Name: thermal measurement techniques in analytical microfluidic devices
Uploaded: 2015-06-03T13:00:00.000+00:00
Duration: 8 min 29 s
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices at JoVE.com

Partial financial support for this work was provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation through the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Water Equipment &#38; Policy located at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (IIP-0968887) and Marquette University (IIP-0968844). We thank Glenn M. Walker, Woo-Jin Chang and Shankar Radhakrishnan for helpful discussions.

1. Thermal Particle Detection (TPD)
<ol>
	<li>Prepare the micro-fabricated silicon device with a thin-film silicon nitride membrane and integrated temperature sensor by micromachining, using standard semiconductor processing technology2. Rinse the fabricated device with deionized (DI) water. 
	Note: The fabrication method for thermal particle detector microfluidic device is explained in prior publication2.</li>
	<li>To produce polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrates with micro-channels, create an SU8 mold using standard lithography processes5. 
	Note: The channel size is designed for each specific particle&#8217;s dimension.
	<ol>
		<li>Make PDMS by mixing a 10:1 ratio of base (30 ml) and curing agent (3 ml). Pour the PDMS on to the mold and remove the bubbles by briefly exposing it to a vacuum (5-10 min). 
		Note: The vacuum level is not a critical value to the degasification and it should continue until gas bubbles are totally removed from mixed PDMS.</li>
		<li>Place the mold on a hotplate (~70 &#176;C) for 2 hr to cure the PDMS. Then peel off the PDMS very carefully so as not to damage the mold. 
		Note: The Vacuum level is not a critical value.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Using a manual punch, punch a tight hole (1 mm) for the PTFE tube at one end. Use a large punch (2 mm) at the other end to make the PDMS a reservoir. Place the punched micro-channel on top of the device under the microscope and align the RTD at the center of the micro-channel (Figure 1A).</li>
	<li>In the electrical interface, connect the electrical pins at the contact pad positions and tighten up the locking screws. Make sure the height-adjustable pins (Pogo pins) sit at the correct electrode pads on the device.</li>
	<li>Dilute 10 &#181;l of the concentrated PS beads in 100 &#181;l of DI water in a 1.5 ml tube.</li>
	<li>To ensure the PS beads remain neutrally buoyant, add 2.7 &#181;l of glycerol (1.26 g/cm3) to DI water to match the fluid density to the polystyrene (PS) bead density (1.05 g/cm3).</li>
	<li>Connect the PTFE tube to the channel at one end and the other end to a 1 ml glass syringe. Fill the glass syringe with 0.5 ml of DI water. 
	Note: Tight fitting made by selecting the right punch size will avoid leakage in tubes.</li>
	<li>Place the DI water filled syringe on the computer-controlled syringe pump. Push the water (5-20 &#181;l/min) into the channel to fill the whole channel with fluid all the way to the reservoir.</li>
	<li>Load 10 &#181;l of balanced bead solution to the reservoir and introduce the bead solution to the micro-channel by changing the flow direction on syringe pump.</li>
	<li>Turn on the RTD by biasing 1 mA of DC current through the computer controlled source/meter while measuring the resistance by source/meter and sorting the measured data (Figure 2). 
	Note: During the experiment, the sensor is biased; therefore, the temperature is continuously measured until the end of the counting experiment. The RTD sensor is electrically biased by applying a DC current in the range from 100 &#181;A to 1 mA to continuously measure the temperature until the end of the counting experiment. It is critical to select the correct current level since there is a trade-off between noise level and the detected signal amplitude. The syringe pump is used to generate the flow in micro-channel. Selecting an appropriate flow rate to perform the TPD experiment is limited to the speed of the measurement. This speed is a function of the thermal time constant of the device and electrical measurement speed. The results of thermal particle detection experiment are shown in Figure 3.</li>
