Microstmctured fluids

Linking this molecular model to observed bulk fluid PVT-composition behavior requires a calculation of the number of possible configurations (microstmctures) of a mixture. There is no exact method available to solve this combinatorial problem (28). ASOG assumes the athermal (no heat of mixing) FIory-Huggins equation for this purpose (118,170,171). UNIQUAC claims to have a formula that avoids this assumption, although some aspects of athermal mixing are still present in the model. 

To address these challenges, chemical engineers will need state-of-the-art analytical instruments, particularly those that can provide information about microstmctures for sizes down to atomic dimensions, surface properties in the presence of bulk fluids, and dynamic processes with time constants of less than a nanosecond. It will also be essential that chemical engineers become familiar with modem theoretical concepts of surface physics and chemistry, colloid physical chemistry, and rheology, particrrlarly as it apphes to free surface flow and flow near solid bormdaries. The application of theoretical concepts to rmderstanding the factors controlling surface properties and the evaluation of complex process models will require access to supercomputers. 

Many complex fluids contain orientable molecules, particles, and microstmctures that rotate underflow, and under electric and magnetic fields. If these molecules or microstructures have anisotropic polarizabilities, then the index of refraction of the sample will be orientation-dependent, and thus the sample will be birefringent. In general, the anisotropic part of the index of refraction is a tensor n that is related to the polarizability a of the sample. The polarizability is the tendency of the sample to become polarized when an electric field is applied thus P = a E, where P is the polarization and E is the imposed electric field. When the anisotropic part of the index of refraction is much smaller than the isotropic part (the usual case), the index-of-refraction tensor n can be related to a by the Lorentz-Lorenz formula ... 

Several recent reviews have discussed the fundaments and applications of PI concepts. Doble [16] has discussed the concept of a green reactor, for example, how process intensification could be achieved by microreactor technology using very high forces, ultra-high pressures, electrical fields, ultrasonics, surfactant-based separations, shorter diffusion and conduction pathways, flow field and fluid microstmcture interactions, and/or size-dependent phenomena. 

Backbone interface based on the bus concept where the flow passes through a central spine has been developed [12]. The modular backbone allows both commercial and demonstration type of microstmctured devices to be coupled in all three dimensions in a flexible and easy manner. Microstmctured heat exchangers, reactors, and mixers made of different manufacturers are surface-mounted on this backbone. The backbone itself consists of elements which can be combined individually and flexibly in all directions, according to the demands of the plant to be built. The backbone provides the flow paths for fluids and electrical conduits for power supply and signal transmission of sensors and actuators as shown in Fig. 5. With this united microreactor system, sulfonation of toluene with gaseous SO3 was successfully conducted to give... 

We have noticed that most current LBM applications to microfluidics utilize LBM as a differential equation solver, and the true merit of this method - a good representation of the underlying microscopic interactions - has not been well exploited. Solid-fluid interfacial phenomena in microsystems could be particularly suitable for LBM, since it couples the fluid and interface dynamics in a natural way. Future directions for research may include utilizing nonuniform or unstructured lattice meshes for complex microstmctures (e.g., surface roughness), combining LBM with molecular dynamics and CFD (hybrid algorithms), and applying LBM to bio-microfluidic systems. 

We have seen earlier that the microemulsion formation is a spontaneous process which is controlled by the nature of amphiphile, oil, and temperature. The mechanical agitation, heating, or even the order of component addition may affect microemulsification. The complex structured fluid may contain various aggregation patterns and morphologies known as microstmctures. Methods like NMR, DLS, dielectric relaxation, SANS, TEM, time-resolved fluorescence quenching (TRFQ), viscosity, ultrasound, conductance, etc. have been used to elucidate the microstructure of microemulsions [25,26]. 

---