/∂z). However, exploiting the analytic formula for Q(eof) and (∂ϕ(str)/∂z) derived in the present work, it is found that the effect of ζ and that of b on Q(eof) and (∂ϕ(str)/∂z) can be separated from each other by varying the bulk ionic concentration. Thus, the slip coefficient as well as the zeta potential of hydrophobic microchannels can be found with reasonable accuracy by means of a nonlinear curve fitting method using measured data of Q(eof) and (∂ϕ(str)/∂z) at various bulk ionic concentrations. The present method allows an accurate estimation of slip coefficient of hydrophobic microchannels, which is quite simple and cheap compared with methods employing microparticle velocimetry. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

System and method for chromatography and electrophoresis using circular optical scanning

DOEpatents

Balch, Joseph W.; Brewer, Laurence R.; Davidson, James C.; Kimbrough, Joseph R.

2001-01-01

A system and method is disclosed for chromatography and electrophoresis using circular optical scanning. One or more rectangular microchannel plates or radial microchannel plates has a set of analysis channels for insertion of molecular samples. One or more scanning devices repeatedly pass over the analysis channels in one direction at a predetermined rotational velocity and with a predetermined rotational radius. The rotational radius may be dynamically varied so as to monitor the molecular sample at various positions along a analysis channel. Sample loading robots may also be used to input molecular samples into the analysis channels. Radial microchannel plates are built from a substrate whose analysis channels are disposed at a non-parallel angle with respect to each other. A first step in the method accesses either a rectangular or radial microchannel plate, having a set of analysis channels, and second step passes a scanning device repeatedly in one direction over the analysis channels. As a third step, the scanning device is passed over the analysis channels at dynamically varying distances from a centerpoint of the scanning device. As a fourth step, molecular samples are loaded into the analysis channels with a robot.

Ferrofluid-in-oil two-phase flow patterns in a flow-focusing microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sheu, T. S.; Chen, Y. T.; Lih, F. L.; Miao, J. M.

This study investigates the two-phase flow formation process of water-based Fe3O4 ferrofluid (dispersed phase) in a silicon oil (continuous phase) flow in the microfluidic flow-focusing microchannel under various operational conditions. With transparent PDMS chip and optical microscope, four main two-phase flow patterns as droplet flow, slug flow, ring flow and churn flow are observed. The droplet shape, size, and formation mechanism were also investigated under different Ca numbers and intended to find out the empirical relations. The paper marks an original flow pattern map of the ferrofluid-in-oil flows in the microfluidic flow-focusing microchannels. The flow pattern transiting from droplet flow to slug flow appears for an operational conditions of QR < 1 and Lf / W < 1. The power law index that related Lf / W to QR was 0.36 in present device.

Comparison of modern locked plating and antiglide plating for fixation of osteoporotic distal fibular fractures.

PubMed

Switaj, Paul J; Wetzel, Robert J; Jain, Neel P; Weatherford, Brian M; Ren, Yupeng; Zhang, Li-Qun; Merk, Bradley R

2016-09-01

Fractures in osteoporotic patients can be difficult to treat because of poor bone quality and inability to gain screw purchase. The purpose of this study is to compare modern lateral periarticular distal fibula locked plating to antiglide plating in the setting of an osteoporotic, unstable distal fibula fracture. AO/OTA 44-B2 distal fibula fractures were created in sixteen paired fresh frozen cadaveric ankles and fixed with a lateral locking plate and an independent lag screw or an antiglide plate with a lag screw through the plate. The specimens underwent stiffness, cyclic loading, and load to failure testing. The energy absorbed until failure, torque to failure, construct stiffness, angle at failure, and energy at failure was recorded. The lateral locking construct had a higher torque to failure (p=0.02) and construct stiffness (p=0.04). The locking construct showed a trend toward increased angle at failure, but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.07). Seven of the eight lateral locking plate specimens failed through the distal locking screws, while the antiglide plating construct failed with pullout of the distal screws and displacement of the fracture in six of the eight specimens. In our study, the newly designed distal fibula periarticular locking plate with increased distal fixation is biomechanically stronger than a non-locking one third tubular plate applied in antiglide fashion for the treatment of AO/OTA 44-B2 osteoporotic distal fibula fractures. V: This is an ex-vivo study performed on cadavers and is not a study performed on live patients. Therefore, this is considered Level V evidence. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

3D tomography of cells in micro-channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Quint, S.; Christ, A. F.; Guckenberger, A.; Himbert, S.; Kaestner, L.; Gekle, S.; Wagner, C.

2017-09-01

We combine confocal imaging, microfluidics, and image analysis to record 3D-images of cells in flow. This enables us to recover the full 3D representation of several hundred living cells per minute. Whereas 3D confocal imaging has thus far been limited to steady specimens, we overcome this restriction and present a method to access the 3D shape of moving objects. The key of our principle is a tilted arrangement of the micro-channel with respect to the focal plane of the microscope. This forces cells to traverse the focal plane in an inclined manner. As a consequence, individual layers of passing cells are recorded, which can then be assembled to obtain the volumetric representation. The full 3D information allows for a detailed comparison with theoretical and numerical predictions unfeasible with, e.g., 2D imaging. Our technique is exemplified by studying flowing red blood cells in a micro-channel reflecting the conditions prevailing in the microvasculature. We observe two very different types of shapes: "croissants" and "slippers." Additionally, we perform 3D numerical simulations of our experiment to confirm the observations. Since 3D confocal imaging of cells in flow has not yet been realized, we see high potential in the field of flow cytometry where cell classification thus far mostly relies on 1D scattering and fluorescence signals.

[Medical image elastic registration smoothed by unconstrained optimized thin-plate spline].

PubMed

Zhang, Yu; Li, Shuxiang; Chen, Wufan; Liu, Zhexing

2003-12-01

Elastic registration of medical image is an important subject in medical image processing. Previous work has concentrated on selecting the corresponding landmarks manually and then using thin-plate spline interpolating to gain the elastic transformation. However, the landmarks extraction is always prone to error, which will influence the registration results. Localizing the landmarks manually is also difficult and time-consuming. We the optimization theory to improve the thin-plate spline interpolation, and based on it, used an automatic method to extract the landmarks. Combining these two steps, we have proposed an automatic, exact and robust registration method and have gained satisfactory registration results.

High density gold nanoparticles immobilized on surface via plasma deposited APTES film for decomposing organic compounds in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rao, Xi; Guyon, Cédric; Ognier, Stephanie; Da Silva, Bradley; Chu, Chenglin; Tatoulian, Michaël; Hassan, Ali Abou

2018-05-01

Immobilization of colloidal particles (e.g. gold nanoparticles (AuNps)) on the inner surface of micro-/nano- channels has received a great interest for catalysis. A novel catalytic ozonation setup using a gold-immobilized microchannel reactor was developed in this work. To anchor AuNps, (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) with functional amine groups was deposited using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) process. The results clearly evidenced that PECVD processing exhibited relatively high efficiency for grafting amine groups and further immobilizing AuNPs. The catalytic activity of gold immobilized microchannel was evaluated by pyruvic acid ozonation. The decomposition rate calculated from High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) indicated a much better catalytic performance of gold in microchannel than that in batch. The results confirmed immobilizing gold nanoparticles on plasma deposited APTES for preparing catalytic microreactors is promising for the wastewater treatment in the future.

Electroosmotic flow in microchannels with nanostructures.

PubMed

Yasui, Takao; Kaji, Noritada; Mohamadi, Mohamad Reza; Okamoto, Yukihiro; Tokeshi, Manabu; Horiike, Yasuhiro; Baba, Yoshinobu

2011-10-25

Here we report that nanopillar array structures have an intrinsic ability to suppress electroosmotic flow (EOF). Currently using glass chips for electrophoresis requires laborious surface coating to control EOF, which works as a counterflow to the electrophoresis mobility of negatively charged samples such as DNA and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) denatured proteins. Due to the intrinsic ability of the nanopillar array to suppress the EOF, we carried out electrophoresis of SDS-protein complexes in nanopillar chips without adding any reagent to suppress protein adsorption and the EOF. We also show that the EOF profile inside a nanopillar region was deformed to an inverse parabolic flow. We used a combination of EOF measurements and fluorescence observations to compare EOF in microchannel, nanochannel, and nanopillar array chips. Our results of EOF measurements in micro- and nanochannel chips were in complete agreement with the conventional equation of the EOF mobility (μ(EOF-channel) = αC(i)(-0.5), where C(i) is the bulk concentration of the i-ions and α differs in micro- and nanochannels), whereas EOF in the nanopillar chips did not follow this equation. Therefore we developed a new modified form of the conventional EOF equation, μ(EOF-nanopillar) ≈ β[C(i) - (C(i)(2)/N(i))], where N(i) is the number of sites available to i-ions and β differs for each nanopillar chip because of different spacings or patterns, etc. The modified equation of the EOF mobility that we proposed here was in good agreement with our experimental results. In this equation, we showed that the charge density of the nanopillar region, that is, the total number of nanopillars inside the microchannel, affected the suppression of EOF, and the arrangement of nanopillars into a tilted or square array had no effect on it.

Shock wave attenuation in a micro-channel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giordano, J.; Perrier, P.; Meister, L.; Brouillette, M.

2018-05-01

This work presents optical measurements of shock wave attenuation in a glass micro-channel. This transparent facility, with a cross section ranging from 1 mm× 150 μm to 1 mm× 500 μm, allowed for the use of high-speed schlieren videography to visualize the propagation of a shock wave within the entire micro-channel and to quantify velocity attenuation of the wave due to wall effects. In this paper, we present the experimental technique and the relevant data treatment we have used to increase the sensitivity of shock wave detection. Then, we compared our experimental results for different channel widths, lengths, and shock wave velocities with the analytical model for shock attenuation proposed by Russell (J Fluid Mech 27(2):305-314, 1967), which assumes laminar flow, and by Mirels (Attenuation in a shock tube due to unsteady-boundary-layer action, NACA Report 1333, 1957) for turbulent flow. We found that these models are inadequate to predict the observed data, owing to the presence of fully developed flow which violates the basic assumption of these models. The data are also compared with the empirical shock attenuation models proposed by Zeitoun (Phys Fluids 27(1):011701, 2015) and Deshpande and Puranik (Shock Waves 26(4):465-475, 2016), where better agreement is observed. Finally, we presented experimental data for the flow field behind the shock wave from measurements of the Mach wave angle which shows globally decreasing flow Mach numbers due to viscous wall effects.

A regenerative microchannel neural interface for recording from and stimulating peripheral axons in vivo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

FitzGerald, James J.; Lago, Natalia; Benmerah, Samia; Serra, Jordi; Watling, Christopher P.; Cameron, Ruth E.; Tarte, Edward; Lacour, Stéphanie P.; McMahon, Stephen B.; Fawcett, James W.

2012-02-01

Neural interfaces are implanted devices that couple the nervous system to electronic circuitry. They are intended for long term use to control assistive technologies such as muscle stimulators or prosthetics that compensate for loss of function due to injury. Here we present a novel design of interface for peripheral nerves. Recording from axons is complicated by the small size of extracellular potentials and the concentration of current flow at nodes of Ranvier. Confining axons to microchannels of ˜100 µm diameter produces amplified potentials that are independent of node position. After implantation of microchannel arrays into rat sciatic nerve, axons regenerated through the channels forming ‘mini-fascicles’, each typically containing ˜100 myelinated fibres and one or more blood vessels. Regenerated motor axons reconnected to distal muscles, as demonstrated by the recovery of an electromyogram and partial prevention of muscle atrophy. Efferent motor potentials and afferent signals evoked by muscle stretch or cutaneous stimulation were easily recorded from the mini-fascicles and were in the range of 35-170 µV. Individual motor units in distal musculature were activated from channels using stimulus currents in the microampere range. Microchannel interfaces are a potential solution for applications such as prosthetic limb control or enhancing recovery after nerve injury.

Arrays of High-Aspect Ratio Microchannels for High-Throughput Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs).

PubMed

Hupert, Mateusz L; Jackson, Joshua M; Wang, Hong; Witek, Małgorzata A; Kamande, Joyce; Milowsky, Matthew I; Whang, Young E; Soper, Steven A

2014-10-01

Microsystem-based technologies are providing new opportunities in the area of in vitro diagnostics due to their ability to provide process automation enabling point-of-care operation. As an example, microsystems used for the isolation and analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from complex, heterogeneous samples in an automated fashion with improved recoveries and selectivity are providing new opportunities for this important biomarker. Unfortunately, many of the existing microfluidic systems lack the throughput capabilities and/or are too expensive to manufacture to warrant their widespread use in clinical testing scenarios. Here, we describe a disposable, all-polymer, microfluidic system for the high-throughput (HT) isolation of CTCs directly from whole blood inputs. The device employs an array of high aspect ratio (HAR), parallel, sinusoidal microchannels (25 µm × 150 µm; W × D; AR = 6.0) with walls covalently decorated with anti-EpCAM antibodies to provide affinity-based isolation of CTCs. Channel width, which is similar to an average CTC diameter (12-25 µm), plays a critical role in maximizing the probability of cell/wall interactions and allows for achieving high CTC recovery. The extended channel depth allows for increased throughput at the optimized flow velocity (2 mm/s in a microchannel); maximizes cell recovery, and prevents clogging of the microfluidic channels during blood processing. Fluidic addressing of the microchannel array with a minimal device footprint is provided by large cross-sectional area feed and exit channels poised orthogonal to the network of the sinusoidal capillary channels (so-called Z-geometry). Computational modeling was used to confirm uniform addressing of the channels in the isolation bed. Devices with various numbers of parallel microchannels ranging from 50 to 320 have been successfully constructed. Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) was chosen as the substrate material due to its superior properties during UV

Analysis of Piezoelectric Actuator for Vibration Control of Composite plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gomaa, Ahmed R.; Hai, Huang

2017-07-01

Vibration analysis is studied numerically in this paper for a simply supported composite plate subjected to external loadings. Vibrations are controlled by using piezoelectric patches. Finite element method (ANSYS) is used for obtaining finite element model of the smart plate structure, a layered composite plate is manufactured experimentally and tested to obtain the structure mechanical properties. Different piezoelectric patch areas and different applied gain voltage effects on vibration attenuation is studied. The numerical solution is compared with the experimental work, a good agreement achieved.

