What is the impact of changing channel size in microfluidic devices?

[frenchero]

HI!

I have a question about microfluidic devices. When you enlarge a channel, for example from 100µm to 2mm, is there a big variation of flow rate or back pressure? I can't find the equation to solve this issue.

Thank you
damien

 

[ank_gl]

100µm to 2mm dia will decrease the viscous friction many many times.

 

[petitchercheu]

The channel dimension strongly influence the fluidic resistance of the system. it depend if you change or not the smaller dimension of the system. The better is to use the simplified navier stocke equation which work in microfluidic. You can find a tutorial about that at the following adress :
http://www.elveflow.com/cms.php?id_cms=24"

If you don't find the answer of you question here , just ask me and I would try to answers you.