	<li>Use the developed data processing software (LabVIEW) to convert the measured resistance data to temperature using the Callendar&#8211;Van Dusen equation6.</li>
</ol>
2. Thermal Characterization of Liquid Substances Using a Micro-calorimeter
<ol>
	<li>In this process, use the on-chip calorimeter device (Figure 4A) 3 to measure the thermal diffusivity and the specific heat of the samples. 
	Note: On each die, there are 2 micro-calorimeter chambers (Figure 4B). Each chamber has 2 inlets and one outlet. And each chamber has a heater and a RTD sensor integrated.</li>
	<li>Place the micro-calorimeter device on the device holder (Figure 4C). Align the device to the microfluidic inlets and outlets with the holder fittings. Place the PDMS seal layer on top of the device.</li>
	<li>Install electrical connection pins on the device holder and lock the holder screws. 
	Note: Make sure the height-adjustable Pogo pins are aligned with the electrical contact pads.</li>
	<li>Install the microfluidic interface layer with magnetic latches to the device holder (Figure 4D). Connect the PTFE tubes to both inlets and the outlet. Connect one inlet to the sample-loaded syringe pump and close the other one, as the enthalpy is not measured in this case.</li>
	<li>Use a developed computer-controlled program to load the sample into the micro-channel and chambers. 
	Note: The program will use discontinued flow to release excessive pressure on the thin-film suspended chamber.
	<ol>
		<li>Load the 300 &#181;l sample into the glass syringe and place it on the syringe pump. Use very slow (0.25 &#181;l/min) constant flow rates for high viscosity samples (e.g., glycerol and ionic liquids). Use a glycerol sample for thermal diffusivity measurements and ionic liquids for specific heat measurements.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Measurements
	<ol>
		<li>Thermal diffusivity measurements
		<ol>
			<li>Connect the measurements setup as shown in Figure 5A. Load the glycerol sample to the micro-calorimeter chamber. Run the modified computer controlled program for heat penetration time measurement.</li>
			<li>Use the calibrated heat penetration equation to calculate thermal diffusivity from the measured heat penetration time7: 
			<img alt="Equation 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/52828/52828eq1.jpg" width="100" /> 
			where &#945; is thermal diffusivity, L is thickness of the chamber, p is the thickness calibration factor due to fabrication process variation, and t0 is heat penetration time.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Specific heat measurements
		<ol>
			<li>Use the TWA measurement setup as shown in Figure 5B. Use the same sample loading program and load the ionic liquid in the chamber. Run the TWA program to get the amplitude of the AC temperature fluctuations (&#8706;TAC) and use the specific heat equation to calculate the specific, cp, heat for each ionic liquid sample8: 
			<img alt="Equation 2" src="/files/ftp_upload/52828/52828eq2.jpg" width="117" /> 
			where C0 is input power calibration factor, Pin is input power, &#969; is frequency of the actuation signal, and m is the mass of liquid sample.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
3. Calorimetric Biochemical Detection in Paper-based Microfluidic Device
<ol>
	<li>Use microfabricated thin film (40-50 nm nickel) RTD sensor. Fabrication steps for the RTD sensor are explained in previous works4.</li>
	<li>For paper-based channel fabrication4, use a knife plotter to cut the paper microfluidic channels with a designed pattern (L-shape). Place the paper on top of the cutting mat, load the paper and the cutting mat to the knife plotter, and use the appropriate recipe to cut the microfluidic paper channels4.</li>
	<li>For device and channel integration, use an acrylic adhesive layer (5 &#181;m) to integrate the paper on the RTD sensor. Use a clean blade to push the paper to the device and remove air bubbles (Figure 6A). The acrylic film is an adhesive layer to hold the paper over RTD sensor.</li>
	<li>For enzyme activation, use 50 mM sodium acetate buffer to activate the GOD enzyme. Add 1 mg of the GOD enzyme to 1 ml of sodium acetate buffer to make the 1 mg/ml solution. Adjust the pH of the solution to 5.1. 