Tradeoff between mixing and transport for electroosmotic flow in heterogeneous microchannels with nonuniform surface potentials.

PubMed

Tian, Fuzhi; Li, Baoming; Kwok, Daniel Y

2005-02-01

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) is a phenomenon associated with the movement of an aqueous solution induced by the application of an electric field in microchannels. The characteristics of EOF depend on the nature of the surface potential, i.e., whether it is uniform or nonuniform. In this paper, a lattice Boltzmann model (LBM) combined with the Poisson-Boltzmann equation is used to simulate flow field in a rectangular microchannel with nonuniform (step change) surface potentials. The simulation results indicate that local circulations can occur near a heterogeneous region with nonuniform surface potentials, in agreement with those by other authors. Largest circulations, which imply a highest mixing efficiency due to convection and short-range diffusion, were found when the average surface potential is zero, regardless of whether the distribution of the heterogeneous patches is symmetric or asymmetric. In this work, we have illustrated that there is a trade-off between the mixing and liquid transport in EOF microfluidics. One should not simply focus on mixing and neglect liquid transport, as performed in the literature. Excellent mixing could lead to a poor transport of electroosmotic flow in microchannels.

Investigating performance of microchannel evaporators for automobile air conditioning with different port structures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Guoliang; Su, Lin; Cheng, Qia; Wu, Longbing

2017-08-01

Microchannel evaporator has been widely applied in automobile air conditioning, while it faces the problem of refrigerant maldistribution which deteriorates the thermal performance of evaporator. In this study, the performances of microchannel evaporators with different port structures are experimentally investigated for purpose of reducing evaporator pressure drop. Four evaporator samples with different port number and hydraulic diameter are made for this study. The performances of the evaporator samples are tested on a psychometric calorimeter test bench with the refrigerant R-134A at a real automobile air conditioning. The results on the variations of the evaporator pressure drop and evaporator surface temperature distribution are presented and analyzed. By studying the performance of an evaporator, seeking proper port structure is an approach to reduce refrigerant pressure drop as well as improve refrigerant distribution.

Activity and lifetime of urease immobilized using layer-by-layer nano self-assembly on silicon microchannels.

PubMed

Forrest, Scott R; Elmore, Bill B; Palmer, James D

2005-01-01

Urease has been immobilized and layered onto the walls of manufactured silicon microchannels. Enzyme immobilization was performed using layer-by-layer nano self-assembly. Alternating layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, with enzyme layers "encased" between them, were deposited onto the walls of the silicon microchannels. The polycations used were polyethylenimine (PEI), polydiallyldimethylammonium (PDDA), and polyallylamine (PAH). The polyanions used were polystyrenesulfonate (PSS) and polyvinylsulfate (PVS). The activity of the immobilized enzyme was tested by pumping a 1 g/L urea solution through the microchannels at various flow rates. Effluent concentration was measured using an ultraviolet/visible spectrometer by monitoring the absorbance of a pH sensitive dye. The architecture of PEI/PSS/PEI/urease/PEI with single and multiple layers of enzyme demonstrated superior performance over the PDDA and PAH architectures. The precursor layer of PEI/PSS demonstrably improved the performance of the reactor. Conversion rates of 70% were achieved at a residence time of 26 s, on d 1 of operation, and >50% at 51 s, on d 15 with a six-layer PEI/urease architecture.

Removal of chromium(III) from aqueous waste solution by liquid-liquid extraction in a circular microchannel.

PubMed

Luo, Jian Hong; Li, Jun; Guo, Lei; Zhu, Xin Hua; Dai, Shuang; Li, Xing

2017-11-01

A new circular microchannel device has been proposed for the removal of chromium(III) from aqueous waste solution by using kerosene as a diluent and (2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate as an extractant. The proposed device has several advantages such as a flexible and easily adaptable design, easy maintenance, and cheap setup without the requirement of microfabrication. To study the extraction efficiency and advantages of the circular microchannel device in the removal of chromium(III), the effects of various operating conditions such as the inner diameter of the channel, the total flow velocity, the phase ratio, the initial pH of aqueous waste solution, the reaction temperature and the initial concentration of extractant on the extraction efficiency are investigated and the optimal process conditions are obtained. The results show that chromium(III) in aqueous waste solution can be effectively removed with (2-ethylhexyl) 2-ethylhexyl phosphonate in the circular microchannel. Under optimized conditions, an extraction efficiency of chromium(III) of more than 99% can be attained and the aqueous waste solution can be discharged directly, which can meet the Chinese national emission standards.

A novel microfluidic valve controlledby induced charge electro-osmotic flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chengfa; Song, Yongxin; Pan, Xinxiang; Li, Dongqing

2016-07-01

In this paper, a novel microfluidic valve by utilizing induced charge electro-osmotic flow (ICEOF) is proposed and analyzed. The key part of the microfluidic valve is a Y-shaped microchannel. A small metal plate is placed at each corner of the junction of the Y-shaped microchannel. When a DC electrical field is applied through the channels, electro-osmotic flows occur in the channels, and two vortices will be formed near each of the metal plates due to the ICEOF. The two vortices behave like virtual ‘blocking columns’ to restrain and direct the flow in the Y-channel. In this paper, effects of the length of the metal plates, the applied voltages, the width of the microchannel, the zeta potential of the non-metal microchannel wall, and the orientation of the branch channels on the flow switching between two outlet channels are numerically investigated. The results show that the flow switching between the two outlet channels can be flexibly achieved by adjusting the applied DC voltages. The critical switching voltage (CSV), under which one outlet channel is closed, decreases with the increase in the metal plate length and the orientation angle of the outlet channels. The CSV, however, increases with the increase in the inlet voltage, the width of the microchannel, and the absolute value of the zeta potential of the non-metal microchannel wall. Compared with other types of micro-valves, the proposed micro-valve is simple in structure without any moving parts. Only a DC power source is needed for its actuation, thus it can operate automatically by controlling the applied voltages.

Acoustically Generated Flows in Flexural Plate Wave Sensors: a Multifield Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayar, Ersin; Farouk, Bakhtier

2011-11-01

Acoustically excited flows in a microchannel flexural plate wave device are explored numerically with a coupled solid-fluid mechanics model. The device can be exploited to integrate micropumps with microfluidic chips. A comprehensive understanding of the device requires the development of coupled two or three-dimensional fluid structure interactive (FSI) models. The channel walls are composed of layers of ZnO, Si3N4 and Al. An isothermal equation of state for the fluid (water) is employed. The flexural motions of the channel walls and the resulting flowfields are solved simultaneously. A parametric analysis is performed by varying the values of the driving frequency, voltage of the electrical signal and the channel height. The time averaged axial velocity is found to be proportional to the square of the wave amplitude. The present approach is superior to the method of successive approximations where the solid-liquid coupling is weak.

Optical Feedback Interferometry for Velocity Measurement of Parallel Liquid-Liquid Flows in a Microchannel

PubMed Central

Ramírez-Miquet, Evelio E.; Perchoux, Julien; Loubière, Karine; Tronche, Clément; Prat, Laurent; Sotolongo-Costa, Oscar

2016-01-01

Optical feedback interferometry (OFI) is a compact sensing technique with recent implementation for flow measurements in microchannels. We propose implementing OFI for the analysis at the microscale of multiphase flows starting with the case of parallel flows of two immiscible fluids. The velocity profiles in each phase were measured and the interface location estimated for several operating conditions. To the authors knowledge, this sensing technique is applied here for the first time to multiphase flows. Theoretical profiles issued from a model based on the Couette viscous flow approximation reproduce fairly well the experimental results. The sensing system and the analysis presented here provide a new tool for studying more complex interactions between immiscible fluids (such as liquid droplets flowing in a microchannel). PMID:27527178

Effect of the electric field ratio on electroosmotic flow patterns in cross-shaped microchannels by the lattice-Boltzmann Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Socias, Alvaro; Oyarzun, Diego; Guzman, Amador

2014-11-01

The electroosmotic flow (EOF) pattern characteristics in cross-shaped microchannels flow are important features when either suppressing or enhancing flow features for injection and separation or mixing of multiple species are the wanted objectives. There are situations in EOF in cross-shaped microchannels where the fluid flows toward unexpected and unwanted directions under a given external electric field that depends of both the applied electric field and lengths of the different channels. This article describes the effect of the electric field ratio, defined as the ratio between longitudinal nominal electric field ELong = (VE-VW) /(LW + LE) and the nominal electric field E a = (VS-VE) /(VS + VE) , where E, S and W define the east, south and west directions of the cross-shaped microchannel; V is the externally applied voltage and L is the length, on the EOF characteristics in a cross-shaped microchannel. We use the lattice-Boltzmann method (LBM) for solving the discretized Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE) describing the coupled processes of hydrodynamics and electrodynamic. Our numerical simulations allow us to determine the EOF pattern for a wide range of the electric field ratio and Ea such that inverted flow features are captured and described, which are very important to determine for flow separation or mixing.

Two-years of In-flight Spectrometer Calibration Results for the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) on the Magmetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Mission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schiff, C.; Gershman, D. J.; Avanov, L. A.; Giles, B. L.; Paterson, W. R.; Kriesler, S.; Barrie, A. C.; Rand, D. K.; Gliese, U.; Burch, J.

2017-12-01

Scientifically accurate measurements depend on careful calibration of in-flight instrumentation. We review two years of calibration results for the Fast Plasma Investigation (FPI) electron and ion spectrometers over the MMS fleet. We focus on the operating point calibration by which the operating voltage on each of the 64 spectrometers is set to best balance between gain, signal loss, and anode-to-anode cross talk. In addition, we map the calibration and housekeeping telemetry to infer charge extracted evolution from the microchannel plates and, subsequently, the project lifetime of the instrumentation.

Effects of microchannel confinement on acoustic vaporisation of ultrasound phase change contrast agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Shengtao; Zhang, Ge; Hau Leow, Chee; Tang, Meng-Xing

2017-09-01

The sub-micron phase change contrast agent (PCCA) composed of a perfluorocarbon liquid core can be activated into gaseous state and form stable echogenic microbubbles for contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging. It has shown great promise in imaging microvasculature, tumour microenvironment, and cancer cells. Although PCCAs have been extensively studied for different diagnostic and therapeutic applications, the effect of biologically geometrical confinement on the acoustic vaporisation of PCCAs is still not clear. We have investigated the difference in PCCA-produced ultrasound contrast enhancement after acoustic activation with and without a microvessel confinement on a microchannel phantom. The experimental results indicated more than one-order of magnitude less acoustic vaporisation in a microchannel than that in a free environment taking into account the attenuation effect of the vessel on the microbubble scattering. This may provide an improved understanding in the applications of PCCAs in vivo.

Dynamic self-assembly and directed flow of rotating colloids in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Götze, Ingo O.; Gompper, Gerhard

2011-09-01

Nonequilibrium structure formation and dynamics in suspensions of superparamagnetic colloids driven by an external rotating magnetic field are studied by particle-based mesoscale hydrodynamics simulations in confined geometry. We address the fundamental question how the rotation of the colloids about their own axes can be converted into a translational motion by breaking the symmetry of the confining geometry. We study a two-dimensional system of colloids with short-range repulsive interactions, which mimics flow in shallow microchannels. In straight channels, we observe a two-way traffic but—for symmetry reasons—no net transport. However, by keeping some colloids fixed near one of the two walls, net transport can be achieved. This approach allows the control and switchability of the flow in complex microchannel networks. A minimal geometry that fulfills the requirement of broken symmetry are ring channels. We determine the translational velocity of the spinning colloids and study its dependence on the channel width for various median radii. We conclude that spinning colloids present a promising alternative for flow generation and control in microfluidic devices.

Numerical simulation of electroosmotic flow in rough microchannels using the lattice Poisson-Nernst-Planck methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamali, Reza; Soloklou, Mohsen Nasiri; Hadidi, Hooman

2018-05-01

In this study, coupled Lattice Boltzmann method is applied to solve the dynamic model for an electroosmotic flow and investigate the effects of roughness in a 2-D flat microchannel. In the present model, the Poisson equation is solved for the electrical potential, the Nernst- Planck equation is solved for the ion concentration. In the analysis of electroosmotic flows, when the electric double layers fully overlap or the convective effects are not negligible, the Nernst-Planck equation must be used to find the ionic distribution throughout the microchannel. The effects of surface roughness height, roughness interval spacing and roughness surface potential on flow conditions are investigated for two different configurations of the roughness, when the EDL layers fully overlap through the microchannel. The results show that in both arrangements of roughness in homogeneously charged rough channels, the flow rate decreases by increasing the roughness height. A discrepancy in the mass flow rate is observed when the roughness height is about 0.15 of the channel width, which its average is higher for the asymmetric configuration and this difference grows by increasing the roughness height. In the symmetric roughness arrangement, the mass flow rate increases until the roughness interval space is almost 1.5 times the roughness width and it decreases for higher values of the roughness interval space. For the heterogeneously charged rough channel, when the roughness surface potential ψr is less than channel surface potential ψs , the net charge density increases by getting far from the roughness surface, while in the opposite situation, when ψs is more than ψr , the net charge density decreases from roughness surface to the microchannel middle center. Increasing the roughness surface potential induces stronger electric driving force on the fluid which results in larger velocities in the flow.

