ROSE-HULMAN Institute of Technology

Departments of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering

CHEM470, ME497 Microfluidics

Homework 4

(Due Tuesday, January 13, 2008)

1. A constant flowrate ∀& of fluid B is used to flush a volume ∀ initially filled with fluid A. The
B 0

&
volumetric flowrate leaving ∀ is a constant ∀ . Find expressions for the amount of mass of
0 out

fluid A and fluid B in the volume at any time t assuming ideal mixing.

&
∀ out

& , ρB,in
∀ B
∀ 0 initially filled
with fluid A

2. Consider the flow of an incompressible liquid through a microneedle with a circular cross section.
For steady fully-developed laminar flow, the flow direction velocity profile is given by

u(r) = Uo[1-r2/R2]

where u is the velocity as a function of radial coordinate r, Uo is the maximum (center line)
velocity in the channel, and R is the radius of the microneedle.

a. Find the volumetric flowrate as a function of Uo and R

b. From conservation of mass and the result from part a, show that the the velocity of the
flat profile at the entrance of the needle is given by Uo/2.
c. For a microneedle 500 μm long with an inside radius of 40 μm, find the entrance length if
it must deliver 100 μL/min of fluid. Is the entrance length significant compared to the
length of the needle? Assume the fluid has the properties of water at room temperature
and pressure. (Hint: What velocity will you need to calculate the Reynolds number?)