	Note: Adjust the amount of acetic acid in the sodium acetate buffer to maintain the PH of solution 5.1.</li>
	<li>Bias the RTD with 1 mA of DC current to activate the RTD and start measuring the resistance source/meter continuously while the resistance settles down after the experiment (~4 min). 
	Note: Figure 6B shows the measurement setup for the paper-based calorimetric test.</li>
	<li>Introduce the 2 &#181;l of the prepared GOD solution to the center of the paper micro-channel (immobilization site) via pipette. The detected temperature (Figure 7A) must start to decrease. 
	Note: This cooling effect is due to the higher operation temperature of the RTD and evaporation of the sample together.</li>
	<li>To measure the glucose concentration, introduce standard glucose control solution9 to the channel inlet and measure the resistance change caused by the reaction. Repeat this experiment with all different glucose control solutions (high, normal and low concentrations) and save the resistance data.</li>
	<li>Using the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) for nickel RTD and Callendar&#8211;Van Dusen equation, convert the resistance change to the temperature. Calculate the concentration of the glucose in each sample by considering the reaction enthalpy of glucose and the GOD enzyme (&#916;H = -80 kJ/mole) and using the concentration equation10: 
	<img alt="Equation 3" src="/files/ftp_upload/52828/52828eq3.jpg" width="83" /> 
	where np is detected molar concentration, Cp is heat capacity of the system and&#160;&#916;T is calculated temperature.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Zhang, H., Chon, C., Pan, X., Li, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methods+for+counting+particles+in+microfluidic+applications.">Methods for counting particles in microfluidic applications.</a> Microfluid Nanofluid. 7 (6), 739-749 (2009).</li><li>Vutha, A. K., Davaji, B., Lee, C. H., Walker, G. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+microfluidic+device+for+thermal+particle+detection.">A microfluidic device for thermal particle detection.</a> Microfluid Nanofluid. 17 (5), 871-878 (2014).</li><li>Davaji, B., Bak, H. J., Chang, W. J., Lee, C. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+Novel+On-chip+Three-dimensional+Micromachined+Calorimeter+with+Fully+Enclosed+and+Suspended+Thin-film+Chamber+for+Thermal+Characterization+of+Liquid+Samples.">A Novel On-chip Three-dimensional Micromachined Calorimeter with Fully Enclosed and Suspended Thin-film Chamber for Thermal Characterization of Liquid Samples.</a> Biomicrofluidics. 8 (3), 034101-034113 (2014).</li><li>Davaji, B., Lee, C. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+paper-based+calorimetric+microfluidics+platform+for+bio-chemical+sensing.">A paper-based calorimetric microfluidics platform for bio-chemical sensing.</a> Biosens. Bioelectron. 59, 120-126 (2014).</li><li>Liu, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Process+research+of+high+aspect+ratio+microstructure+using+SU-8+resist.">Process research of high aspect ratio microstructure using SU-8 resist.</a> Microsystem Technologies. 10, 265-268 (2004).</li><li>Dusen, M. S. V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Platinum-resistance+thermometry+at+low+temperatures.">Platinum-resistance thermometry at low temperatures.</a> J. Am. Chem. Soc. 47 (2), 326-332 (1925).</li><li>Arpaci, V. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Conduction Heat Transfer. , (1966).</li><li>Garden, J. L., Chteau, E., Chaussy, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Highly+sensitive+ac+nanocalorimeter+for+microliter-scale+liquids+or+biological+samples.">Highly sensitive ac nanocalorimeter for microliter-scale liquids or biological samples.</a> Appl. Phys. Lett. 84, 3597-3599 (2004).</li><li>Kilo, C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Evaluation+of+a+New+Blood+Glucose+Monitoring+System+with+Auto-Calibration.">Evaluation of a New Blood Glucose Monitoring System with Auto-Calibration.</a> Diabetes Technol. Ther. 7 (2), 283-294 (2005).</li><li>Scheper, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Thermal Biosensors Bioactivity Bioaffinity (Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology). , (1999).</li></ol>