Glucose Fuel Cells with a MicroChannel Fabricated on Flexible Polyimide Film

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sano, Ryohei; Fukushi, Yudai; Sasaki, Tsubasa; Mogi, Hiroshi; Koide, Syohei; Ikoma, Ryuta; Akatsuka, Wataru; Tsujimura, Seiya; Nishioka, Yasushiro

2013-12-01

In this work, a glucose fuel cell was fabricated using microfabrication processes assigned for microelectromechanical systems. The fuel cell was equipped with a microchannel to flow an aqueous solution of glucose. The cell was fabricated on a flexible polyimide substrate, and its porous carbon-coated aluminum (Al) electrodes of 2.8 mm in width and 11 mm in length were formed using photolithography and screen printing techniques. Porous carbon was deposited by screen printing of carbon black ink on the Al electrode surfaces in order to increase the effective electrode surface area and to absorb more enzymes on the electrode surfaces. The microchannel with a depth of 200 μm was fabricated using a hot embossing technique. A maximum power of 0.45 μW at 0.5 V that corresponds to a power density of 1.45 μW/cm2 was realized by introducing a 200 mM concentrated glucose solution at room temperature.

Enhancement of Electrokinetically-Driven Flow Mixing in Microchannel with Added Side Channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ruey-Jen; Wu, Chien-Hsien; Tseng, Tzu-I; Huang, Sung-Bin; Lee, Gwo-Bin

2005-10-01

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) in microchannels is restricted to low Reynolds number regimes. Since the inertial forces are extremely weak in such regimes, turbulent conditions do not readily develop. Therefore, species mixing occurs primarily via diffusion, with the result that extended mixing channels are generally required. The present study considers a T-shaped microchannel configuration with a mixing channel of width W=280 μm. Computational fluid dynamics simulations and experiments were performed to investigate the influence on the mixing efficiency of various geometrical parameters, including the side-channel width, the side-channel separation, and the number of side-channel pairs. The influence of different applied voltages is also considered. The numerical results reveal that the mixing efficiency can be enhanced to yield a fourfold improvement by incorporating two pairs of side channels into the mixing channel. It was also found that the mixing performance depends significantly upon the magnitudes of the applied voltages.

Experimental study of the maximum resolution and packing density achievable in sintered and non-sintered binder-jet 3D printed steel microchannels

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Elliott, Amy M; Mehdizadeh Momen, Ayyoub; Benedict, Michael

2015-01-01

Developing high resolution 3D printed metallic microchannels is a challenge especially when there is an essential need for high packing density of the primary material. While high packing density could be achieved by heating the structure to the sintering temperature, some heat sensitive applications require other strategies to improve the packing density of primary materials. In this study the goal is to develop high green or pack densities microchannels on the scale of 2-300 microns which have a robust mechanical structure. Binder-jet 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process in which droplets of binder are deposited via inkjet into amore » bed of powder. By repeatedly spreading thin layers of powder and depositing binder into the appropriate 2D profiles, complex 3D objects can be created one layer at time. Microchannels with features on the order of 500 microns were fabricated via binder jetting of steel powder and then sintered and/or infiltrated with a secondary material. The average particle size of the steel powder was varied along with the droplet volume of the inkjet-deposited binder. The resolution of the process, packing density of the primary material, the subsequent features sizes of the microchannels, and the overall microchannel quality were characterized as a function of particle size distribution, droplet sizes and heat treatment temperatures.« less

Synthesis of layered double hydroxide nanosheets by coprecipitation using a T-type microchannel reactor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pang, Xiujiang; Sun, Meiyu; Ma, Xiuming

The synthesis of Mg{sub 2}Al–NO{sub 3} layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets by coprecipitation using a T-type microchannel reactor is reported. Aqueous LDH nanosheet dispersions were obtained. The LDH nanosheets were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and particle size analysis, and the transmittance and viscosity of LDH nanosheet dispersions were examined. The two-dimensional LDH nanosheets consisted of 1–2 brucite-like layers and were stable for ca. 16 h at room temperature. In addition, the co-assembly between LDH nanosheets and dodecyl sulfate (DS) anions was carried out, and a DS intercalated LDH nanohybrid was obtained. To the bestmore » of our knowledge, this is the first report of LDH nanosheets being directly prepared in bulk aqueous solution. This simple, cheap method can provide naked LDH nanosheets in high quantities, which can be used as building blocks for functional materials. - Graphical abstract: Layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanosheets were synthesized by coprecipitation using a T-type microchannel reactor, and could be used as basic building blocks for LDH-based functional materials. Display Omitted - Highlights: • LDH nanosheets were synthesized by coprecipitation using a T-type microchannel reactor. • Naked LDH nanosheets were dispersed in aqueous media. • LDH nanosheets can be used as building blocks for functional materials.« less

A rapid 'one-plate' in vitro test for pyrogens.

PubMed

Poole, Stephen; Mistry, Yogesh; Ball, Christine; Gaines Das, Rose E; Opie, Lisa Pieti; Tucker, Garry; Patel, Mehul

2003-03-01

A rapid, 'one-plate' monocyte-activation test is described for detecting endotoxin and non-endotoxin pyrogens in parenteral medicinal products. The one-plate test offers useful gains over conventional 'two-plate' (cell culture plate+ELISA plate) tests in terms of its limit of detection, robustness, speed and cost. The 'one-plate' test is likely to be applicable to a wide range of products because it allows less time for product interference in the test. The 'one-plate' test utilises pyrogen-free anti-cytokine (interleukin (IL)-6 or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)) antibodies (Ab), coated and stabilised onto (pyrogen-free) 96-well plates. Monocytes/monocytic cells, endotoxin (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) standard or sample and (pyrogen-free) second (labelled) Ab are cultured together (usually for 2-4 h) on the Ab-coated plate and then the plate is washed and the ELISA completed. There is no transfer from one plate to another and no (further) incubations of (released) cytokine with, first, coating Ab and, then, developing Ab since these steps have already taken place during the initial cell culture. The rapid, 'one-plate' test is readily automated. The preferred readout is IL-6, which gives a limit of detection of 0.015 endotoxin units (EU)/ml with peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC), 0.03 EU/ml with diluted whole blood and 0.05 EU/ml with a monocytic cell line (MONO MAC 6).

Microscope-on-Chip Using Micro-Channel and Solid State Image Sensors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, Yu

2000-01-01

Recently, Jet Propulsion Laboratory has invented and developed a miniature optical microscope, microscope-on-chip using micro-channel and solid state image sensors. It is lightweight, low-power, fast speed instrument, it has no image lens, does not need focus adjustment, and the total mass is less than 100g. A prototype has been built and demonstrated at JPL.

Effects of geometric configuration on droplet generation in Y-junctions and anti-Y-junctions microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Zhao-Miao; Liu, Li-Kun; Shen, Feng

2015-10-01

Droplets generation in Y-junctions and anti-Y-junctions microchannels are experimentally studied using a high speed digital microscopic system and numerical simulation. Geometric configuration of a microchannel, such as Y-angle (90°, 135°, -90° and -135°), channel depth and other factors have been taken into consideration. It is found that droplets generated in anti-Y-junctions have a smaller size and a shorter generation cycle compared with those in Y-junctions under the same experimental conditions. Through observing the internal velocity field, the vortex appearing in continuous phase in anti-Y-junctions is one of the key factors for the difference of droplet size and generation cycle. It is found that droplet size is bigger and generation cycle is longer when the absolute angle value of the intersection between the continuous and the dispersed phases (i.e., the angle between the main channel and the continuous phase or the dispersed phase channel) increases. The droplet's size is influenced by the Y-angle, which varies with the channel depth in Y-junctions. The Y-angle has a positive effect on the droplet generation cycle, but a smaller height-width ratio will enhance the impact of a continuous and dispersed phase's intersection angle on the droplet generation cycle in Y-junctions microchannels.

Ruggedized microchannel-cooled laser diode array with self-aligned microlens

DOEpatents

Freitas, Barry L.; Skidmore, Jay A.

2003-11-11

A microchannel-cooled, optically corrected, laser diode array is fabricated by mounting laser diode bars onto Si surfaces. This approach allows for the highest thermal impedance, in a ruggedized, low-cost assembly that includes passive microlens attachment without the need for lens frames. The microlensed laser diode array is usable in all solid-state laser systems that require efficient, directional, narrow bandwidth, high optical power density pump sources.

Condensation and single-phase heat transfer coefficient and flow regime visualization in microchannel tubes for HFC-134A

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Wei-Wen William

This dissertation is to document experimental, local condensation and single-phase heat transfer and flow data of the minute diameter, microchannel tube and to develop correlation methods for optimizing the design of horizontal-microchannel condensers. It is essential to collect local data as the condensation progresses through several different flow patterns, since as more liquid is formed, the mechanism conducting heat transfer and flow is also changing. Therefore, the identification of the flow pattern is as important as the thermal and dynamic data. The experimental results were compared with correlation and flow regime maps from literature. The experiment using refrigerant HFC-134a in flat, multi-port aluminum tubing with 1.46mm hydraulic diameter was conducted. The characteristic of single-phase friction can be described with the analytical solution of square channel. The Gnielinski correlation provided good prediction of single-phase turbulent flow heat transfer. Higher mass fluxes and qualities resulted in increased condensation heat transfer and were more effective in the shear-dominated annular flow. The effect of temperature gradient from wall to refrigerant attributed profoundly in the gravity-dominated wavy/slug flow. Two correlation based on different flow mechanisms were developed for specified flow regimes. Finally, an asymptotic correlation was successfully proposed to account for the entire data regardless of flow patterns. Data taken from experiment and observations obtained from flow visualization, resulted in a better understanding of the physics in microchannel condensation, optimized designs in the microchannel condensers are now possible.

Low intensity X-ray and gamma-ray imaging device. [fiber optics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yin, L. I. (Inventor)

1979-01-01

A radiation to visible light converter is combined with a visible light intensifier. The converter is a phosphor or scintillator material which is modified to block ambient light. The intensifier includes fiber optics input and output face plates with a photocathode-microchannel plate amplifier-phosphor combination. Incoming radiation is converted to visible light by the converter which is piped into the intensifier by the input fiber optics face plate. The photocathode converts the visible light to electrons which are amplified by a microchannel plate amplifier. The electrons are converted back to light by a phosphor layer and piped out for viewing by the output fiber optics faces plate. The converter-intensifier combination may be further combined with its own radiation source or used with an independent source.

Hydrogel Bioprinted Microchannel Networks for Vascularization of Tissue Engineering Constructs

PubMed Central

Bertassoni, Luiz E.; Cecconi, Martina; Manoharan, Vijayan; Nikkhah, Mehdi; Hjortnaes, Jesper; Cristino, Ana Luiza; Barabaschi, Giada; Demarchi, Danilo; Dokmeci, Mehmet R.; Yang, Yunzhi; Khademhosseini, Ali

2014-01-01

Vascularization remains a critical challenge in tissue engineering. The development of vascular networks within densely populated and metabolically functional tissues facilitate transport of nutrients and removal of waste products, thus preserving cellular viability over a long period of time. Despite tremendous progress in fabricating complex tissue constructs in the past few years, approaches for controlled vascularization within hydrogel based engineered tissue constructs have remained limited. Here, we report a three dimensional (3D) micromolding technique utilizing bioprinted agarose template fibers to fabricate microchannel networks with various architectural features within photo cross linkable hydrogel constructs. Using the proposed approach, we were able to successfully embed functional and perfusable microchannels inside methacrylated gelatin (GelMA), star poly (ethylene glycol-co-lactide) acrylate (SPELA), poly (ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate (PEGDMA) and poly (ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogels at different concentrations. In particular, GelMA hydrogels were used as a model to demonstrate the functionality of the fabricated vascular networks in improving mass transport, cellular viability and differentiation within the cell-laden tissue constructs. In addition, successful formation of endothelial monolayers within the fabricated channels was confirmed. Overall, our proposed strategy represents an effective technique for vascularization of hydrogel constructs with useful applications in tissue engineering and organs on a chip. PMID:24860845

Microfluidic diffusion diluter: bulging of PDMS microchannels under pressure-driven flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holden, Matthew A.; Kumar, Saurabh; Beskok, Ali; Cremer, Paul S.

2003-05-01

The bulging of microfluidic systems during pressure-driven flow is potentially a major consideration for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based devices. Microchannel cross-sectional areas can change drastically as a function of flow rate and downstream microchannel position. Such geometrical flexibility leads to difficulties in predicting convective/diffusive transport for these systems. We have previously introduced a non-dimensional parameter, kappa, for characterizing convection and diffusion behavior for pressure-driven flow in rigid all-glass systems. This paper describes a modification of that concept for application to non-rigid systems, which is accomplished by incorporating an experimental step to account for the bulging in PDMS/glass microsystems. Specifically, an experimental measurement of channel height by fluorescence microscopy is combined with the aforementioned theory to characterize convective/diffusive behavior at a single location in the device. This allowed the parameter kappa to be determined at that point and applied to predict fluid flow in the subsequent portion of the PDMS microsystem. This procedure was applied to a PDMS/glass microfluidic diffusion dilution (muDD) device designed for generating concentration gradients. Theoretically predicted and experimentally measured distributions of concentrations within the microsystem matched well.

