Title :
A 2D chamber-free micro droplet generator array controlled by dynamic virtual walls
Author :
Lin, Yen-Liang ; Yang, I-Da ; Chieng, Ching-Chang ; Tseng, Fan-Gang
Author_Institution :
NEMS Inst., Nat. Tsing-Hua Univ., Hsinchu, Taiwan
Abstract :
A chamber-free two-dimensional-array micro droplet generator has been realized by precise time-delayed control of micro bubble arrays as virtual chamber walls. Droplets can be ejected out by the bubbles around the ejection site in specific configuration of excitation, thus replacing physical chamber walls for pressure preservation. The volume, initial speed, and frequency response of the generated droplets was 3.6~3.8 pL, 15 m/s, and 20 kHz, respectively, meeting the standard of commercial printheads. The micro droplet generator is free of satellite droplets due to the precise control of meniscus that undergoes a "push-pull-push" progress which effectively cuts the liquid column short.
Keywords :
boundary layers; bubbles; confined flow; drops; flow control; flow visualisation; microfluidics; nozzles; two-phase flow; 2D chamber-free microdroplet generator array; dynamic virtual chamber walls; flow visualisation; frequency 20 kHz; meniscus; microbubble arrays; microdroplet visualization system; nozzle; physical chamber walls; pressure preservation; push-pull-push progress; satellite droplets; time-delayed control; velocity 15 m/s; Circuits; Crosstalk; Electrostatics; Filters; Frequency response; Ink; Nanoelectromechanical systems; Piezoelectric films; Printing; Satellites;
Conference_Titel :
Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), 2010 IEEE 23rd International Conference on
Conference_Location :
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-5761-8
Electronic_ISBN :
1084-6999
DOI :
10.1109/MEMSYS.2010.5442416