No conflicts of interest declared.

Different thermal measurement techniques in microfluidic devices and their respective setup procedures are presented in this work. These thermal measurement methods such as thermal conductivity monitoring, thermal penetration time, amplitude of AC thermal fluctuations, and amplitude measurement of the generated heat are used to detect specific substances and investigate different reactions and interactions. 
The thermal time constant plays a key role in the aforementioned thermal measurement t...

Three different micro-scale thermal measurement techniques are presented in this article. The three different configurations of microfluidic devices are used for thermal particle detection (TPD), thermal characterization (thermal conductivity and specific heat), and calorimetric detection of chemical reactions and interactions.
Thermal Particle Detection
Detecting and counting particles in microfluidic devices is widely used for environmental, industrial, and biological applications1. TPD is one of the novel applications of thermal measurements in microfluidic devices2. Using heat transfer for detecting and counting particles based on the particle size reduces the complexity, cost, and size of the system. In other methods, complex optics or complex electrical measurements and advanced signal processing software are used for detecting particles.
Thermal Characterization of Liquid Substances Using Micro-Calorimeter
Liquid sample thermal characterization is the second application of thermal measurement in microfluidic devices. Performing micro-scale calorimetry will reduce the sample consumption and increase the precision by offering higher repeatability compared to conventional, bulk calorimetry methods. The procedures for thermal conductivity and specific heat measurement using the on-chip micro-calorimeter device are presented elsewhere3. The details of the heat penetration time technique for thermal conductivity measurement and the thermal wave analysis (TWA) for specific heat measurements in microfluidic devices are described in the protocol section.
Calorimetric Bio-Chemical Detection in Paper-Based Microfluidic Device
Another application of thermal measurement is biochemical detection in paper-based microfluidics. The capillary action in the porous structure of paper carries the liquid and avoids bubble initiation problems in micro-channels. The most common detection mechanisms in paper-based microfluidic devices are optical or electrochemical techniques. Optical detection suffers from high complexity and the necessity of advanced image processing software to quantize the detected signal. Electrochemical detections are also limited because they can only be applied to reactions that produce active byproducts. The recently introduced calorimetric paper-based biochemical sensor platform4 takes advantage of the paper-based microfluidic system and the label-free thermal detection mechanism. The procedures of calorimetric detection of glucose using glucose oxidase (GOD) enzyme in a paper-based microfluidic platform are presented in the protocol section.
The goal of this paper is to demonstrate the capabilities of thermal measurement techniques in microfluidic devices. The device preparation, liquid sample handling and resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensor excitation and measurement are presented in the next sections.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)&amp;nbsp;</td><td>Dow Corning</td><td>Sylgard 184</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PS beads - 90 &amp;#956;m</td><td>Corpuscular</td><td>100265</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PS beads - 200 &amp;#956;m</td><td>Corpuscular</td><td>100271</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glycerol</td><td>SigmaAldrich</td><td>G5516</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>GOD enzyme</td><td>SigmaAldrich</td><td>G7141</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glucose Control Solution - Low</td><td>Bayer contour</td><td>Low Control</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glucose Control Solution - Normal</td><td>Bayer contour</td><td>Normal Control</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glucose Control Solution - High</td><td>Bayer contour</td><td>High Control</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Chromatography filter paper</td><td>Whatman</td><td>3001-845</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass</td><td>VWR&amp;nbsp;</td><td>48393-106</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Acrylic Film</td><td>Nitto Denko</td><td>5600</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Glass syringe (1 ml)</td><td>Hamilton</td><td>1001</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Syringe pump</td><td>New Era</td><td>NE-500</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>knife plotter</td><td>Silhouette</td><td>portrait</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Current Preamplifier</td><td>Stanford Research</td><td>SR-570</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ocilloscope</td><td>Agilent</td><td>DSO 2420A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Signal Generator</td><td>HP</td><td>HP3324A</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Lock-in Amplifire</td><td>Stanford Research</td><td>SRS-830</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Source/meter 2400</td><td>Keithley</td><td>2400</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Source/meter 2600</td><td>Keithley</td><td>2436A</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

thermal measurement techniques in analytical microfluidic devices

Thermal measurement techniques have been used for many applications such as thermal characterization of materials and chemical reaction detection. Micromachining techniques allow reduction of the thermal mass of fabricated structures and introduce the possibility to perform high sensitivity thermal measurements in the micro-scale and nano-scale devices. Combining thermal measurement techniques with microfluidic devices allows performing different analytical measurements with low sample consumption and reduced measurement time by integrating the miniaturized system on a single chip. The procedures of thermal measurement techniques for particle detection, material characterization, and chemical detection are introduced in this paper.

Figure 3 shows the plot of the measured thermal signal. The generated signals in the presence of the beads with corresponding optical images show the successful detection of the microsphere PS beads in the micro-channel. The thermal conductivity of the liquid passing through the micro-channel is changing due to the presence of PS beads. This change in the thermal conductivity of the channel is affecting the heat transfer in the micro-channel. The change in the heat transfer in the micro-channel is detect...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices at JoVE.com

Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices

Here, we present three protocols for thermal measurements in microfluidic devices.

Thermal measurement techniques have been used for many applications such as thermal characterization of materials and chemical reaction detection. ...