Tuning magnetofluidic spreading in microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zhaomeng; Varma, V. B.; Wang, Z. P.; Ramanujan, R. V.

2015-12-01

Magnetofluidic spreading (MFS) is a phenomenon in which a uniform magnetic field is used to induce spreading of a ferrofluid core cladded by diamagnetic fluidic streams in a three-stream channel. Applications of MFS include micromixing, cell sorting and novel microfluidic lab-on-a-chip design. However, the relative importance of the parameters which govern MFS is still unclear, leading to non-optimal control of MFS. Hence, in this work, the effect of various key parameters on MFS was experimentally and numerically studied. Our multi-physics model, which combines magnetic and fluidic analysis, showed excellent agreement between theory and experiment. It was found that spreading was mainly due to cross-sectional convection induced by magnetic forces, and can be enhanced by tuning various parameters. Smaller flow rate ratio, higher magnetic field, higher core stream or lower cladding stream dynamic viscosity, and larger magnetic particle size can increase MFS. These results can be used to tune magnetofluidic spreading in microchannels.

Analytical study of mixed electroosmotic-pressure-driven flow in rectangular micro-channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Movahed, Saeid; Kamali, Reza; Eghtesad, Mohammad; Khosravifard, Amir

2013-09-01

Operational state of many miniaturized devices deals with flow field in microchannels. Pressure-driven flow (PDF) and electroosmotic flow (EOF) can be recognized as the two most important types of the flow field in such channels. EOF has many advantages in comparison with PDF, such as being vibration free and not requiring any external mechanical pumps or moving parts. However, the disadvantages of this type of flow such as Joule heating, electrophoresis demixing, and not being suitable for mobile devices must be taken into consideration carefully. By using mixed electroosmotic/pressure-driven flow, the role of EOF in producing desired velocity profile will be reduced. In this way, the advantages of EOF can be exploited, and its disadvantages can be prevented. Induced pressure gradient can be utilized in order to control the separation in the system. Furthermore, in many complicated geometries such as T-shape microchannels, turns may induce pressure gradient to the electroosmotic velocity. While analytical formulas are completely essential for analysis and control of any industrial and laboratory microdevices, lack of such formulas in the literature for solving Poisson-Boltzmann equation and predicting electroosmotic velocity field in rectangular domains is evident. In the present study, first a novel method is proposed to solve Poisson-Boltzmann equation (PBE). Subsequently, this solution is utilized to find the electroosmotic and the mixed electroosmotic/pressure-driven velocity profile in a rectangular domain of the microchannels. To demonstrate the accuracy of the presented analytical method in solving PBE and finding electroosmotic velocity, a general nondimensional example is analyzed, and the results are compared with the solution of boundary element method. Additionally, the effects of different nondimensional parameters and also aspect ratio of channels on the electroosmotic part of the flow field will be investigated.

Microfluidic circuit analysis II: implications of ion conservation for microchannels connected in series.

PubMed

Biscombe, Christian J C; Davidson, Malcolm R; Harvie, Dalton J E

2012-01-01

A mathematical framework for analysing electrokinetic flow in microchannel networks is outlined. The model is based on conservation of volume and total charge at network junctions, but in contrast to earlier theories also incorporates conservation of ion charge there. The model is applied to mixed pressure-driven/electro-osmotic flows of binary electrolytes through homogeneous microchannels as well as a 4:1:4 contraction-expansion series network. Under conditions of specified volumetric flow rate and ion currents, non-linear steady-state phenomena may arise: when the direction of the net co-ion flux is opposite to the direction of the net volumetric flow, two different fully developed, steady-state flow solutions may be obtained. Model predictions are compared with two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. For systems where two steady states are realisable, the ultimate steady behaviour is shown to depend in part upon the initial state of the system. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Rapid prototyping of microchannels with surface patterns for fabrication of polymer fibers

DOE PAGES

Goodrich, Payton J.; Sharifi, Farrokh; Hashemi, Nastaran

2015-08-14

Microfluidic technology has provided innovative solutions to numerous problems, but the cost of designing and fabricating microfluidic channels is impeding its expansion. In this study, Shrinky-Dink thermoplastic sheets are used to create multilayered complex templates for microfluidic channels. We also used inkjet and laserjet printers to raise a predetermined microchannel geometry by depositing several layers of ink for each feature consecutively. We achieved feature heights over 100 μm, which were measured and compared with surface profilometry. Templates closest to the target geometry were then used to create microfluidic devices from soft-lithography with the molds as a template. These microfluidic devicesmore » were, futhermore used to fabricate polymer microfibers using the microfluidic focusing approach to demonstrate the potential that this process has for microfluidic applications. Finally, an economic analysis was conducted to compare the price of common microfluidic template manufacturing methods. We showed that multilayer microchannels can be created significantly quicker and cheaper than current methods for design prototyping and point-of-care applications in the biomedical area.« less

Planar polymer waveguides with a graded-index profile resulting from intermixing of methacrylates in closed microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Missinne, Jeroen; Misseeuw, Lara; Liu, Xiang; Salter, Patrick S.; Van Steenberge, Geert; Adesanya, Kehinde; Van Vlierberghe, Sandra; Booth, Martin J.; Dubruel, Peter

2018-02-01

Graded-index waveguides are known to exhibit lower losses and considerably larger bandwidths compared to step-index waveguides. The present work reports on a new concept for realizing such waveguides on a planar substrate by capillary filling microchannels (cladding) with monomer solution (core). A graded-index profile is obtained by intermixing between the core and cladding material at the microchannel interface. To this end, various ratios of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and octafluoropentyl methacrylate (OFPMA) were evaluated as starting monomers and the results showed that the polymers P50:50 (50:50 MMA:OFPMA) and P0:100 (100% OFPMA) were suitable to be applied as waveguide core and cladding material respectively. Light guiding in the resulting P50:50/P0:100 waveguides was demonstrated and the refractive-index profile was quantified and compared with that of conventional step-index waveguides. The results for both cases were clearly different and a gradual refractive index transition between the core and cladding was found for the newly developed waveguides. Although the concept has been demonstrated in a research environment, it also has potential for upscaling by employing drop-on-demand dispensing of polymer waveguide material in pre-patterned microchannels, for example in a roll-to-roll environment.

Thermal ink-jet device using single-chip silicon microchannels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wuu, DongSing; Cheng, Chen-Yue; Horng, RayHua; Chan, G. C.; Chiu, Sao-Ling; Wu, Yi-Yung

1998-06-01

We present a new method to fabricate silicon microfluidic channels by through-hole etching with subsequent planarization. The method is based on etching out the deep grooves through a perforated silicon carbide membrane, followed by sealing the membrane with plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). Low-pressure-chemical-vapor- deposited (LPCVD) polysilicon was used as a sacrificial layer to define the channel structure and only one etching step is required. This permits the realization of planarization after a very deep etching step in silicon and offers the possibility for film deposition, resist spinning and film patterning across deep grooves. The process technology was demonstrated on the fabrication of a monolithic silicon microchannel structure for thermal inkjet printing. The Ta-Al heater arrays are integrated on the top of each microchannel, which connect to a common on-chip front-end ink reservoir. The fabrication of this device requires six masks and no active nozzle-to-chip alignment. Moreover, the present micromachining process is compatible with the addition of on-chip circuitry for multiplexing the heater control signals. Heat transfer efficiency to the ink is enhanced by the high thermal conductivity of the silicon carbide in the channel ceiling, while the bulk silicon maintains high interchannel isolation. The fabricated inkjet devices show the droplet sizes of 20 - 50 micrometer in diameter with various channel dimensions and stable ejection of ink droplets more than 1 million.

Steering liquid metal flow in microchannels using low voltages.

PubMed

Tang, Shi-Yang; Lin, Yiliang; Joshipura, Ishan D; Khoshmanesh, Khashayar; Dickey, Michael D

2015-10-07

Liquid metals based on gallium, such as eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) and Galinstan, have been integrated as static components in microfluidic systems for a wide range of applications including soft electrodes, pumps, and stretchable electronics. However, there is also a possibility to continuously pump liquid metal into microchannels to create shape reconfigurable metallic structures. Enabling this concept necessitates a simple method to control dynamically the path the metal takes through branched microchannels with multiple outlets. This paper demonstrates a novel method for controlling the directional flow of EGaIn liquid metal in complex microfluidic networks by simply applying a low voltage to the metal. According to the polarity of the voltage applied between the inlet and an outlet, two distinct mechanisms can occur. The voltage can lower the interfacial tension of the metal via electrocapillarity to facilitate the flow of the metal towards outlets containing counter electrodes. Alternatively, the voltage can drive surface oxidation of the metal to form a mechanical impediment that redirects the movement of the metal towards alternative pathways. Thus, the method can be employed like a 'valve' to direct the pathway chosen by the metal without mechanical moving parts. The paper elucidates the operating mechanisms of this valving system and demonstrates proof-of-concept control over the flow of liquid metal towards single or multiple directions simultaneously. This method provides a simple route to direct the flow of liquid metal for applications in microfluidics, optics, electronics, and microelectromechanical systems.

Fabrication of robust tooling for mass production of polymeric microfluidic devices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fu, G.; Tor, S. B.; Loh, N. H.; Hardt, D. E.

2010-08-01

Polymer microfluidic devices are gaining popularity for bio-applications. In both commonly used methods for the fabrication of polymer microfluidic devices, i.e. injection molding and hot-embossing, the quality of a mold insert is of high importance. Micro powder injection molding (μPIM) provides a suitable option for metal mold insert fabrication. In this paper, two mold inserts with micro-features of different patterns and sizes were produced using 316L stainless steel powder and an in-house binder system. The mold inserts were successfully used to produce cyclic olefin copolymer (COC, trade name TOPAS) micromixer plates with micro-channels of widths 100 µm and 50 µm. Compared with CNC-machined hot work steel mold inserts, the quality of the micro-channels is better as far as geometrical quality and dimensional tolerance are concerned. However, surface finish and flatness of the μPIM mold inserts are inferior to those of CNC-machined mold inserts.

Characterization of Single Phase and Two Phase Heat and Momentum Transport in a Spiraling Radial Inow Microchannel Heat Sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruiz, Maritza

Thermal management of systems under high heat fluxes on the order of hundreds of W/cm2 is important for the safety, performance and lifetime of devices, with innovative cooling technologies leading to improved performance of electronics or concentrating solar photovoltaics. A novel, spiraling radial inflow microchannel heat sink for high flux cooling applications, using a single phase or vaporizing coolant, has demonstrated enhanced heat transfer capabilities. The design of the heat sink provides an inward swirl flow between parallel, coaxial disks that form a microchannel of 1 cm radius and 300 micron channel height with a single inlet and a single outlet. The channel is heated on one side through a conducting copper surface, and is essentially adiabatic on the opposite side to simulate a heat sink scenario for electronics or concentrated photovoltaics cooling. Experimental results on the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in the heat sink, using single phase water as a working fluid, revealed heat transfer enhancements due to flow acceleration and induced secondary flows when compared to unidirectional laminar fully developed flow between parallel plates. Additionally, thermal gradients on the surface are small relative to the bulk fluid temperature gain, a beneficial feature for high heat flux cooling applications. Heat flux levels of 113 W/cm2 at a surface temperature of 77 deg C were reached with a ratio of pumping power to heat rate of 0.03%. Analytical models on single phase flow are used to explore the parametric trends of the flow rate and passage geometry on the streamlines and pressure drop through the device. Flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics were obtained for this heat sink using water at near atmospheric pressure as the working fluid for inlet subcooling levels ranging from 20 to 80 deg C and mean mass flux levels ranging from 184-716 kg/m. 2s. Flow enhancements similar to singlephase flow were expected, as well

Research study on stellar X-ray imaging experiment, volume 1

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, H. H.; Vanspeybroeck, L. P.

1972-01-01

The use of microchannel plates as focal plane readout devices and the evaluation of mirrors for X-ray telescopes applied to stellar X-ray imaging is discussed. The microchannel plate outputs were either imaged on a phosphor screen which was viewed by a low light level vidicon or on a wire array which was read out by digitally processing the output of a charge division network attached to the wires. A service life test which was conducted on two image intensifiers is described.

Droplet Breakup in Expansion-contraction Microchannels

PubMed Central

Zhu, Pingan; Kong, Tiantian; Lei, Leyan; Tian, Xiaowei; Kang, Zhanxiao; Wang, Liqiu

2016-01-01

We investigate the influences of expansion-contraction microchannels on droplet breakup in capillary microfluidic devices. With variations in channel dimension, local shear stresses at the injection nozzle and focusing orifice vary, significantly impacting flow behavior including droplet breakup locations and breakup modes. We observe transition of droplet breakup location from focusing orifice to injection nozzle, and three distinct types of recently-reported tip-multi-breaking modes. By balancing local shear stresses and interfacial tension effects, we determine the critical condition for breakup location transition, and characterize the tip-multi-breaking mode quantitatively. In addition, we identify the mechanism responsible for the periodic oscillation of inner fluid tip in tip-multi-breaking mode. Our results offer fundamental understanding of two-phase flow behaviors in expansion-contraction microstructures, and would benefit droplet generation, manipulation and design of microfluidic devices. PMID:26899018

High spatial resolution detection of low-energy electrons using an event-counting method, application to point projection microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salançon, Evelyne; Degiovanni, Alain; Lapena, Laurent; Morin, Roger

2018-04-01

An event-counting method using a two-microchannel plate stack in a low-energy electron point projection microscope is implemented. 15 μm detector spatial resolution, i.e., the distance between first-neighbor microchannels, is demonstrated. This leads to a 7 times better microscope resolution. Compared to previous work with neutrons [Tremsin et al., Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res., Sect. A 592, 374 (2008)], the large number of detection events achieved with electrons shows that the local response of the detector is mainly governed by the angle between the hexagonal structures of the two microchannel plates. Using this method in point projection microscopy offers the prospect of working with a greater source-object distance (350 nm instead of 50 nm), advancing toward atomic resolution.

