Electroosmotic flow of non‐Newtonian fluids in a constriction microchannel

Insulator‐based dielectrophoresis has to date been almost entirely restricted to Newtonian fluids despite the fact that many of the chemical and biological fluids exhibit non‐Newtonian characteristics. We present herein an experimental study of the fluid rheological effects on the electroosmotic flow of four types of polymer solutions, i.e., 2000 ppm xanthan gum (XG), 5% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), 3000 ppm polyethylene oxide (PEO), and 200 ppm polyacrylamide (PAA) solutions, through a constriction microchannel under DC electric fields of up to 400 V/cm. We find using particle streakline imaging that the fluid elasticity does not change significantly the electroosmotic flow pattern of weakly shear‐thinning PVP and PEO solutions from that of a Newtonian solution. In contrast, the fluid shear‐thinning causes multiple pairs of flow circulations in the weakly elastic XG solution, leading to a central jet with a significantly enhanced speed from before to after the channel constriction. These flow vortices are, however, suppressed in the strongly viscoelastic and shear‐thinning PAA solution.     

Elastic instabilities in the electroosmotic flow of non-Newtonian fluids through T-shaped microchannels

Electroosmotic flow (EOF) has been widely used to transport fluids and samples in micro- and nanofluidic channels for lab-on-a-chip applications. This essentially surface-driven plug-like flow is, however, sensitive to both the fluid and wall properties, of which any inhomogeneity may draw disturbances to the flow and even instabilities. Existing studies on EOF instabilities have been focused primarily upon Newtonian fluids though many of the chemical and biological solutions are actually non-Newtonian. We carry out a systematic experimental investigation of the fluid rheological effects on the elastic instability in the EOF of phosphate buffer-based polymer solutions through T-shaped microchannels. We find that electro-elastic instabilities can be induced in shear thinning polyacrylamide (PAA) and xanthan gum (XG) solutions if the applied direct current voltage is above a threshold value. However, no instabilities are observed in Newtonian or weakly shear thinning viscoelastic fluids including polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and hyaluronic acid (HA) solutions. We also perform a quantitative analysis of the wave parameters for the observed elasto-elastic instabilities.     

Electrohydrostatically driven flow and instability in a vertical hele-shaw cell

The electrohydrostatic capillary-driven flow of a viscous poorly conducting Newtonian fluid rising between conducting parallel plates is studied both theoretically and experimentally. By scaling the problem with a pressure and time derived by considering Maxwell stresses along the interface, it is determined that the dimensionless parameters governing the flow are the hydrostatic bond (Bo(H)), electrostatic bond (Bo(E)) and electrostatic Reynolds (Re(E)) numbers. A lubrication theory analysis, in the limit Re(E) --> 0, of the momentum balance leads to an analytical solution for the elapsed time versus interface position that is analogous to one derived by Washburn (1921) for the capillary pressure-driven flow of a fluid in cylindrical capillaries (Washburn, E. W. Phys. Rev. 1921, 17 (3), 273-283). Experiments are performed using silicone and castor oil at gap spacing less than the capillary length for two ranges of electrostatic Reynolds numbers 0.001 < Re(E) < 0.01 and 10 < Re(E) < 1000. The experimental results for the interface displacement as a function of elapsed time are compared with the theoretical predictions. At large electrostatic Reynolds numbers (>1), a convective instability is observed in plots of the interface position as a function of time. The propagating front also reveals an interfacial instability for large electrostatic Reynolds numbers coupled with large fluid displacements. The theory and experiments for the static rise height show good agreement with theory while the flow dynamics show good qualitative agreement in the applicable limits at low electrostatic Reynolds numbers.     

Localized flow birefringence of polyethylene oxide solutions in a two roll mill

Experimental observations are reported of the behavior of solutions between two rotating parallel rollers where the form of the flow field between corotating rollers corresponds to that of a col which has nonorthogonal asymptotes. The obliquity of the asymptotes of the flow gives a direct measure of the relative magnitude of the constituent pure shear and rotational components of the flow field. Flow birefringence observations of polyethylene oxide solutions between the corotating rollers show that molecular orientation is limited to a highly localized region near the “outgoing” asymptotic sheet of the flow field in accordance with the predictions of a “persistent extensional flow” analysis presented. Counterrotating rollers show no flow birefringence also as expected. The behavior of polymer solutions and Newtonian fluids are compared. With increasing strain rate using corotating rollers the obliquity of the asymptotes of the flow remains constant for the Newtonian fluid but changes significantly for the polymer solution.     