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9.6K Views.  Marquette University. Here, we present three protocols for thermal measurements in microfluidic devices. 

Video: Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices

Terahertz Microfluidic Sensing Using a Parallel-plate Waveguide Sensor

Refractive index (RI) sensing is a powerful noninvasive and label-free sensing technique for the identification, detection and monitoring of microfluidic samples with a wide range of possible sensor designs such as interferometers and resonators 1,2. Most of the existing RI sensing applications focus on biological materials in aqueous solutions in visible and IR frequencies, such as DNA hybridization and genome sequencing. At terahertz frequencies, applications include quality control, monitoring of industrial processes and sensing and detection applications involving nonpolar materials.
Several potential designs for refractive index sensors in the terahertz regime exist, including photonic crystal waveguides 3, asymmetric split-ring resonators 4, and photonic band gap structures integrated into parallel-plate waveguides 5. Many of these designs are based on optical resonators such as rings or cavities. The resonant frequencies of these structures are dependent on the refractive index of the material in or around the resonator. By monitoring the shifts in resonant frequency the refractive index of a sample can be accurately measured and this in turn can be used to identify a material, monitor contamination or dilution, etc.
The sensor design we use here is based on a simple parallel-plate waveguide 6,7. A rectangular groove machined into one face acts as a resonant cavity (Figures 1 and 2). When terahertz radiation is coupled into the waveguide and propagates in the lowest-order transverse-electric (TE1) mode, the result is a single strong resonant feature with a tunable resonant frequency that is dependent on the geometry of the groove 6,8. This groove can be filled with nonpolar liquid microfluidic samples which cause a shift in the observed resonant frequency that depends on the amount of liquid in the groove and its refractive index 9.
Our technique has an advantage over other terahertz techniques in its simplicity, both in fabrication and implementation, since the procedure can be accomplished with standard laboratory equipment without the need for a clean room or any special fabrication or experimental techniques. It can also be easily expanded to multichannel operation by the incorporation of multiple grooves 10. In this video we will describe our complete experimental procedure, from the design of the sensor to the data analysis and determination of the sample refractive index.

The procedure for implementing a refractive index sensor for terahertz frequencies based on a grooved parallel-plate waveguide geometry is described here. The method yields a measurement of the refractive index of a small volume of liquid through monitoring of the shift in the resonant frequency of the waveguide structure

Refractive index (RI) sensing is a powerful noninvasive and label-free sensing technique for the identification, detection and monitoring of microfluidic ...

Fluorescence detection methods for microfluidic droplet platforms

The development of microfluidic platforms for performing chemistry and biology has in large part been driven by a range of potential benefits that accompany system miniaturisation. Advantages include the ability to efficiently process nano- to femoto- liter volumes of sample, facile integration of functional components, an intrinsic predisposition towards large-scale multiplexing, enhanced analytical throughput, improved control and reduced instrumental footprints.1
In recent years much interest has focussed on the development of droplet-based (or segmented flow) microfluidic systems and their potential as platforms in high-throughput experimentation.2-4 Here water-in-oil emulsions are made to spontaneously form in microfluidic channels as a result of capillary instabilities between the two immiscible phases. Importantly, microdroplets of precisely defined volumes and compositions can be generated at frequencies of several kHz. Furthermore, by encapsulating reagents of interest within isolated compartments separated by a continuous immiscible phase, both sample cross-talk and dispersion (diffusion- and Taylor-based) can be eliminated, which leads to minimal cross-contamination and the ability to time analytical processes with great accuracy. Additionally, since there is no contact between the contents of the droplets and the channel walls (which are wetted by the continuous phase) absorption and loss of reagents on the channel walls is prevented.
Once droplets of this kind have been generated and processed, it is necessary to extract the required analytical information. In this respect the detection method of choice should be rapid, provide high-sensitivity and low limits of detection, be applicable to a range of molecular species, be non-destructive and be able to be integrated with microfluidic devices in a facile manner. To address this need we have developed a suite of experimental tools and protocols that enable the extraction of large amounts of photophysical information from small-volume environments, and are applicable to the analysis of a wide range of physical, chemical and biological parameters. Herein two examples of these methods are presented and applied to the detection of single cells and the mapping of mixing processes inside picoliter-volume droplets. We report the entire experimental process including microfluidic chip fabrication, the optical setup and the process of droplet generation and detection.

