IN SITU CONTROL OF FLUID MENISCI

• Main Authors: RASCÓN DIAZ, Carlos, PARRY, Andrew, AARTS, Dirk
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 21.12.2016
• Subjects: BLASTING; FLUID DYNAMICS, i.e. METHODS OR MEANS FOR INFLUENCING THE FLOWOF GASES OR LIQUIDS; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS; HEATING; HYDRAULICS OR PNEUMATICS IN GENERAL; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MICROSTRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PROCESSES OR APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTUREOR TREATMENT OF MICROSTRUCTURAL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS

A system includes a non-vertical channel containing a fluid forming a fluid meniscus having a capillary length and a contact angle θ. The channel in cross-section has a perimeter length |Σ| and an area |Ω|. The cross-section of the non-vertical channel is selected so as to define a constant Lagrange multiplier λ, where λ=|Σ|cos θ/|Ω|. A functional Φ[Γ*]Ξ|Γ*|−cos θ|Σ*|+(1/a2)G*+λ|Ω*| is minimised to define a minimum value Φ0=MinΦ. At a critical transition where Φ=0, the fluid defines a smooth arc of length [Γ*] that divides the cross-section of the channel into two parts. |Ω*| is the cross-sectional area of the fluid, which has a curve of length |Σ*| in contact with the channel, and G* represents a vertical position of the centre of mass of the fluid multiplied by the cross-sectional area |Ω*|. How far the fluid meniscus extends along the channel is controlled by one or more parameters of the functional Φ[Γ*].