Method for producing components with internal architectures, such as micro-channel reactors, via diffusion bonding sheets

DOEpatents

Alman, David E [Corvallis, OR; Wilson, Rick D [Corvallis, OR; Davis, Daniel L [Albany, OR

2011-03-08

This invention relates to a method for producing components with internal architectures, and more particularly, this invention relates to a method for producing structures with microchannels via the use of diffusion bonding of stacked laminates. Specifically, the method involves weakly bonding a stack of laminates forming internal voids and channels with a first generally low uniaxial pressure and first temperature such that bonding at least between the asperites of opposing laminates occurs and pores are isolated in interfacial contact areas, followed by a second generally higher isostatic pressure and second temperature for final bonding. The method thereby allows fabrication of micro-channel devices such as heat exchangers, recuperators, heat-pumps, chemical separators, chemical reactors, fuel processing units, and combustors without limitation on the fin aspect ratio.

Comparison of the Nernst-Planck model and the Poisson-Boltzmann model for electroosmotic flows in microchannels.

PubMed

Park, H M; Lee, J S; Kim, T W

2007-11-15

In the analysis of electroosmotic flows, the internal electric potential is usually modeled by the Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The Poisson-Boltzmann equation is derived from the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium where the ionic distributions are not affected by fluid flows. Although this is a reasonable assumption for steady electroosmotic flows through straight microchannels, there are some important cases where convective transport of ions has nontrivial effects. In these cases, it is necessary to adopt the Nernst-Planck equation instead of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation to model the internal electric field. In the present work, the predictions of the Nernst-Planck equation are compared with those of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for electroosmotic flows in various microchannels where the convective transport of ions is not negligible.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-Mediated Collagen Gel Mechanics Regulates Cellular Phenotypes in a Microchanneled Matrix.

PubMed

Rich, Max H; Lee, Min Kyung; Ballance, William C; Boppart, Marni; Kong, Hyunjoon

2017-08-14

For the past few decades, efforts have been extensively made to reproduce tissue of interests for various uses including fundamental bioscience studies, clinical treatments, and even soft robotic systems. In these studies, cells are often cultured in micropores introduced in a provisional matrix despite that bulk rigidity may negatively affect cellular differentiation involved in tissue formation. To this end, we hypothesized that suspending cells within a soft fibrous matrix that is encapsulated within the microchannels of a provisional matrix would allow us to mediate effects of the matrix rigidity on cells and, in turn, to increase the cell differentiation level. We examined this hypothesis by filling microchannels interpenetrating alginate matrices with collagen gels of controlled elastic moduli (i.e., 125 to 1 Pa). Myoblasts used as a model predifferentiated cell were suspended within the collagen gels. The elastic modulus of the collagen gels was decreased through the addition of poly(ethylene glycol) during the gel preparation. Myoblasts loaded in the collagen gel exhibited a higher myogenic differentiation level than those adhered to the collagen-coated microchannel wall. Furthermore, the collagen gel softened by poly(ethylene glycol) further increased the volume of the multinucleated myofibers. The role of collagen gel softness on cell differentiation became more significant when the bulk elastic modulus of the alginate matrix was tuned to be close to that of muscle tissue (i.e., 11 kPa). We believe that the results of this study would be useful to understanding phenotypic activities of a wide array of cells involved in tissue development and regeneration.

Viscoelastic deformation near active plate boundaries

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ward, S. N.

1986-01-01

Model deformations near the active plate boundaries of Western North America using space-based geodetic measurements as constraints are discussed. The first six months of this project were spent gaining familarity with space-based measurements, accessing the Crustal Dynamics Data Information Computer, and building time independent deformation models. The initial goal was to see how well the simplest elastic models can reproduce very long base interferometry (VLBI) baseline data. From the Crustal Dynamics Data Information Service, a total of 18 VLBI baselines are available which have been surveyed on four or more occasions. These data were fed into weighted and unweighted inversions to obtain baseline closure rates. Four of the better quality lines are illustrated. The deformation model assumes that the observed baseline rates result from a combination of rigid plate tectonic motions plus a component resulting from elastic strain build up due to a failure of the plate boundary to slip at the full plate tectonic rate. The elastic deformation resulting from the locked plate boundary is meant to portray interseismic strain accumulation. During and shortly after a large interplate earthquake, these strains are largely released, and points near the fault which were previously retarded suddenly catch up to the positions predicted by rigid plate models. Researchers judge the quality of fit by the sum squares of weighted residuals, termed total variance. The observed baseline closures have a total variance of 99 (cm/y)squared. When the RM2 velocities are assumed to model the data, the total variance increases to 154 (cm/y)squared.

Numerical Simulations of Near-Field Blast Effects using Kinetic Plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Neuscamman, Stephanie; Manner, Virginia; Brown, Geoffrey; Glascoe, Lee

2013-06-01

Numerical simulations using two hydrocodes were compared to near-field measurements of blast impulse associated with ideal and non-ideal explosives to gain insight into testing results and predict untested configurations. The recently developed kinetic plate test was designed to measure blast impulse in the near-field by firing spherical charges in close range from steel plates and probing plate acceleration using laser velocimetry. Plate velocities for ideal, non-ideal and aluminized explosives tests were modeled using a three dimensional hydrocode. The effects of inert additives in the explosive formulation were modeled using a 1-D hydrocode with multiphase flow capability using Lagrangian particles. The relative effect of particle impact on the plate compared to the blast wave impulse is determined and modeling is compared to free field pressure results. This work is performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. This is abstract LLNL-ABS-622152.

Hard X-ray focusing by stacked Fresnel zone plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snigireva, Irina; Snigirev, Anatoly; Kohn, Viktor; Yunkin, Vyacheslav; Grigoriev, Maxim; Kuznetsov, Serguei; Vaughan, Gavin; Di Michiel, Marco

2007-09-01

Stacking technique was developed in order to increase focusing efficiency of Fresnel zone plates at high energies. Two identical Si chips each of which containing Fresnel zone plates were used for stacking. Alignment of the chips was achieved by on-line observation of the moiré pattern from the two zone plates. The formation of moiré patterns was studied theoretically and experimentally at different experimental conditions. To provide the desired stability Si-chips with zone plates were bonded together with slow solidification speed epoxy glue. Technique of angular alignment in order to compensate a linear displacement in the process of gluing was proposed. Two sets of stacked FZPs were produced and experimentally tested to focus 15 and 50 keV X-rays. Gain in the efficiency by factor 2.5 was demonstrated at 15 keV. Focal spot of 1.8 μm vertically and 14 μm horizontally with 35% efficiency was measured at 50 keV. Forecast for the stacking of nanofocusing Fresnel zone plates was discussed.

Slow waves in microchannel metal waveguides and application to particle acceleration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Steinhauer, L. C.; Kimura, W. D.

2003-06-01

Conventional metal-wall waveguides support waveguide modes with phase velocities exceeding the speed of light. However, for infrared frequencies and guide dimensions of a fraction of a millimeter, one of the waveguide modes can have a phase velocity equal to or less than the speed of light. Such a metal microchannel then acts as a slow-wave structure. Furthermore, if it is a transverse magnetic mode, the electric field has a component along the direction of propagation. Therefore, a strong exchange of energy can occur between a beam of charged particles and this slow-waveguide mode. Moreover, the energy exchange can be sustained over a distance limited only by the natural damping of the wave. This makes the microchannel metal waveguide an attractive possibility for high-gradient electron laser acceleration because the wave can be directly energized by a long-wavelength laser. Indeed the frequency of CO2 lasers lies at a fortuitous wavelength that produces a strong laser-particle interaction in a channel of reasonable macroscopic size (e.g., ˜0.6 mm). The dispersion properties including phase velocity and damping for the slow wave are developed. The performance and other issues related to laser accelerator applications are discussed.

Frequency-dependent laminar electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel.

PubMed

Marcos; Yang, C; Ooi, K T; Wong, T N; Masliyah, J H

2004-07-15

This article presents an analysis of the frequency- and time-dependent electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel. An exact solution to the modified Navier-Stokes equation governing the ac electroosmotic flow field is obtained by using the Green's function formulation in combination with a complex variable approach. An analytical expression for the induced backpressure gradient is derived. With the Debye-Hückel approximation, the electrical double-layer potential distribution in the channel is obtained by analytically solving the linearized two-dimensional Poisson-Boltzmann equation. Since the counterparts of the flow rate and the electrical current are shown to be linearly proportional to the applied electric field and the pressure gradient, Onsager's principle of reciprocity is demonstrated for transient and ac electroosmotic flows. The time evolution of the electroosmotic flow and the effect of a frequency-dependent ac electric field on the oscillating electroosmotic flow in a closed-end rectangular microchannel are examined. Specifically, the induced pressure gradient is analyzed under effects of the channel dimension and the frequency of electric field. In addition, based on the Stokes second problem, the solution of the slip velocity approximation is presented for comparison with the results obtained from the analytical scheme developed in this study. Copyright 2004 Elsevier Inc.

Dynamics of liquid bridges inside microchannels subject to pure oscillatory flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmadlouydarab, Majid; Azaiez, Jalel; Chen, Zhangxin

2014-11-01

We report on 2D simulations of liquid bridges' dynamics in microchannels of uniform wettability and subject to external oscillatory flows. The flow equations were solved using the Cahn-Hilliard diffuse-interface formulation and the finite element method with unstructured grid. It was found that regardless of the wettability properties of the microchannel walls, there is a critical frequency above which the bridge shows perpetual periodic oscillatory motion. Below that critical frequency, the liquid bridge ruptures when the channel walls are philic and detaches from the surface when they are phobic. This critical frequency depends on the viscosity ratio, oscillation amplitude and geometric aspect ratio of the bridge. It was also found that the flow velocity is out of phase with the footprint/throat lengths and that the latter two show a phase difference. These differences were explained in terms of the motion of the two contact lines on the substrates and the deformation of the fluid-fluid interfaces. To characterize the behavior of the liquid bridge, two quantitative parameters; the liquid bridge-solid interfacial length and the length of the throat of the liquid bridge were used. Variations of the interfacial morphology development of the bridge were analyzed to understand the bridge response.

Novel MCP-Based Electron Source Studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haughey, M.; Shiltsev V., Shiltsev V.; Stancari, G.

Microchannel plates (MCPs) were recently proposed as novel type of cathodes for electron guns [1], suitable for applications in design of electron lenses. We report results of the first systematic study of microchannel plate based photomultiplier time response and maximum cur-rent density tests using different sources of light pulses. The Burle 85011-501 MCP-PMT is found to have good time response properties being capable of producing na-nosecond long pulses with modest maximum current density and performance strongly dependent on magnetic field strength.

Local convective heat transfer coefficient and friction factor of CuO/water nanofluid in a microchannel heat sink

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chabi, A. R.; Zarrinabadi, S.; Peyghambarzadeh, S. M.; Hashemabadi, S. H.; Salimi, M.

2017-02-01

Forced convective heat transfer in a microchannel heat sink (MCHS) using CuO/water nanofluids with 0.1 and 0.2 vol% as coolant was investigated. The experiments were focused on the heat transfer enhancement in the channel entrance region at Re < 1800. Hydraulic performance of the MCHS was also estimated by measuring friction factor and pressure drop. Results showed that higher convective heat transfer coefficient was obtained at the microchannel entrance. Maximum enhancement of the average heat transfer coefficient compared with deionized water was about 40 % for 0.2 vol% nanofluid at Re = 1150. Enhancement of the convective heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid decreased with further increasing of Reynolds number.

An in-mold packaging process for plastic fluidic devices.

PubMed

Yoo, Y E; Lee, K H; Je, T J; Choi, D S; Kim, S K

2011-01-01

Micro or nanofluidic devices have many channel shapes to deliver chemical solutions, body fluids or any fluids. The channels in these devices should be covered to prevent the fluids from overflowing or leaking. A typical method to fabricate an enclosed channel is to bond or weld a cover plate to a channel plate. This solid-to-solid bonding process, however, takes a considerable amount of time for mass production. In this study, a new process for molding a cover layer that can enclose open micro or nanochannels without solid-to-solid bonding is proposed and its feasibility is estimated. First, based on the design of a model microchannel, a brass microchannel master core was machined and a plastic microchannel platform was injection-molded. Using this molded platform, a series of experiments was performed for four process or mold design parameters. Some feasible conditions were successfully found to enclosed channels without filling the microchannels for the injection molding of a cover layer over the plastic microchannel platform. In addition, the bond strength and seal performance were estimated in a comparison with those done by conventional bonding or welding processes.

Coaxial nozzle-assisted 3D bioprinting with built-in microchannels for nutrients delivery.

