Microfluidic devices, microfluidic systems, and methods for assessing thermophysical properties of a fluid
A method for assessing thermophysical properties of a study fluid includes isolating a first a slug of a study fluid within an isolation fluid in a microfluidic channel; conducting a first optical investigation of the first slug to assess a thermophysical property of the first slug; while maintaining the first slug in the microfluidic channel and within the isolation fluid, modifying at least one of a pressure within the microfluidic channel and a temperature within the microfluidic channel; and conducting a second optical investigation of the first slug to re-assess the thermophysical property of the study fluid.
1 . A microfluidic system comprising:
a microfluidic device comprising a microfluidic substrate, the microfluidic substrate comprising a microfluidic channel for isolating a slug of a study fluid within an isolation fluid, a study fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel, an isolation fluid inlet port in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel, wherein the isolation fluid inlet port is in fluid communication with the outlet port via an isolation fluid channel, and the isolation fluid channel is further in fluid communication with a first end of the microfluidic channel via a first set of comb channels, and is in fluid communication with a second end of the microfluidic channel via a second set of comb channels;
a study fluid injection sub-system housing the study fluid and configured to force the study fluid into the microfluidic channel;
an isolation fluid injection sub-system housing the isolation fluid and configured to force the isolation fluid into the microfluidic channel;
a pressure regulation sub-system for regulating pressure in the microfluidic channel;
a manifold providing fluid communication between the microfluidic device and the study fluid injection sub-system, the isolation fluid injection sub-system, and the pressure regulation sub-system;
a temperature regulation sub-system for regulating a temperature within the microfluidic channel and the study fluid injection sub-system; and
an optical investigation sub-system for optically accessing at least a portion of the microfluidic channel.
2 . The microfluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic substrate further comprises a bypass outlet port that is in fluid communication with the study fluid inlet port via a study fluid inlet channel.
3 . The microfluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the study fluid injection sub-system is in fluid communication with the study fluid inlet port, the isolation fluid injection sub-system is in fluid communication with the isolation fluid injection port, and the pressure regulation sub-system comprises a backpressure regulator in fluid communication with the outlet port.
4 . The microfluidic system of claim 1 , wherein the isolation fluid is at least one of water, an ionic fluid, a fluorocarbon oil, and a liquid metal.
5 . The microfluidic system of claim 1 further comprising a control sub-system connected to the study fluid injection sub-system, the isolation fluid injection sub-system, the pressure regulation sub-system, the temperature regulation sub-system, and the optical investigation sub-system, for providing automatic control of the microfluidic system.