Rheology of aqueous poly(ethylene oxide) solutions reinforced with bentonite clay

The rheological properties of bentonite clay-filled aqueous solutions of high-molecular-mass poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) have been studied. The PEO solution is a typical polymer solution characterized by the highest Newtonian viscosity and the range of non-Newtonian flow. The addition of small amounts of bentonite to the PEO solution causes passage to a viscoplastic behavior that manifests itself as the appearance of the yield stress. Therewith, the flow at the highest Newtonian viscosity in the region of low shear stresses (rather than rates) remains possible. After passing through the yield stress, the effect of antithixotropy, i.e., an increase in the viscosity with the deformation rate in a certain shear rate region, has been observed for the multicomponent systems. The data obtained have been interpreted assuming that the addition of the solid filler to the polymer solution destroys the random network of entanglements between macromolecules, while the presence of the polymer in the clay suspension reduces the strength of the coagulation structure of bentonite.     

三种不同基体中玻璃微球悬浮体系的流变行为

三种不同基体中玻璃微球悬浮体系的流变行为吴大诚，陈军武，徐建军，杜鹏，顾群，李玉景（成都科技大学纺织工学院成都６１００６５）关键词高分子流变学，Ｂｏｇｅｒ流体，悬浮体，聚异戊二烯悬浮体的流体动力学研究始于本世纪初，Ｅｉｎｓｔｅｉｎ“对极稀悬浮体粘度的...     

煤加氢液化残渣的流变特性研究

采用从煤直接液化实验装置取得的液化残渣,研究了它的流变性及温度和油、沥青质、固体含量对其流变性的影响。液化残渣是剪切变稀的非牛顿型假塑性流体,非牛顿指数随温度升高而不断减小,温度越高越接近牛顿流体行为。液化残渣对温度非常敏感,在升温过程中其表观黏度下降很快,且没有出现黏度峰。在液化残渣中加入少量的循环油后其表观黏度大幅下降;而在加入少量沥青质后则表现出低温下黏度变大,高温下黏度变小的现象;固体含量则始终是黏度增大的因素,表明其黏度与油、沥青质和固体含量关系密切。液化残渣的黏度－温度关系符合Arrhenius关系式,但在升温过程中出现了拐点,低温段的黏流活化能比高温段的要大。     

Flow‐induced particle orientation and rheological properties of suspensions of organoclays in thermoplastic resins

The influence of nano‐scale particles on the viscoelastic properties of polymer suspensions is investigated. We have developed a simulation technique for the particle orientation and polymer conformation tensors to study various features of the suspensions. The nano‐particles are modeled as thin rigid oblate spheroid particles and the polymers as FENE‐P type viscoelastic and Newtonian fluid. Both interparticle and polymer‐particle interactions have been taken into account in our numerical computations. The nonlinear viscoelastic properties of nanocomposites of layered silicate particles in non‐Newtonian fluids are examined at the start‐up of shear flow and are interpreted using the model to examine the effects of model parameters as well as flow conditions on particle orientation, viscosity, and first normal stress difference of the suspensions. We have studied the microstructure of polymer‐clay nanocomposites using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) scattering and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The rheology of these nanocomposites in step‐shear is shown to be fairly well predicted by the model. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 2003–2011, 2010     