PubMed

Gao, Qing; He, Yong; Fu, Jian-zhong; Liu, An; Ma, Liang

2015-08-01

This study offers a novel 3D bioprinting method based on hollow calcium alginate filaments by using a coaxial nozzle, in which high strength cell-laden hydrogel 3D structures with built-in microchannels can be fabricated by controlling the crosslinking time to realize fusion of adjacent hollow filaments. A 3D bioprinting system with a Z-shape platform was used to realize layer-by-layer fabrication of cell-laden hydrogel structures. Curving, straight, stretched or fractured filaments can be formed by changes to the filament extrusion speed or the platform movement speed. To print a 3D structure, we first adjusted the concentration and flow rate of the sodium alginate and calcium chloride solution in the crosslinking process to get partially crosslinked filaments. Next, a motorized XY stages with the coaxial nozzle attached was used to control adjacent hollow filament deposition in the precise location for fusion. Then the Z stage attached with a Z-shape platform moved down sequentially to print layers of structure. And the printing process always kept the top two layers fusing and the below layers solidifying. Finally, the Z stage moved down to keep the printed structure immersed in the CaCl2 solution for complete crosslinking. The mechanical properties of the resulting fused structures were investigated. High-strength structures can be formed using higher concentrations of sodium alginate solution with smaller distance between adjacent hollow filaments. In addition, cell viability of this method was investigated, and the findings show that the viability of L929 mouse fibroblasts in the hollow constructs was higher than that in alginate structures without built-in microchannels. Compared with other bioprinting methods, this study is an important technique to allow easy fabrication of lager-scale organs with built-in microchannels. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of an Inhomogenous Electric Field on an Evaporating Thin Film in a Microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Xiuliang; Hu, Chen; Li, Huafeng; Yu, Fei; Kong, Xiaming

2018-03-01

In this paper, heat transfer enhancement in an evaporating thin film along the wall of a microchannel under an imposed inhomogenous electrostatic field is analyzed. The mathematical model, based on the augmented Young-Laplace equation with the inhomogenous electrostatic field taken into consideration, is developed. The 2D inhomogenous electric field with the curved liquid-vapor interface is solved by the lattice Boltzmann method. Numerical solutions for the thin film characteristics are obtained for both constant wall temperature and uniform wall heat flux boundary conditions. The numerical results show that the liquid film becomes thinner and the heat transfer coefficient increases under an imposed electric field. Both of octane and water are chosen as the working mediums, and similar result about the enhancement of heat transfer on evaporating thin film by imposing electric field is obtained. It is found that applying an electric field on the evaporating thin film can enhance evaporative heat transfer in a microchannel.

Non-isothermal electro-osmotic flow in a microchannel with charge-modulated surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bautista, Oscar; Sanchez, Salvador; Mendez, Federico

2015-11-01

In this work, we present an theoretical analysis of a nonisothermal electro-osmotic flow of a Newtonian fluid over charge-modulated surfaces in a microchannel. Here, the heating in the microchannel is due to the Joule effect caused by the imposition of an external electric field. The study is conducted through the use of perturbation techniques and is validated by means of numerical simulations. We consider that both, viscosity and electrical conductivity of the fluid are temperature-dependent; therefore, in order to determine the heat transfer process and the corresponding effects on the flow field, the governing equations of continuity, momentum, energy and electric potential have to be solved in a coupled manner. The principal obtained results evidence that the flow patterns are perturbed in a noticeable manner in comparison with the isothernal case. Our results may be used for increasing microfluidics mixing by conjugating thermal effects with the use of charge-modulated surfaces. This work has been supported by the research grants no. 220900 of Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) and 20150919 of SIP-IPN at Mexico. F. Méndez acknowledges also the economical support of PAPIIT-UNAM under contract number IN112215.

An experimental study on the numbering-up of microchannels for liquid mixing.

PubMed

Su, Yuanhai; Chen, Guangwen; Kenig, Eugeny Y

2015-01-07

The numbering-up of zigzag-form microchannels for liquid mixing was experimentally investigated in a multichannel micromixer including 8 parallel channels, based on the Villermaux-Dushman reaction system, with an appropriate sulphuric acid concentration. The results showed that the micromixing performance in such micromixers could reach the same quality as in a single microchannel, when flat constructal distributors with bifurcation configurations were used. The mixing performance did not depend on whether a vertical or horizontal micromixer position was selected. Surprisingly, the channel blockage somewhat increased the micromixing performance in the multichannel micromixer due to the fluid redistribution effect of the constructal distributors. This effect could also be confirmed by CFD simulations. However, the channel blockage resulted in a higher pressure drop and thus higher specific energy dissipation in the multichannel micromixer. The local pressure drop caused by fluid splitting and re-combination in the numbering-up technique could be neglected at low Reynolds numbers, but it became larger with increasing flow rates. The operational zone for the mixing process in multichannel micromixers was sub-divided into two parts according to the specific energy dissipation and the mixing mechanisms.

Computational analysis of electrokinetically driven flow mixing in microchannels with patterned blocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, C.-C.; Yang, R.-J.

2004-04-01

Electroosmotic flow in microchannels is restricted to low Reynolds number regimes characterized by extremely weak inertia forces and laminar flow. Consequently, the mixing of different species occurs primarily through diffusion, and hence cannot readily be achieved within a short mixing channel. The current study presents a numerical investigation of electrokinetically driven flow mixing in microchannels with various numbers of incorporated patterned rectangular blocks. Furthermore, a novel approach is introduced which patterns heterogeneous surfaces on the upper faces of these rectangular blocks in order to enhance species mixing. The simulation results confirm that the introduction of rectangular blocks within the mixing channel slightly enhances species mixing by constricting the bulk flow, hence creating a stronger diffusion effect. However, it is noted that a large number of blocks and hence a long mixing channel are required if a complete mixing of the species is to be obtained. The results also indicate that patterning heterogeneous upper surfaces on the rectangular blocks is an effective means of enhancing the species mixing. It is shown that increasing the magnitude of the heterogeneous surface zeta potential enables a reduction in the mixing channel length and an improved degree of mixing efficiency.

In-channel electrochemical detection in the middle of microchannel under high electric field.

PubMed

Kang, Chung Mu; Joo, Segyeong; Bae, Je Hyun; Kim, Yang-Rae; Kim, Yongseong; Chung, Taek Dong

2012-01-17

We propose a new method for performing in-channel electrochemical detection under a high electric field using a polyelectrolytic gel salt bridge (PGSB) integrated in the middle of the electrophoretic separation channel. The finely tuned placement of a gold working electrode and the PGSB on an equipotential surface in the microchannel provided highly sensitive electrochemical detection without any deterioration in the separation efficiency or interference of the applied electric field. To assess the working principle, the open circuit potentials between gold working electrodes and the reference electrode at varying distances were measured in the microchannel under electrophoretic fields using an electrically isolated potentiostat. In addition, "in-channel" cyclic voltammetry confirmed the feasibility of electrochemical detection under various strengths of electric fields (∼400 V/cm). Effective separation on a microchip equipped with a PGSB under high electric fields was demonstrated for the electrochemical detection of biological compounds such as dopamine and catechol. The proposed "in-channel" electrochemical detection under a high electric field enables wider electrochemical detection applications in microchip electrophoresis.

Fabrication of unique 3D microparticles in non-rectangular microchannels with flow lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nam, Sung Min; Kim, Kibeom; Park, Wook; Lee, Wonhee

Invention of flow lithography has offered a simple yet effective method of fabricating micro-particles. However particles produced with conventional techniques were largely limited to 2-dimensional shapes projected to form a column. We proposed inexpensive and simple soft-lithography techniques to fabricate micro-channels with various cross-sectional shapes. The non-rectangular channels are then used to fabricate micro-particles using flow lithography resulting in interesting 3D shapes such as tetrahedrals or half-pyramids. In addition, a microfluidic device capable of fabricating multi-layered micro-particles was developed. On-chip PDMS valves are used to trap and position the particle at the precise location in microchannel with varying cross-section. Multilayer particles are generated by sequential monomer exchange and polymerization along the channel. While conventional multi-layered particles made with droplet generators require their layer materials be dissolved in immiscible fluids, the new method allows diverse choice of materials, not limited to their diffusibility. The multilayer 3D particles can be applied in areas such as drug delivery and tissue engineering.

Size-Based Separation of Particles and Cells Utilizing Viscoelastic Effects in Straight Microchannels.

PubMed

Liu, Chao; Xue, Chundong; Chen, Xiaodong; Shan, Lei; Tian, Yu; Hu, Guoqing

2015-06-16

Viscoelasticity-induced particle migration has recently received increasing attention due to its ability to obtain high-quality focusing over a wide range of flow rates. However, its application is limited to low throughput regime since the particles can defocus as flow rate increases. Using an engineered carrier medium with constant and low viscosity and strong elasticity, the sample flow rates are improved to be 1 order of magnitude higher than those in existing studies. Utilizing differential focusing of particles of different sizes, here, we present sheathless particle/cell separation in simple straight microchannels that possess excellent parallelizability for further throughput enhancement. The present method can be implemented over a wide range of particle/cell sizes and flow rates. We successfully separate small particles from larger particles, MCF-7 cells from red blood cells (RBCs), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria from RBCs in different straight microchannels. The proposed method could broaden the applications of viscoelastic microfluidic devices to particle/cell separation due to the enhanced sample throughput and simple channel design.

Process for making unsaturated hydrocarbons using microchannel process technology

DOEpatents

Tonkovich, Anna Lee [Dublin, OH; Yuschak, Thomas [Lewis Center, OH; LaPlante, Timothy J [Columbus, OH; Rankin, Scott [Columbus, OH; Perry, Steven T [Galloway, OH; Fitzgerald, Sean Patrick [Columbus, OH; Simmons, Wayne W [Dublin, OH; Mazanec, Terry Daymo, Eric

2011-04-12

The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting a feed composition comprising one or more hydrocarbons to a product comprising one or more unsaturated hydrocarbons, the process comprising: flowing the feed composition and steam in contact with each other in a microchannel reactor at a temperature in the range from about 200.degree. C. to about 1200.degree. C. to convert the feed composition to the product, the process being characterized by the absence of catalyst for converting the one or more hydrocarbons to one or more unsaturated hydrocarbons. Hydrogen and/or oxygen may be combined with the feed composition and steam.

Controlling flows in microchannels with patterned surface charge and topography.

PubMed

Stroock, Abraham D; Whitesides, George M

2003-08-01

This Account reviews two procedures for controlling the flow of fluids in microchannels. The first procedure involves patterning the density of charge on the inner surfaces of a channel. These patterns generate recirculating electroosmotic flows in the presence of a steady electric field. The second procedure involves patterning topography on an inner surface of a channel. These patterns generate recirculation in the cross-section of steady, pressure-driven flows. This Account summarizes applications of these flow to mixing and to controlling dispersion (band broadening).

Hydrodynamic shrinkage of liquid CO2 Taylor drops in a straight microchannel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Ning; Wen, John Z.; Ren, Carolyn L.

2018-03-01

Hydrodynamic shrinkage of liquid CO2 drops in water under a Taylor flow regime is studied using a straight microchannel (length/width ~100). A general form of a mathematical model of the solvent-side mass transfer coefficient (k s) is developed first. Based on formulations of the surface area (A) and the volume (V) of a general Taylor drop in a rectangular microchannel, a specific form of k s is derived. Drop length and speed are experimentally measured at three specified positions of the straight channel, namely, immediately after drop generation (position 1), the midpoint of the channel (position 2) and the end of the channel (position 3). The reductions of drop length (L x , x  =  1, 2, 3) from position 1 to 2 and down to 3 are used to quantify the drop shrinkage. Using the specific model, k s is calculated mainly based on L x and drop flowing time (t). Results show that smaller CO2 drops produced by lower flow rate ratios ({{Q}LC{{O2}}}/{{Q}{{H2}O}} ) are generally characterized by higher (nearly three times) k s and Sherwood numbers than those produced by higher {{Q}LC{{O2}}}/{{Q}{{H2}O}} , which is essentially attributed to the larger effective portion of the smaller drop contributing in the mass transfer under same levels of the flowing time and the surface-to-volume ratio (~104 m-1) of all drops. Based on calculated pressure drops of the segmented flow in microchannel, the Peng-Robinson equation of state and initial pressures of drops at the T-junction in experiments, overall pressure drop (ΔP t) in the straight channel as well as the resulted drop volume change are quantified. ΔP t from position 1-3 is by average 3.175 kPa with a ~1.6% standard error, which only leads to relative drop volume changes of 0.3‰ to 0.52‰.

LOW COST, EFFICIENT MICROCHANNEL PLASMA OZONE GENERATOR FOR POINT OF USE WATER TREATMENT - PHASE I

EPA Science Inventory

A team of EP Purification and the University of Illinois engineers and chemists is pursuing the commercialization of low-cost microchannel plasma modules capable of efficiently producing ozone for...

Microchannel laminated mass exchanger and method of making

DOEpatents

Martin, Peter M [Kennewick, WA; Bennett, Wendy D [Kennewick, WA; Matson, Dean W [Kennewick, WA; Stewart, Donald C [Richland, WA; Drost, Monte K [Pasco, WA; Wegeng, Robert S [Richland, WA; Perez, Joseph M [Richland, WA; Feng, Xiangdong [West Richland, WA; Liu, Jun [West Richland, WA

2003-03-18

The present invention is a microchannel mass exchanger having a first plurality of inner thin sheets and a second plurality of outer thin sheets. The inner thin sheets each have a solid margin around a circumference, the solid margin defining a slot through the inner thin sheet thickness. The outer thin sheets each have at least two header holes on opposite ends and when sandwiching an inner thin sheet. The outer thin sheets further have a mass exchange medium. The assembly forms a closed flow channel assembly wherein fluid enters through one of the header holes into the slot and exits through another of the header holes after contacting the mass exchange medium.

