W2023, MECH 4510, Advanced Mechanical Technologies Assignment 4

Due date: April 7, 2022 on eClass

Question 1: What are the volumetric flow rate (Q) and pressure drop (∆ p ) in a microchannel
that is 5cm long with a radius of 0.1mm, if the average velocity in the channel is V ave=100µm/s?
Assume water flowing in the channel at 20 degrees centigrade. Calculate the volumetric flow
rate using the approach thought in the class as well as the common equation of Q=V aveA, where
A is the cross section of the microchannel. Compare the results and discuss the differences (if
any).

Question 2: Calculate the pressure difference that must be applied to deliver 10 𝜇l of liquid in
0.1 seconds through a channel having a length L = 1mm and a constant radius of r = 0.1mm.
Assume that the liquid has a viscosity of 𝜇 = 9 x 10−4 Pa s. Justify if it is reasonable to assume the
flow through the channel is laminar.

Question 3: For a channel with a cross section of 100 μm by 100 μm (square) and having a
length L = 1 mm, the objective is to deliver a volume flow rate of 100 𝜇l each hour. Calculate the
pressure difference that is required to deliver this volume flow rate for an assumed liquid with a
viscosity of 9 x 10−4 Pa s.

Question 4: A drop of water (of density equal to 1000 kg/m3 and viscosity of 1 mPa s) is placed
between two flat 10 cm by 10 cm glass cover slides that are pressed together such that there is
a distance d =10 μm between the slides that is filled by the water. One glass slide is moved with
respect to the other at a velocity of 200 μm/s (such that the slides remain at a fixed separation
distance and parallel). Model the flow between these plates as a Couette flow and assume that
total size of the plates remains as 10 cm x 10 cm for a small movement.
a) What is the Reynolds number for this flow, is laminar flow a reasonable assumption?
b) What is the force required to move the slide?

Question 5: A micro-mixer is used to create

a mixture of six chemicals (from ports 1-6),
where each is in a solution of water (i.e.
assume properties of water, and that this is
the same for each channel). For the mixer,
you may assume the pressure at the inlet is
the same for each and is noted at p0+Δp. At
the outlet the pressure is given as p0. You are
required to (a) construct the equivalent
circuit diagram and (b) calculate the total
hydraulic resistance. Note the mixer is
symmetric, i.e. length of channel 1 is the
same as that of 4, and 2 is the same length of 5, etc.