Interface Dynamics and the Influence of Gravity on Droplet Generation in a Y-microchannel

The present experimental investigation is focused on the influence of gravity upon water-droplet formation in a Y-microchannel filled with oil. The flows are in the Stokes regime, with very small capillary numbers and Ohnesorge numbers less than one. The study was performed in a square-cross-section channel, with a = 1.0 mm as the characteristic dimension and a flow rate ratio [Formula: see text] in a range between 0.55 and 1.8. The interface dynamics in the vicinity of breakup and the transitory plug flow regime after the detachment of the droplet were analysed. The dependence of droplet length L was correlated with the channel position against the gravity and [Formula: see text] parameters. The results of the work prove that, for [Formula: see text] , the droplet length L is independent of channel orientation.