The rheology of pseudoplastic fluids in porous media using network modeling

This paper considers the rheology of pseudoplastic (shear thinning) fluids in porous media. The central problem studied is the relationship between the viscometric behavior of the polymer solution and its observed behavior in the porous matrix. In the past, a number of macroscopic approaches have been applied, usually based on capillary bundle models of the porous medium. These simplified models have been used along with constitutive equations describing the fluid behavior (usually of power law type) to establish semiempirical macroscopic equations describing the flow of non-Newtonian fluids in porous media. This procedure has been reasonably successful in correlating experimental results on the flow of polymer solutions through both consolidated and unconsolidated porous materials. However, it does not allow an interpretation of polymer flow in porous media in terms of the flows on a microscopic scale; nor does it allow us to predict changes in macroscopic behavior resulting from variations at a microscopic level in the characteristics of the porous medium such as pore size distribution. In this work, we use a network approach to the modeling of non-Newtonian rheology, in order to understand some of the more detailed features of polymjer flow in porous media. This approach provides a mathematical bridge between the behavior of the non-Newtonian fluid in a single capillary and the macroscopic behavior as deduced from the pressure drop-flow rate relation across the whole network model. It demonstrates the importance of flow redistribution within the elements of the capillary network as the overall pressure gradient varies. As an example of a pseudoplastic fluid in a porous medium, we consider the flow of xanthan biopolymer. This polymer is important as a displacing fluid viscosifier in enhanced oil recovery applications and, for that reason, a considerable amount of experimental data has been published on the flow of xanthan solutions in various porous media.     

部分水解聚丙烯酰胺与蠕虫状胶束在微米级毛细管中的驱替粘度

部分水解聚丙烯酰胺(HPAMs)被大量地用作三次采油中驱替液的增稠剂,表面活性剂在一定的条件下可以通过自组装形成蠕虫状胶束,具有与高分子相似的增稠的作用。本文在半径为1–10 μm的毛细管中,分别考察了HPAMs与蠕虫状胶束的微观驱替行为,研究结果表示毛细管内腔的尺寸限制了这些非牛顿流体的增稠作用。随着毛细管半径的减小,聚合物溶液的剪切变稀越剧烈,甚至从非牛顿流体转变为牛顿流体的流体行为。结合驱替研究和超滤、电镜的结果,证明了高分子的缠绕结构在毛细管中已被破坏。通过对比驱替数据,蠕虫状胶束在毛细管中能够更大程度地保留宏观的粘度,我们提出表面活性剂能够通过自组装修复被破坏的缠绕结构,比高分子聚合物在微观有限空间中有更好的增稠能力。     

Transient molecular dynamics simulations of viscosity for simple fluids

A transient molecular dynamics (TMD) method has been developed for simulation of fluid viscosity. In this method a sinusoidal velocity profile is instantaneously overlaid onto equilibrated molecular velocities, and the subsequent decay of that velocity profile is observed. The viscosity is obtained by matching in a least-squares sense the analytical solution of the corresponding momentum transport boundary-value problem to the simulated decay of the initial velocity profile. The method was benchmarked by comparing results obtained from the TMD method for a Lennard-Jones fluid with those previously obtained using equilibrium molecular dynamics (EMD) simulations. Two different constitutive models were used in the macroscopic equations to relate the shear rate to the stress. Results using a Newtonian fluid model agree with EMD results at moderate densities but exhibit an increasingly positive error with increasing density at high densities. With the initial velocity profiles used in this study, simulated transient velocities displayed clear viscoelastic behavior at dimensionless densities above 0.7. However, the use of a linear viscoelastic model reproduces the simulated transient velocity behavior well and removes the high-density bias observed in the results obtained under the assumption of Newtonian behavior. The viscosity values obtained using the viscoelastic model are in excellent agreement with the EMD results over virtually the entire fluid domain. For simplicity, the Newtonian fluid model can be used at lower densities and the viscoelastic model at higher densities; the two models give equivalent results at intermediate densities.     

Droplet migration in emulsion systems measured using MR methods

The migration of emulsion droplets under shear flow remains a largely unexplored area of study, despite the existence of an extensive literature on the analogous problem of solid particle migration. A novel methodology is presented to track the shear-induced migration of emulsion droplets based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The work is in three parts: first, single droplets of one Newtonian fluid are suspended in a second Newtonian fluid (water in silicone oil (PDMS)) and are tracked as they migrate within a Couette cell; second, the migration of emulsion droplets in Poiseuille flow is considered; third, water-in-silicone oil emulsions are sheared in a Couette cell. The effect of (a) rotational speed of the Couette, (b) the continuous phase viscosity, and (c) the droplet phase concentration are considered. The equilibrium extent of migration and rate of migration increase with rotational speed for two different emulsion systems and increased continuous phase viscosity, leads to a greater equilibrium extent of migration. The relationship between the droplet phase concentration and migration is however complex. These results for semi-concentrated emulsion systems and wide-gap Couette cells are not well described by existing models of emulsion droplet migration.     

