In this study, the nonlinear effect of contactless bubble–bubble interactions in inertial micropumps is characterized via reduced parameter one-dimensional and three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (3D CFD) modeling. A one-dimensional pump model is developed to account for contactless bubble-bubble interactions, and the accuracy of the developed one-dimensional model is assessed via the commercial volume of fluid CFD software, FLOW-3D. The FLOW-3D CFD model is validated against experimental bubble dynamics images as well as experimental pump data. Precollapse and postcollapse bubble and flow dynamics for two resistors in a channel have been successfully explained by the modified one-dimensional model. The net pumping effect design space is characterized as a function of resistor placement and firing time delay. The one-dimensional model accurately predicts cumulative flow for simultaneous resistor firing with inner-channel resistor placements (0.2L < x < 0.8L where L is the channel length) as well as delayed resistor firing with inner-channel resistor placements when the time delay is greater than the time required for the vapor bubble to fill the channel cross section. In general, one-dimensional model accuracy suffers at near-reservoir resistor placements and short time delays which we propose is a result of 3D bubble-reservoir interactions and transverse bubble growth interactions, respectively, that are not captured by the one-dimensional model. We find that the one-dimensional model accuracy improves for smaller channel heights. We envision the developed one-dimensional model as a first-order rapid design tool for inertial pump-based microfluidic systems operating in the contactless bubble–bubble interaction nonlinear regime.

中文翻译：

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使用集成惯性泵对微通道中非接触式气泡与气泡的相互作用进行建模

在这项研究中，通过减少参数的一维和三维计算流体动力学（3D CFD）建模来表征惯性微型泵中非接触式气泡与气泡相互作用的非线性效应。开发一维泵模型以解决非接触式气泡与气泡之间的相互作用，并通过商业化的流体CFD软件FLOW-3D评估开发的一维模型的准确性。FLOW-3D CFD模型针对实验气泡动力学图像以及实验泵数据进行了验证。修改后的一维模型已成功解释了通道中两个电阻器的塌陷前和塌陷后气泡和流动动力学。净抽运效果设计空间的特征是电阻放置和点火时间延迟的函数。一维模型可准确预测内部通道电阻放置时同时触发电阻（0.2L <x <0.8L，其中L为通道长度）的累积流量，以及在延时时使用内部通道电阻放置时延迟触发的电阻大于气泡充满通道横截面所需的时间。通常，一维模型的精度在靠近储层的电阻器位置和短时延时会受到影响，我们建议这是3D气泡-储层相互作用和横向气泡生长相互作用的结果，而一维模型无法捕获这些相互作用。我们发现，一维模型的精度随着通道高度的减小而提高。