Analysis and simulations of droplet generation regimes in a coaxial microfluidic device

Abstract: The generation of microdroplets via segmentation in microfluidic devices is of interest in many applications, from biochemical to pharmaceutical. This technique permits indeed much higher control on the droplet size, uniformity and generation rate than in standard batch generation processes. In this work we have evaluated the suitability of the open-source software Basilisk to accurately predict microdroplet generation by segmentation. We have validated the numerical tool with analytical solutions for the dynamics of droplets in confined flows, namely with Bretherton theory, and by comparison with literature experimental results. We have then performed several campaigns of numerical simulations for a coaxial device, analyzing the different regimes of droplet generation, and evaluating how the physical and flow parameters affect the production mechanisms and {the diameters of the generated droplets}. Finally we have proposed new scaling laws for the prediction of droplet diameters in the dripping and jetting regimes, refining existing ones by taking into account additional physical effects, like the viscosity ratio.