Microchannel laminated mass exchanger and method of making

DOEpatents

Martin, Peter M.; Bennett, Wendy D.; Matson, Dean W.; Stewart, Donald C.; Drost, Monte K.; Wegeng, Robert S.; Perez, Joseph M.; Feng, Xiangdong; Liu, Jun

2000-01-01

The present invention is a microchannel mass exchanger having a first plurality of inner thin sheets and a second plurality of outer thin sheets. The inner thin sheets each have a solid margin around a circumference, the solid margin defining a slot through the inner thin sheet thickness. The outer thin sheets each have at least two header holes on opposite ends and when sandwiching an inner thin sheet. The outer thin sheets further have a mass exchange medium. The assembly forms a closed flow channel assembly wherein fluid enters through one of the header holes into the slot and exits through another of the header holes after contacting the mass exchange medium.

Microchannel laminated mass exchanger and method of making

DOEpatents

Martin, Peter M [Kennewick, WA; Bennett, Wendy D [Kennewick, WA; Matson, Dean W [Kennewick, WA; Stewart, Donald C [Richland, WA; Drost, Monte K [Pasco, WA; Wegeng, Robert S [Richland, WA; Perez, Joseph M [Richland, WA; Feng, Xiangdong [West Richland, WA; Liu, Jun [West Richland, WA

2002-03-05

The present invention is a microchannel mass exchanger having a first plurality of inner thin sheets and a second plurality of outer thin sheets. The inner thin sheets each have a solid margin around a circumference, the solid margin defining a slot through the inner thin sheet thickness. The outer thin sheets each have at least two header holes on opposite ends and when sandwiching an inner thin sheet. The outer thin sheets further have a mass exchange medium. The assembly forms a closed flow channel assembly wherein fluid enters through one of the header holes into the slot and exits through another of the header holes after contacting the mass exchange medium.

Development of three-dimensional integrated microchannel-electrode system to understand the particles' movement with electrokinetics

PubMed Central

Obara, H.; Sapkota, A.; Takei, M.

2016-01-01

An optical transparent 3-D Integrated Microchannel-Electrode System (3-DIMES) has been developed to understand the particles' movement with electrokinetics in the microchannel. In this system, 40 multilayered electrodes are embedded at the 2 opposite sides along the 5 square cross-sections of the microchannel by using Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems technology in order to achieve the optical transparency at the other 2 opposite sides. The concept of the 3-DIMES is that the particles are driven by electrokinetic forces which are dielectrophoretic force, thermal buoyancy, electrothermal force, and electroosmotic force in a three-dimensional scope by selecting the excitation multilayered electrodes. As a first step to understand the particles' movement driven by electrokinetic forces in high conductive fluid (phosphate buffer saline (PBS)) with the 3-DIMES, the velocities of particles' movement with one pair of the electrodes are measured three dimensionally by Particle Image Velocimetry technique in PBS; meanwhile, low conductive fluid (deionized water) is used as a reference. Then, the particles' movement driven by the electrokinetic forces is discussed theoretically to estimate dominant forces exerting on the particles. Finally, from the theoretical estimation, the particles' movement mainly results from the dominant forces which are thermal buoyancy and electrothermal force, while the velocity vortex formed at the 2 edges of the electrodes is because of the electroosmotic force. The conclusions suggest that the 3-DIMES with PBS as high conductive fluid helps to understand the three-dimensional advantageous flow structures for cell manipulation in biomedical applications. PMID:27042247

Microchannel Heat Sink with Micro Encapsulated Phase Change Material (MEPCM) Slurry

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-05-31

inlet temperature of the fluid, melting range of PCM and base heat flux. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Phase Change Materials; microchannel cooling; slurry...such as particle concentration, inlet temperature of the fluid, melting range of PCM , base heat flux and base fluid. Nomenclature A Aspect ratio Ab...of fluid, J/kg.K cp,p Specific heat of MEPCM particle, J/kg.K Cp, pcm Specific heat of PCM , J/kg.K D Hydraulic diameter, m d, dp Particle diameter

Custom ceramic microchannel-cooled array for high-power fiber-coupled application

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Junghans, Jeremy; Feeler, Ryan; Stephens, Ed

2018-03-01

A low-SWaP (Size, Weight and Power) diode array has been developed for a high-power fiber-coupled application. High efficiency ( 65%) diodes enable high optical powers while minimizing thermal losses. A large amount of waste heat is still generated and must be extracted. Custom ceramic microchannel-coolers (MCCs) are used to dissipate the waste heat. The custom ceramic MCC was designed to accommodate long cavity length diodes and micro-lenses. The coolers provide similar thermal performance as copper MCCs however they are not susceptible to erosion and can be cooled with standard filtered water. The custom ceramic micro-channel cooled array was designed to be a form/fit replacement for an existing copperbased solution. Each array consisted of three-vertically stacked MCCs with 4 mm CL, 976 nm diodes and beamshaping micro-optics. The erosion and corrosion resistance of ceramic array is intended to mitigate the risk of copperbased MCC corrosion failures. Elimination of the water delivery requirements (pH, resistivity and dissolved oxygen control) further reduces the system SWaP while maintaining reliability. The arrays were fabricated and fully characterized. This work discusses the advantages of the ceramic MCC technology and describes the design parameters that were tailored for the fiber-coupled application. Additional configuration options (form/fit, micro-lensing, alternate coolants, etc.) and on-going design improvements are also discussed.

From Plate Tectonic to Continental Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molnar, P. H.

2017-12-01

By the early 1970s, the basics of plate tectonics were known. Although much understanding remained to be gained, as a topic of research, plate tectonics no longer defined the forefront of earth science. Not only had it become a foundation on which to build, but also the methods used to reveal it became tools to take in new directions. For me as a seismologist studying earthquakes and active processes, the deformation of continents offered an obvious topic to pursue. Obviously examining the deformation of continents and ignoring the widespread geologic evidence of both ongoing and finite deformation of crust would be stupid. I was blessed with the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with two of the best, Paul Tapponnier and Clark Burchfiel. Continental deformation differed from plate tectonics both because deformation was widespread but more importantly because crust shortens (extends) horizontally and thickens (thins), processes that can be ignored where plate tectonics - the relative motion of rigid plates - occurs. Where a plate boundary passes into a continent, not only must the forces that move plates do work against friction or other dissipative processes, but where high terrain is created, they must also do work against gravity, to create gravitational potential energy in high terrain. Peter Bird and Kenneth Piper and Philip England and Dan McKenzie showed that a two-dimensional thin viscous sheet with vertically averaged properties enabled both sources of resistance to be included without introducing excessive complexity and to be scaled by one dimensionless number, what the latter pair called the Argand number. Increasingly over the past thirty years, emphasis has shifted toward the role played by the mantle lithosphere, because of both its likely strength and its negative buoyancy, which makes it gravitationally unstable. Despite progress since realizing that rigid plates (the essence of plate tectonics) provides a poor description of continental

Regulating the Emission Spectrum of CsPbBr3 from Green to Blue via Controlling the Temperature and Velocity of Microchannel Reactor

PubMed Central

Tang, Yong; Lu, Hanguang; Rao, Longshi; Ding, Xinrui; Yan, Caiman; Yu, Binhai

2018-01-01

The ability to precisely obtain tunable spectrum of lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) is very important for applications, such as in lighting and display. Herein, we report a microchannel reactor method for synthesis of CsPbBr3 QDs with tunable spectrum. By adjusting the temperature and velocity of the microchannel reactor, the emission peaks of CsPbBr3 QDs ranging from 520 nm to 430 nm were obtained, which is wider than that of QDs obtained in a traditional flask without changing halide component. The mechanism of photoluminescence (PL) spectral shift of CsPbBr3 QDs was investigated, the result shows that the supersaturation control enabled by the superior mass and heat transfer performance in the microchannel is the key to achieve the wide range of PL spectrum, with only a change in the setting of the temperature controller required. The wide spectrum of CsPbBr3 QDs can be applied to light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photoelectric sensors, lasers, etc. PMID:29498710

Experimental investigation of heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of water and glycol-water mixture in multi-port serpentine microchannel slab heat exchangers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khan, Md Mesbah-ul Ghani

Microchannels have several advantages over traditional large tubes. Heat transfer using microchannels recently have attracted significant research and industrial design interests. Open literatures leave with question on the applicability of classical macroscale theory in microchannels. Better understanding of heat transfer in various microchannel geometries and building experimental database are continuously urged. The purpose of this study is to contribute the findings and data to this emerging area through carefully designed and well controlled experimental works. The commercially important glycol-water mixture heat transfer fluid and multiport slab serpentine heat exchangers are encountered in heating and cooling areas, e.g. in automotive, aircraft, and HVAC industries. For a given heat duty, the large diameter tubes experience turbulent flow whereas the narrow channels face laminar flow and often developing flow. Study of low Reynolds number developing glycol-water mixture laminar flow in serpentine microchannel heat exchanger with parallel multi-port slab is not available in the open literature. Current research therefore experimentally investigates glycol-water mixture and water in simultaneously developing laminar flows. Three multiport microchannel heat exchangers; straight and serpentine slabs, are used for each fluid. Friction factors of glycol-water mixture and water flows in straight slabs are higher than conventional fully developed laminar flow. If a comprehensive pressure balance is introduced, the results are well compared with conventional Poiseuille theory. Similar results are found in serpentine slab. The pressure drop for the straight core is the highest, manifolds are the intermediate, and serpentine is the least; which are beneficial for heat exchangers. The heat transfer results in serpentine slab for glycol-water mixture and water are higher and could not be compared with conventional fully developed and developing flow correlations. New

Glacier moraine formation-mimicking colloidal particle assembly in microchanneled, bioactive hydrogel for guided vascular network construction.

PubMed

Lee, Min Kyung; Rich, Max H; Shkumatov, Artem; Jeong, Jae Hyun; Boppart, Marni D; Bashir, Rashid; Gillette, Martha U; Lee, Jonghwi; Kong, Hyunjoon

2015-01-28

This study demonstrates that a new method to align microparticles releasing bioactive molecules in microchannels of a hydrogel allows the guiding of growth direction and spacing of vascular networks. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Thermal analysis of a multi-layer microchannel heat sink for cooling concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siyabi, Idris Al; Shanks, Katie; Mallick, Tapas; Sundaram, Senthilarasu

2017-09-01

Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) technology is increasingly being considered as an alternative option for solar electricity generation. However, increasing the light concentration ratio could decrease the system output power due to the increase in the temperature of the cells. The performance of a multi-layer microchannel heat sink configuration was evaluated using numerical analysis. In this analysis, three dimensional incompressible laminar steady flow model was solved numerically. An electrical and thermal solar cell model was coupled for solar cell temperature and efficiency calculations. Thermal resistance, solar cell temperature and pumping power were used for the system efficiency evaluation. An increase in the number of microchannel layers exhibited the best overall performance in terms of the thermal resistance, solar cell temperature uniformity and pressure drop. The channel height and width has no effect on the solar cell maximum temperature. However, increasing channel height leads to a reduction in the pressure drop and hence less fluid pumping power.

Simulations of DNA stretching by flow field in microchannels with complex geometry.

PubMed

Huang, Chiou-De; Kang, Dun-Yen; Hsieh, Chih-Chen

2014-01-01

Recently, we have reported the experimental results of DNA stretching by flow field in three microchannels (C. H. Lee and C. C. Hsieh, Biomicrofluidics 7(1), 014109 (2013)) designed specifically for the purpose of preconditioning DNA conformation for easier stretching. The experimental results do not only demonstrate the superiority of the new devices but also provides detailed observation of DNA behavior in complex flow field that was not available before. In this study, we use Brownian dynamics-finite element method (BD-FEM) to simulate DNA behavior in these microchannels, and compare the results against the experiments. Although the hydrodynamic interaction (HI) between DNA segments and between DNA and the device boundaries was not included in the simulations, the simulation results are in fairly good agreement with the experimental data from either the aspect of the single molecule behavior or from the aspect of ensemble averaged properties. The discrepancy between the simulation and the experimental results can be explained by the neglect of HI effect in the simulations. Considering the huge savings on the computational cost from neglecting HI, we conclude that BD-FEM can be used as an efficient and economic designing tool for developing new microfluidic device for DNA manipulation.

The Role of Contact Line (Pinning) Forces on Bubble Blockage in Microchannels.

PubMed

Mohammadi, Mahshid; Sharp, Kendra V

2015-03-01

This paper highlights the influence of contact line (pinning) forces on the mobility of dry bubbles in microchannels. Bubbles moving at velocities less than the dewetting velocity of liquid on the surface are essentially dry, meaning that there is no thin liquid film around the bubbles. For these "dry" bubbles, contact line forces and a possible capillary pressure gradient induced by pinning act on the bubbles and resist motion. Without sufficient driving force (e.g., external pressure), a dry bubble is brought to stagnation. For the first time, a bipartite theoretical model that estimates the required pressure difference across the length of stagnant bubbles with concave and convex back interfaces to overcome the contact line forces and stimulate motion is proposed. To validate our theory, the pressure required to move a single dry bubble in square microchannels exhibiting contact angle hysteresis has been measured. The working fluid was deionized water. The experiments have been conducted on coated glass channels with different surface hydrophilicities that resulted in concave and convex back interfaces for the bubbles. The experimental results were in agreement with the model's predictions for square channels. The predictions of the concave and convex back models were within 19% and 27% of the experimental measurements, respectively.

Development of microtitre plates for electrokinetic assays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Burt, J. P. H.; Goater, A. D.; Menachery, A.; Pethig, R.; Rizvi, N. H.

