Module 4NE: Microfluidics (SOMS5240M)
The integration of fluid management systems with electronics and sensor technologies promises major advances in bio-medical applications
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic applications of microfluidics across a range of current and potential applications.
- Explain the physics behind modelling fluid mechanics at the micron and sub-micron scale.
- Identify the importance of the Knudsen number and the implications of continuum versus molecular based modelling.
- Understand broadly the physics behind capillary, wetting, surface tension and electrokinetic phenomena.
- Undertake simple micro-capillary flow experiments.
- Model simple microchannel, droplet and thin film flows.
- Discuss the importance of micromixers and micropumps.
Outline syllabus
- Introduction to flow physics and modelling.
- The fluid dynamics of microchannel flows and thin liquid films.
- Modelling: emphasis will be placed on the influences of the Knudsen number and some limitations of continuum effects of capillarity, surface tension, wetting and electrokinetics.
- Applications: microflow sensors and actuators, micro-mixers, micro-droplet generation, micro-pumps.
Back to: Nanoelectronics and nanomechanics
