Three-Dimensional Bubble Fluidics in Architected Porous Media.

Area of Science:

• Fluid Dynamics
• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Gas bubble flows in porous media are complex and difficult to control, hindering the design of effective multiphase flow devices.
• Current methods lack deterministic control over gas-liquid interfaces within porous materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate how 3D printed pore designs can deterministically control gas stream flow paths.
• To explore the use of shaped gas/liquid interfaces for controlled phase distribution.
• To leverage controlled gas-liquid interactions for applications like logical control gates and optimized bioreactors.

Main Methods:

• Designing and fabricating custom open cell porous structures using 3D printing.
• Investigating the shaping of gas/liquid interfaces within these engineered pores.
• Exploiting the controlled distribution of gas for physical and chemical interactions.

Main Results:

• 3D printed pore designs enable deterministic control over gas flow paths.
• Engineered pore architectures effectively shape the gas/liquid interface, controlling phase distribution.
• Demonstrated use of controlled gas-liquid interactions to create a logical control gate for flow redirection.
• Showcased potential for designing reactive capture and aerating bioreactor architectures.

Conclusions:

• 3D printed porous media offer a novel approach to precisely control multiphase flows.
• Engineered pore geometries provide a platform for advanced fluid management and chemical/physical process intensification.
• This method facilitates the development of sophisticated devices for applications in chemical processing and biotechnology.