Mesoscopic patterning in evaporated polymer solutions: new experimental data and physical mechanisms

Mesoscopically ordered patterns were obtained when polymer solutions were applied to tilted substrates and evaporated immediately under ambient conditions in a slow air current. The patterns were studied with optical, scanning electron, and atomic force microscopy. Shadowgraph visualization of the patterning was carried out, and visualization of the flow with an ink tracer was performed. Restrained and nonrestrained flows of the polymer solution gave rise to very similar patterning. The formation of the patterns on different solid substrates, including substrates wetted with silicon oil, was investigated. The concentration of the polymer solutions exerted an influence on the characteristic dimension of mesoscaled cells. A physical mechanism of the patterning is proposed. The mechanism is based on the mass transport instability occurring under the intensive evaporation of the solvent. The model satisfactorily explains the experimental findings.     

Studies on the Preparation and Properties of Organic Acid Aluminate Linked Polyacrylamide

The organic acid aluminate (AlOA) was used as a linked agent to enhance the viscosity of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM) solution. The influencing factors, such as HPAM concentration, pH, temperature, and salinity on the linked polymer system were probed via the investigations on rheological properties, microstructure, and location of the linked polymer systems. The result show that the scattered gelatin particles are contained in the linked polymer network structure. The system behaves as mainly elasticity, and the system belongs to the linear viscoelastic fluid. For the solution with elasticity, its subsequent fluid not only has a boost effect on the front fluid, but also the front fluid has a stronger effect of “drawing” and “dragging” on its side and subsequent fluid. Therefore, it will be important in both theory investigation and the actual oil recovery.     

Two-phase flow in microfluidic-chip design of hydrodynamic filtration for cell particle sorting

As one of the flow-based passive sorting, the hydrodynamic filtration using a microfluidic-chip has shown to effectively separate into different sizes of subpopulations from cell or particle suspensions. Its model framework involving two-phase Newtonian or generalized Newtonian fluid (GNF) was developed, by performing the complete analysis of laminar flow and complicated networks of main and multiple branch channels. To predict rigorously what occurs in flow fields, we estimated pressure drop, velocity profile, and the ratio of the flow fraction at each branch point, in which the analytical model was validated with numerical flow simulations. As a model fluid of the GNF, polysaccharide solution based on Carreau type was examined. The objective parameters aiming practical channel design include the number of the branches and the length of narrow section of each branch for arbitrary conditions. The flow fraction and the number of branches are distinctly affected by the viscosity ratio between feed and side flows. As the side flow becomes more viscous, the flow fraction increases but the number of branches decreases, which enables a compact chip designed with fewer branches being operated under the same throughput. Hence, our rational design analysis indicates the significance of constitutive properties of each stream.     

Experimental study of the immiscible displacement of shear-thinning fluids in pore networks

The pore scale mechanisms and network scale transient pattern of the immiscible displacement of a shear-thinning nonwetting oil phase (NWP) by a Newtonian wetting aqueous phase (WP) are investigated. Visualization imbibition experiments are performed on transparent glass-etched pore networks at a constant unfavorable viscosity ratio and varying values of the capillary number (Ca), and equilibrium contact angle (theta(e)). Dispersions of ozokerite in paraffin oil are used as the shear-thinning NWP, and aqueous solutions of PEG colored with methylene blue are used as the Newtonian WP. At high Ca values, the tip splitting and lateral spreading of WP viscous fingers are suppressed; at intermediate Ca values, the primary viscous fingers expand laterally with the growth of smaller capillary fingers; at low Ca values, network spanning clusters of capillary fingers separated by hydraulically conductive noninvaded zones of NWP arise. The spatial distribution of the mobility of shear-thinning NWP over the pore network is very broad. Pore network regions of low NWP mobility are invaded through a precursor advancement/swelling mechanism even at relatively high Ca and theta(e) values; this mechanism leads to irregular interfacial configurations and retention of a substantial amount of NWP along pore walls; it becomes the dominant mechanism in displacements performed at low Ca and theta(e) values. The residual NWP saturation increases and the end WP relative permeability decreases as Ca increases and both become more sensitive to this parameter as the shear-thinning behavior strengthens. The shear-thinning NWP is primarily entrapped in individual pores of the network rather than in clusters of pores bypassed by the WP. At relatively high flow rates, the amplitude of the variations of pressure drop, caused by fluid redistribution in the pore network, increase with shear-thinning strengthening, whereas at low flow rates, the motion of stable and unstable menisci in pores is reflected in strong pressure drop fluctuations.     

