Analysis and Experimental Study of the Flow Characteristics in a Micro-Channel

Abstract

To study the flow characteristics of low-speed fluid in a micro-channel, a model including the silk gland middle section, transition section, and forepart of a silkworm silk gland was established. The flow characteristics of silk solution therein were studied, and under the same average velocity, the flow characteristics of water were investigated for comparison with those of the silk solution. Results show that under the same average velocity, the axial velocity of the water was lower than that of the silk solution; the resistance coefficient change is the same, the resistance coefficient (both in the middle section and forepart) is constant, and in the conical channel, the resistance coefficient decreases linearly. At different average velocities, the variation of the water-related parameters was consistent; the conical channel differential pressure accounted for about 1.14% of the full differential pressure, and the straight channel pressure difference was 98.6%. With increasing outlet velocity, the shear layer of the silk solution gradually thinned, and the frictional pressure gradient decreased while the flow resistance also decreased. Later the flow characteristics of water and protein in the conical channel were studied and the changing relationship of the resistance coefficient and Reynolds number was analyzed. Finally, experimental research was undertaken on a micro-channel: the data were compared to simulated values, and the error was within 6%.

Keywords

• Micro-flow
• Micro-channel
• Flow characteristic
• Silk