Microfluídica e Nanofluidos

Objectives

To familiarize the student with the description of transport of mass, momentum and energy at multiple scales, from micro to nanoscale, and the understanding of the differences between liquid and gaseous transport at nanoscale, microscale and macroscale by obtaining particular solutions. It is simultaneously intended that student retains the evidence of the breakdown of the continuum approach at very small scales and gets familiarized with required atomistic models for molecular interactions. Moreover, students must be familiarized with the design solutions for the inherent difficulties related to diffusion, mixing and separation processes at small scales. It is also intended to familiarize the students with the design and fabrication techniques of micro-total analysis systems (µTAS) and lab-on-a-chip (LOC), fluid manipulation including nanofluids and potential applications of microfluidics and nanofluidics to artificial organs design and drug delivery improvement.

Syllabus

Micro and nanofluidics: frontier of physics, engineering and biology. The continuum and scaling laws. Rarefaction: continuum break-down. Kinetic theory of gases, mean free path, molecular interaction, accommodation coefficients and collision models. Boltzmann equation, Knudsen number and flow regimes. Microfluidics. Transport equations, non-dimensional parameters, particular solutions. Mixing and separation. Microscale specific phenomena. Heat transfer. Correlations for liquids convection. Convection for gases, Knudsen layer, slip and temperature jump, modelling. Biofluid flows and application to artificial organs. Microfluidic platforms, microfabrication, experimental methods. Nanofluidics. Governing equations, molecular dynamics and experimental results. Nanoporous membranes and carbon nanotube flows. Application to drug delivery and pathogen and toxin detection. Nanofluids. Application to transport phenomena.

Prerequisites

It is advisable that students have done previously the disciplines of Fluid Mechanics I and II (or equivalent) and Heat Transfer (or equivalent).

Cross Competence Component

Critical and innovative reasoning (creativity, synthesis capacity, abstract concepts articulation and strategic reasoning to choose a thematic for the monography and to finalize it, or to develop a computational code) – 40%. Interpersonal skills (oral presentation of the monography or computational work developed) – 10%. Intrapersonal skills (self-discipline and enthusiasm to study for the exam) – 30%. Literacy of information and media (critical consulting specific scientific bibliography for the monography or computational work) – 20%.

Ethical Principles

All members of a group are responsible for the group’s work In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used. In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.