Droplet generator based on high aspect ratio induced droplet self-breakup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10632479-B2
Application number	US-201615547763-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2016
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Apr 28, 2020
Grant date	Apr 28, 2020

Abstract

A droplet generator apparatus and droplet generation method based on high aspect ratio induced droplet self-breakup are provided. The droplet generator apparatus includes a channel ( 1 ) and a nozzle ( 2 ) connected to the channel( 1 ), and the aspect ratio of the channel ( 1 ) can be 3.0 or greater. The apparatus may further include a blocking rail ( 10 ) that is positioned in front of the nozzle ( 2 ), a supplying rail( 9 ) that is positioned in front of the nozzle ( 2 ), and a supplying trench ( 8 ) formed in a space between the nozzle ( 2 ) and the supplying rail ( 9 ).

First claim

We claim:

1. An apparatus for producing droplets comprising:
a channel having an inlet, a middle section, and an outlet having an opening;
a nozzle connected to the outlet of the channel; and
a chamber into which the outlet of the channel opens and configured to receive droplets produced by the channel,
wherein an aspect ratio of the channel, which is a ratio of a height of the opening of the outlet of the channel to a width of the opening of the outlet of the channel, is 3.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 3.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel,
wherein a height of the chamber is the same as that of the outlet of the channel,
wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a blocking rail that is positioned in front of the nozzle;
a supplying rail that is positioned in front of the nozzle;
a supplying trench formed in a space between the nozzle and the supplying rail; and
a filter before the inlet of the channel,
wherein the outlet of the channel is angled relative to the nozzle,
wherein the outlet of the channel is perpendicular to the nozzle,
wherein the nozzle includes a recess or notch on a side of the outlet of the channel, and
wherein the chamber is configured to provide a cross flow of continuous phase fluid.

2. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the middle section of the channel includes bends or curves.

3. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to produce droplets with a diameter in a range of 15 μm to 40 μm or with a frequency of 0.5 Hz to 50 Hz.

4. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the channel is 7.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 7.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel.

5. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the channel is 4.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 4.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel.

6. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the channel is 5.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 5.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel.

7. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 , wherein the aspect ratio of the channel is 6.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 6.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel.

8. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 1 ,
wherein the apparatus is configured to produce droplets with a diameter in a range of 15 μm to 40 μm or with a frequency of 0.5 Hz to 50 Hz,
and
wherein the aspect ratio of the channel is 7.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 7.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel.

9. The apparatus for producing droplets of claim 8 , wherein the middle section of the channel includes bends or curves.

10. An apparatus for producing droplets comprising: a plurality of a high aspect ratio induced droplet self-breakup structure (HIDS) structures, wherein each HIDS structure of the plurality of HIDS structures comprises:
a channel having an inlet, a middle section, and an outlet having an opening, wherein an aspect ratio of the channel, which is a ratio of a height of the opening of the outlet of the channel to a width of the opening of the outlet of the channel, is 3.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of the channel is at least 3.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of the channel; and
a nozzle connected to the outlet of the channel,
wherein the apparatus further comprises a chamber into which the outlet of each channel opens and configured to receive droplets produced by the HIDS structures,
wherein a height of the chamber is the same as that of the outlet of each channel,
wherein each HIDS structure of the plurality of HIDS structures further comprises:
a blocking rail that is positioned in front of the nozzle; a supplying rail that is positioned in front of the nozzle;
a supplying trench formed in a space between the nozzle and the supplying rail; and
a filter before the inlet of the channel,
wherein the outlet of each channel is angled relative to the nozzle,
wherein the outlet of each channel is perpendicular to the nozzle,
wherein each nozzle includes a recess or notch on a side of the outlet of the channel, and
wherein the chamber is configured to provide a cross flow of continuous phase fluid.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the HIDS structures form a perimeter configured to contain dispersed fluid and allow the dispersed fluid to flow through the HIDS structures.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the HIDS structures form a wall configured to contain the dispersed fluid on one side of the wall and allow it to flow through the HIDS structures.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the HIDS structures are vertically stacked.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the middle section of each of the channels has curves or bends.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the chamber is configured to provide the cross flow of continuous phase fluid to carry away droplets produced by the HIDS structures.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is configured to produce droplets with a diameter in a range of 15 μm to 40 μm or with a frequency of 0.5 Hz to 50 Hz out of each of the channels.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the aspect ratio of each channel is 7.0 or greater, such that the height of the opening of the outlet of each channel is at least 7.0 times greater than the width of the opening of the outlet of said channel.

18. A method of producing droplets, the method comprising:
providing the apparatus according to claim 1 ; and
passing a dispersed fluid through the channel and out of the nozzle such that droplets are formed in a continuous phase fluid.

Assignees

• Univ Hong Kong Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Yao Shuhuai
• Zhou Hongbo
• Xu Xiaonan
• Lu Jianjie

Classifications

• B01L2300/0867

  Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution · CPC title

• B05B1/10 Primary

  in the form of a fine jet, e.g. for use in wind-screen washers · CPC title

• B01L2300/0681

  Filter · CPC title

• B01L3/502784

  specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics · CPC title

• B05B12/082

  responsive to a condition of the discharged jet or spray, e.g. to jet shape, spray pattern or droplet size · CPC title