Collision of water drops with a thin cylinder

The collision of water drops with a thin cylinder is studied. The droplet flight trajectory and the cylinder axis are mutually perpendicular. In the experiments, the drop diameter is 3 mm, and the diameter of horizontal stainless-steel cylinders is 0.4 and 0.8 mm. The drops are formed by a liquid slowly pumped through a vertical stainless-steel capillary with an outer diameter of 0.8 mm, from which droplets are periodically separated under the action of gravity. The droplet velocity before collision is defined by the distance between the capillary cut and the target (cylinder); in experiments, this distance is approximately 5, 10, and 20 mm. The drop velocities before the impact are estimated in the range of 0.2–0.5 m/s. The collision process is monitored by high-speed video recording methods with a frame rate of 240 and 960 Hz. The test liquids are water. Experiments and numerical simulation show that, depending on the drop impact height (droplets velocity) different scenarios of a drop collision with a thin cylinder are possible: a short-term recoil of a drop from an obstacle, a drop flowing around a cylindrical obstacle while maintaining the continuity of the drop, the breakup of a drop into two secondary drops, one of which can continue flight and the other one is captured by the cylinder, or both secondary droplets continue to fly, and the drop can be also captured by the cylinder, until the impact of the next drop(s) forces the accumulated drop to detach from the cylinder. Numerical modeling satisfactorily reproduces the phenomena observed in the experiment.

Simple method for constructing and repairing tissue microarrays using simple equipment

Objective Many methods for tissue microarray (TMA) construction were described in previous reports. Because TMA-based methods are expensive and complicated, their widespread application may be restricted. This study aimed to develop a simple method for TMA construction. Methods High-density TMAs were constructed using simple equipment, and hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining were performed to analyze the effect on the TMA block. Results A recipient block with 162 holes of 0.9 mm in diameter was prepared using a mini-drill and plastic mold. Tissue cores of 1.0 mm in diameter were obtained from multiple donor blocks with stainless-steel capillary tubes driven by the mini-drill. Under the fixation and guidance of the plastic mold, tissue cores could be easily injected into the holes in the recipient block by inserting a stainless-steel wire into the stainless-steel tube with the tissue core and then pressing using the stainless-steel wire. Conclusion A high-density TMA block with 162 1.0-mm cores was created. This new modified technique could be a good alternative in many laboratories.

Highly Sensitive Photoacoustic Microcavity Gas Sensor for Leak Detection

A highly sensitive photoacoustic (PA) microcavity gas sensor for leak detection is proposed. The miniature and low-cost gas sensor mainly consisted of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) microphone and a stainless-steel capillary with two small holes opened on the side wall. Different from traditional PA sensors, the designed low-power sensor had no gas valves and pumps. Gas could diffuse into the stainless-steel PA microcavity from two holes. The volume of the cavity in the sensor was only 7.9 μL. We use a 1650.96 nm distributed feedback (DFB) laser and the second-harmonic wavelength modulation spectroscopy (2f-WMS) method to measure PA signals. The measurement result of diffused methane (CH4) gas shows a response time of 5.8 s and a recovery time of 5.2 s. The detection limit was achieved at 1.7 ppm with a 1-s lock-in integral time. In addition, the calculated normalized noise equivalent absorption (NNEA) coefficient was 1.2 × 10−8 W·cm−1·Hz−1/2. The designed PA microcavity sensor can be used for the early warning of gas leakage.