2007-02-01

Electrokinetic processes have wide ranging applications in microsystems technology. Their optimum performance at micro and nano dimensions allows their use both as characterization and diagnostic tools and as a means of general particle manipulation. Within analytical studies, measurement of the electrokinesis of biological cells has the sensitivity and selectivity to distinguish subtle differences between cell types and cells undergoing changes and is gaining acceptance as a diagnostic tool in high throughput screening for drug discovery applications. In this work the development and manufacture of an electrokinetic-based microtitre plate is described. The plate is intended to be compatible with automated sample loading and handling systems. Manufacturing of the microtitre plate, which employs indium tin oxide microelectrodes, has been entirely undertaken using excimer and ultra-fast pulsed laser micromachining due to its flexibility in materials processing and accuracy in microstructuring. Laser micromachining has the ability to rapidly realize iterations in device prototype design while also having the capability to be scaled up for large scale manufacture. Device verification is achieved by the measurement of the electrorotation and dielectrophoretic properties of yeast cells while the flexibility of the developed microtitre plate is demonstrated by the selective separation of live yeast from polystyrene microbeads.

Calculating potential fields using microchannel spatial light modulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reid, Max B.

1993-01-01

We describe and present experimental results of the optical calculation of potential field maps suitable for mobile robot navigation. The optical computation employs two write modes of a microchannel spatial light modulator (MSLM). In one mode, written patterns expand spatially, and this characteristic is used to create an extended two dimensional function representing the influence of the goal in a robot's workspace. Distinct obstacle patterns are written in a second, non-expanding, mode. A model of the mechanisms determining MSLM write mode characteristics is developed and used to derive the optical calculation time for full potential field maps. Field calculations at a few hertz are possible with current technology, and calculation time vs. map size scales favorably in comparison to digital electronic computation.

Dehydrogenation of liquid fuel in microchannel catalytic reactor

DOEpatents

Toseland, Bernard Allen; Pez, Guido Peter; Puri, Pushpinder Singh

2010-08-03

The present invention is an improved process for the storage and delivery of hydrogen by the reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of an organic compound wherein the organic compound is initially in its hydrogenated state. The improvement in the route to generating hydrogen is in the dehydrogenation step and recovery of the dehydrogenated organic compound resides in the following steps: introducing a hydrogenated organic compound to a microchannel reactor incorporating a dehydrogenation catalyst; effecting dehydrogenation of said hydrogenated organic compound under conditions whereby said hydrogenated organic compound is present as a liquid phase; generating a reaction product comprised of a liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound and gaseous hydrogen; separating the liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound from gaseous hydrogen; and, recovering the hydrogen and liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound.

Dehydrogenation of liquid fuel in microchannel catalytic reactor

DOEpatents

Toseland, Bernard Allen [Allentown, PA; Pez, Guido Peter [Allentown, PA; Puri, Pushpinder Singh [Emmaus, PA

2009-02-03

The present invention is an improved process for the storage and delivery of hydrogen by the reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation of an organic compound wherein the organic compound is initially in its hydrogenated state. The improvement in the route to generating hydrogen is in the dehydrogenation step and recovery of the dehydrogenated organic compound resides in the following steps: introducing a hydrogenated organic compound to a microchannel reactor incorporating a dehydrogenation catalyst; effecting dehydrogenation of said hydrogenated organic compound under conditions whereby said hydrogenated organic compound is present as a liquid phase; generating a reaction product comprised of a liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound and gaseous hydrogen; separating the liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound from gaseous hydrogen; and, recovering the hydrogen and liquid phase dehydrogenated organic compound.

Measurement of RBC agglutination with microscopic cell image analysis in a microchannel chip.

PubMed

Cho, Chi Hyun; Kim, Ju Yeon; Nyeck, Agnes E; Lim, Chae Seung; Hur, Dae Sung; Chung, Chanil; Chang, Jun Keun; An, Seong Soo A; Shin, Sehyun

2014-01-01

Since Landsteiner's discovery of ABO blood groups, RBC agglutination has been one of the most important immunohematologic techniques for ABO and RhD blood groupings. The conventional RBC agglutination grading system for RhD blood typings relies on macroscopic reading, followed by the assignment of a grade ranging from (-) to (4+) to the degree of red blood cells clumping. However, with the new scoring method introduced in this report, microscopically captured cell images of agglutinated RBCs, placed in a microchannel chip, are used for analysis. Indeed, the cell images' pixel number first allows the differentiation of agglutinated and non-agglutinated red blood cells. Finally, the ratio of agglutinated RBCs per total RBC counts (CRAT) from 90 captured images is then calculated. During the trial, it was observed that the agglutinated group's CRAT was significantly higher (3.77-0.003) than that of the normal control (0). Based on these facts, it was established that the microchannel method was more suitable for the discrimination between agglutinated RBCs and non-agglutinated RhD negative, and thus more reliable for the grading of RBCs agglutination than the conventional method.

Plate with decentralised velocity feedback loops: Power absorption and kinetic energy considerations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gardonio, P.; Miani, S.; Blanchini, F.; Casagrande, D.; Elliott, S. J.

2012-04-01

This paper is focused on the vibration effects produced by an array of decentralised velocity feedback loops that are evenly distributed over a rectangular thin plate to minimise its flexural response. The velocity feedback loops are formed by collocated ideal velocity sensor and point force actuator pairs, which are unconditionally stable and produce 'sky-hook' damping on the plate. The study compares how the overall flexural vibration of the plate and the local absorption of vibration power by the feedback loops vary with the control gains. The analysis is carried out both considering a typical frequency-domain formulation based on kinetic energy and structural power physical quantities, which is normally used to study vibration and noise problems, and a time-domain formulation also based on kinetic energy and structural power, which is usually implemented to investigate control problems. The time-domain formulation shows to be much more computationally efficient and robust with reference to truncation errors. Thus it has been used to perform a parametric study to assess if, and under which conditions, the minimum of the kinetic energy and the maximum of the absorbed power cost functions match with reference to: (a) the number of feedback control loops, (b) the structural damping in the plate, (c) the mutual distance of a pair of control loops and (d) the mutual gains implemented in a pair of feedback loops.

Optimization of Dimples in Microchannel Heat Sink with Impinging Jets — Part A: Mathematical Model and the Influence of Dimple Radius

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ming, Tingzhen; Cai, Cunjin; Yang, Wei; Shen, Wenqing; Gan, Ting

2018-06-01

With increasing heat fluxes caused by electronic components, dimples have attracted wide attention by researchers and have been applied to microchannel heat sink in modern advanced cooling technologies. In this work, the combination of dimples, impinging jets and microchannel heat sink was proposed to improve the heat transfer performance on a cooling surface with a constant heat flux 500 W/cm2. A mathematical model was advanced for numerically analyzing the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of a microchannel heat sink with impinging jets and dimples (MHSIJD), and the velocity distribution, pressure drop, and thermal performance of MHSIJD were analyzed by varying the radii of dimples. The results showed that the combination of dimples and MHSIJ can achieve excellent heat transfer performance; for the MHSIJD model in this work, the maximum and average temperatures can be as low as 320 K and 305 K, respectively when mass flow rate is 30 g/s; when dimple radius is larger than 0.195 mm, both the heat transfer coefficient and the overall performance h/ΔP of MHSIJD are higher than those of MHSIJ.

The experimental behavior of spinning pretwisted laminated composite plates

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kosmatka, John B.; Lapid, Alex J.

1993-01-01

The purpose of the research is to gain an understanding of the material and geometric couplings present in advanced composite turbo-propellers. Twelve pre-twisted laminated composite plates are tested. Three different ply lay-ups (2 symmetric and 1 asymmetric) and four different geometries (flat and 30x pre-twist about the mid-chord, quarter-chord, and leading edge) distinguish each plate from one another. Four rotating and non-rotating tests are employed to isolate the material and geometric couplings of an advanced turbo propeller. The first series of tests consist of non-rotating static displacement, strain, and vibrations. These tests examine the effects of ply lay-up and geometry. The second series of tests consist of rotating displacement, strain, and vibrations with various pitch and sweep settings. These tests utilize the Dynamic Spin Rig Facility at the NASA Lewis Research Center. The rig allows the spin testing of the plates in a near vacuum environment. The tests examine how the material and plate geometry interact with the pitch and sweep geometry of an advanced turbo-propeller.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mazuritskiy, M. I., E-mail: mazurmik@gmail.com; Lerer, A. M.; Makhno, P. V.

The angular distribution of the X-ray intensity at the exit of microchannel plates at grazing incidence of monochromatic radiation on the walls of microcapillaries has been investigated. The angles and energies of the primary radiation quanta at which the synchrotron beam excites X-ray fluorescence propagating inside polycapillary structures have been determined. The angular dependences of the intensity distribution of X-rays transmitted through the microcapillaries have been studied theoretically and experimentally for energies corresponding to the region of anomalous dispersion near the L{sub 2,3} absorption edges of silicon. The propagation of waves in hollow polycapillary waveguides, the excitation of X-ray fluorescence,more » and the X-ray diffraction at the exit of microchannel plates have been modeled mathematically. The mathematical model takes into account the presence of a transition layer on the microchannel surface.« less

Real-time observation of X-ray diffraction patterns with the Lixiscope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chung, D. Y.; Tsang, T.; Yin, L. I.; Anderson, J. R.

1981-01-01

The feasibility of the Lixiscope (Low Intensity X-ray Imaging Scope) is demonstrated for real-time observation of transmission Laue patterns. Making use of the high-gain capability of microchannel plate (MCP) visible-light image intensifier tubes, X-ray images are converted to visible-light images by a scintillator. Pb discs are taped to the center of the Lixiscope input face, and crystal samples are held on a goniometer stage with modeling clay. With a compact size to facilitate off axis viewing, and real-time viewing to allow instantaneous response, the Lixiscope may prove useful in dynamic studies of the effects of plastic flows, stresses, high pressures, and low temperatures.

Features of two-phase flow in a microchannel of 0.05×20 mm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ronshin, Fedor

2017-10-01

We have studied the two-phase flow in a microchannel with cross-section of 0.05×20 mm2. The following two-phase flow regimes have been registered: jet, bubble, stratified, annular, and churn ones. The main features of flow regimes in this channel such as formation of liquid droplets in all two-phase flows have been distinguished.

Theoretical and experimental analysis of the impact on ablation depth of microchannel milling using femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lei, Chen; Pan, Zhang; Jianxiong, Chen; Tu, Yiliu

2018-04-01

The plasma brightness cannot be used as a direct indicator of ablation depth detection by femtosecond laser was experimentally demonstrated, which led to the difficulty of depth measurement in the maching process. The tests of microchannel milling on the silicon wafer were carried out in the micromachining center in order to obtain the influences of parameters on the ablation depth. The test results showed that the defocusing distance had no significant impact on ablation depth in LAV effective range. Meanwhile, the reason of this was explained in this paper based on the theoretical analysis and simulation calculation. Then it was proven that the ablation depth mainly depends on laser fluence, step distance and scanning velocity. Finally, a research was further carried out to study the laser parameters which relate with the microchannel ablation depth inside the quartz glass for more efficiency and less cost in processing by femtosecond laser.

Development of a selective thin film and of a hermetically sealed flat plate solar collector with gas filling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zernial, W.

1982-12-01

The industrial productibility of a selective absorbing thin film was investigated on the basis of reactive cathodic sputtering of Ni. On substrates of 1.8 sq m of Al, Cu, steel and stainless steel, solar absorption values up to 97% were achieved at emissivities of 5 to 10%. A prototype flat plate collector for high temperatures with two covers and hermetical sealing was developed. The technical data of the collector were measured, dependent on the selectivity of the absorber, gas fillings of dry air, argon or SF6 and the geometry and were compared with those of an evacuated flat plate collector. A hermetical sealed double flat plate collector for low temperatures was developed which has the advantage of lower no load temperatures and higher energy gain for heating swimming pool water compared with a conventional flat plate collector. The insolation values on collectors were measured and were used for a calculation of the energy gains of different collector types.

Stretching and movement of fibroblasts and osteoblasts cultured in microchannel and micropit arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kikuchi, Hiroko E.; Kikuchi, Yuji; Kuboki, Yoshinori

1999-06-01

Tissue cells bind to extracellular matrix (ECM), and this attachment to ECM plays an essential role in their growth, function, and even survival. Furthermore, the geometry of ECM is known to play an additional role in regulation for these cells to proliferate and differentiate so that tissues with normal morphologies can be formed or maintained. We attempted to culture fibroblast, osteoblast, and bone marrow derived cells in previously described microchannel arrays and newly created micropit arrays, both coated with ECM protein collagen, to examine usefulness of microfabricated structures for elucidating 'what is geometry?' for cells. Cells were inseminated in the well in front of a microchannel array and their movement and stretching behavior against the microchannel array including the entrance and exit terraces were observed using a microscope-TV camera-time lapse video recorder system for 24 hours. Cells entered into the entrance terrace and showed active motions including extending pseudopodia into the channels and whole cell passage through the channels, and fully stretched in the entrance terrace in 8 hours or so. Those cells, however, voluntarily detached themselves from the area in another 8 hours or so probably because of worsening condition of nutrient supply there. Micropit arrays used in the present study consist of a regular arrangement of circular or square pits of diameter or side length of 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 600 micrometer and depth of 10 micrometer with one size per array or chip. The total area of the pits was designed to be equal to the rest surface area. After four days of incubation of bone marrow derived cells, the total number of cells and the number of cells in the pits were counted. The former and the ratio of the latter to the former appeared to become maximal when the pits of diameter or side length of 100 and 50 micrometer were used, respectively.

Holographic Associative Memory System Using A Thresholding Microchannel Spatial Light Modulator