Comparative PIV and LDA studies of Newtonian and non-Newtonian flows in an agitated tank

The paper presents results of an experimental study of the fluid velocity field in a stirred tank equipped with a Prochem Maxflo T (PMT) type impeller which was rotating at a constant frequency of N = 4.1 or 8.2 s^?1 inducing transitional (Re = 499 or 1307) or turbulent (Re = 2.43 × 10⁴) flow of the fluid. The experiments were performed for a Newtonian fluid (water) and a non-Newtonian fluid (0.2 wt% aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) exhibiting mild viscoelastic properties. Measurements were carried out using laser light scattering on tracer particles which follow the flow (2-D PIV). For both the water and the CMC solution one primary and two secondary circulation loops were observed within the fluid volume; however, the secondary loops were characterized by much lower intensity. The applied PMT-type impeller produced in the Newtonian fluid an axial primary flow, whilst in the non-Newtonian fluid the flow was more radial. The results obtained in the form of the local mean velocity components were in satisfactory agreement with the literature data from LDA. Distribution of the shear rate in the studied system was also analyzed. For the non-Newtonian fluid an area was computed where the elastic force dominates over the viscous one. The area was nearly matching the region occupied by the primary circulation loop.     

A PDMS viscometer for assaying endoglucanase activity

A poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) viscometer was developed to analyze the activity of endo-β-1,4-glucanases (EC3.2.1.4) on hydrolyzing sodium carboxymethylcellulose (NaCMC). In the viscometer, a PDMS pump was used as the vacuum source to drive the fluid flow in the PDMS microchannel. The numerical simulation by COMSOL suggested that the vacuum level of the PDMS pump increased during the viscosity measurement. The increasing vacuum level of the PDMS pump allowed more stable fluid flow than the constant vacuum of the conventional vacuum pump. By monitoring the fluids traveling in the microchannel, the viscosity of the endoglucanase-NaCMC solution was derived at different reaction times. The non-Newtonian behavior of the NaCMC solution was studied to ensure that the viscosity measurement was performed in the Newtonian range. A protocol was established to convert the viscometric activity to the activity of standard international units with Almin's method. The PDMS viscometer required only 20 μL sample for the endoglucanase assay and the results were in good agreement with the results from Ubbelohde viscometers.     

Flow Mechanism of Partially Cross-Linked Polyacrylamide in Porous Media

Partially cross-linked polyacrylamides (PCPAM) were prepared, and their rheological property, gel content, swelling property, and suspension property in saline solution were analyzed in laboratory. The goal of the research was to study the flow mechanism of PCPAM as a novel oil displacement agent in porous media. The migration behaviors of PCPAM were studied by single and series connection of double-tube sandpacked core flow experiments. The results showed that there was a critical pressure existing in the migration of PCPAM particles in porous media, and the migration was a dynamic process of plugging and flooding at the same time. When the pressure reached the critical pressure, the PCPAM particles would deform to pass through the pore throat and go ahead. Besides, the profile control experiments were conducted using a parallel connection of double-tube sandpacked core models, and the results revealed that PCPAM could generate “fluid diversion” and enlarge the swept volume of the lower permeable core. Moreover, micro-visualization displacement experiments were also carried out and proved that PCPAM could plug the high permeable pore throat to enlarge the swept volume, leading to an enhancement in oil recovery.