Novel Preparation of Monodisperse Microbubbles by Integrating Oscillating Electric Fields with Microfluidics

Microbubbles generated by microfluidic techniques have gained substantial interest in various industries such as cosmetics, food engineering, and the biomedical field. The microfluidic T-junction provides exquisite control over processing parameters, however, it relies on pressure driven flows only; therefore, bubble size variation is limited especially for viscous solutions. A novel set-up to superimpose an alternating current (AC) oscillation onto a direct current (DC) field is invented in this work, capitalising on the possibility to excite bubble resonance phenomenon and properties, and introducing relevant parameters such as frequency, AC voltage, and waveform to further control bubble size. A capillary embedded T-junction microfluidic device fitted with a stainless-steel capillary was utilised for microbubble formation. Furthermore, a numerical model of the T-junction was developed by integrating the volume of fluid (VOF) method with the electric module; simulation results were attained for the formation of the microbubbles with a particular focus on the flow fields along the detachment of the emerging bubble. Two main types of experiments were conducted in this framework: the first was to test the effect of applied AC voltage magnitude and the second was to vary the applied frequency. Experimental results indicated that higher frequencies have a pronounced effect on the bubble diameter within the 100 Hz and 2.2 kHz range, whereas elevated AC voltages tend to promote bubble elongation and growth. Computational results suggest there is a uniform velocity field distribution along the bubble upon application of a superimposed field and that microbubble detachment is facilitated by the recirculation of the dispersed phase. Furthermore, an ideal range of parameters exists to tailor monodisperse bubble size for specific applications.

Characterization of Thermal Striping in Liquid Sodium With Optical Fiber Sensors

This study characterized the magnitude, spatial profile, and frequency spectrum of thermal striping at a junction using a novel sodium-deployable optical fiber temperature sensor. Additionally, this study revealed for the first time the capability of performing cross correlation velocimetry (CCV) with an optical fiber to acquire fluid flow rates in a pipe. Optical fibers were encapsulated in stainless steel capillary tubes with an inert cover gas for high-temperature sodium deployment. Plots of temperature oscillation range as a function of two-dimensional space highlighted locations prone to mechanical failure for particular flow momentum ratios. The effect of inlet sodium temperature differential and bulk flow rate on thermal striping behavior was also explored. The power spectral density (PSD) revealed that the striping temperature oscillations occurred at frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 6 Hz. Finally, the bulk flow rate of liquid sodium was calculated from thermal striping's periodic temperature oscillations using cross correlation velocimetry for flow rates of 0.25–5.74 L/min.

Effects of Liquid Viscosity on Bubble Growth From Submerged Orifice Plates

Experimental investigation of bubble growth from orifice plates submerged in pools of viscous liquids has been carried out using high speed videography. Conflicting effects of viscosity on ebullience have been reported in the literature. These are addressed in the present study and their range of applicability has been identified. Furthermore, the effects of chamber volume on bubble dynamics in viscous media are examined. Orifice plates made of Acrylic glass (a hydrophilic surface) with varying orifice diameters from 0.813 mm to 1.500 mm, have been utilized. Additionally, bubble dynamics from a stainless steel capillary nozzle was captured and compared with that from orifice plates. The six different liquid pools were used, viz., pure distilled water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, and three different aqueous glycerol solutions. The aqueous glycerol solutions varied in viscosity from 48 cP to 128 cP. The flow rate was regulated such that the isolated bubble regime was encountered. For the smaller orifices, viscosity effects were present at all flow rates and the bubbles in water-glycerol solutions were much larger than those in pure water. However, for the larger orifice sizes, water-glycerol solutions produced bubbles that were larger than those in water only at high air flow rates. For larger orifice sizes, at low flow rates, there was no increase in bubble size in highly viscous water-glycerol solutions compared to pure water. In fact, with 1.5 mm diameter plate orifice, the bubbles for 128 cP water-glycerol solution were smaller than those in pure water at low air flow rates. When chamber effects were present, the bubbles in the more viscous medium differed in shape and size from those in pure water.

Plasma regime transition in a needle-FAPA desorption/ionization source

The needle-Flowing Atmospheric Pressure Afterglow (n-FAPA) is a miniaturized plasma device with Ambient Desorption/Ionization capabilities. It is generated in flowing He using two concentric electrodes: a stainless steel capillary tube (outer electrode), and a hypodermic needle with a bevel-cut edge (inner electrode).