Droplet-based microfluidic platforms are promising candidates for high throughput experimentation since they are able to generate picoliter, self-compartmentalized vessels inexpensively at kHz rates. Through integration with fast, sensitive and high resolution fluorescence spectroscopic methods, the large amounts of information generated within these systems can be efficiently extracted, harnessed and utilized.

The development of microfluidic platforms for performing chemistry and biology has in large part been driven by a range of potential benefits that ...

Bioengineering

Fiber Optic Distributed Sensors for High-resolution Temperature Field Mapping

The reliability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes is checked by comparing simulations with experimental data. A typical data set consists chiefly of velocity and temperature readings, both ideally having high spatial and temporal resolution to facilitate rigorous code validation. While high resolution velocity data is readily obtained through optical measurement techniques such as particle image velocimetry, it has proven difficult to obtain temperature data with similar resolution. Traditional sensors such as thermocouples cannot fill this role, but the recent development of distributed sensing based on Rayleigh scattering and swept-wave interferometry offers resolution suitable for CFD code validation work. Thousands of temperature measurements can be generated along a single thin optical fiber at hundreds of Hertz. Sensors function over large temperature ranges and within opaque fluids where optical techniques are unsuitable. But this type of sensor is sensitive to strain and humidity as well as temperature and so accuracy is affected by handling, vibration, and shifts in relative humidity. Such behavior is quite unlike traditional sensors and so unconventional installation and operating procedures are necessary to ensure accurate measurements. This paper demonstrates implementation of a Rayleigh scattering-type distributed temperature sensor in a thermal mixing experiment involving two air jets at 25 and 45 &#176;C. We present criteria to guide selection of optical fiber for the sensor and describe installation setup for a jet mixing experiment. We illustrate sensor baselining, which links readings to an absolute temperature standard, and discuss practical issues such as errors due to flow-induced vibration. This material can aid those interested in temperature measurements having high data density and bandwidth for fluid dynamics experiments and similar applications. We highlight pitfalls specific to these sensors for consideration in experiment design and operation.

We demonstrate use of a fiber optic distributed sensor for mapping the temperature field of mixing air jets. The Rayleigh scattering-based sensor generates thousands of data points along a single fiber to provide exceptional spatial resolution that is unattainable with traditional sensors such as thermocouples.

The reliability of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes is checked by comparing simulations with experimental data. A typical data set consists ...

High Throughput Microfluidic Rapid and Low Cost Prototyping Packaging Methods

In this work, 3 different packaging and assembly techniques are presented. They can be classified into two categories: one-time use and reusable packaging techniques.
The one-time use packaging technique employs UV-based and temperature curing epoxies to connect microtubes to access holes, wire-bonding for integrated circuit connections, and silver epoxy for electrical connections. This method is based on a robust assembly technique that can support relatively high pressure close to 1 psi and does not need any support to strengthen the microfluidic architecture.
Reusable packaging techniques consist of PDMS-based microtube interconnectors and anisotropic adhesive films for electrical connections. These devices are more sensitive and fragile. Consequently, Plexiglas support is added to the microfluidic structure to improve the electrical contact when anisotropic adhesive films are used, and also to strengthen the microfluidic architecture. In addition, a micromanipulator is needed to maintain tubes while using a thin PDMS layer to connect them to the access holes. Different PDMS layer thicknesses, ranging from 0.45-3 mm, are tested to compare the best adherence versus injection rates. Applied injection rates are varied from 50-300 &#956;l/hr for 0.45-3 mm PDMS layers, respectively. These techniques are mainly applicable for low-pressure applications. However, they can be extended for high-pressure ones through plasma-oxygen process to permanently seal the PDMS to glass substrates. The main advantage of this technique, besides the fact that it is reusable, consists of keeping the device observable when the microchannel length is very short (in the range of 3 mm or lower).

In this article we describe different techniques for microfluidic rapid prototyping platforms. The proposed techniques are based on ultraviolet (UV) sensitive and temperature curing epoxies, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based tubing, wire-bonding, and anisotropic adhesive films. The assembling procedures presented are developed for both one-time use devices as well as reusable microfluidic systems.

In this work, 3 different packaging and assembly techniques are presented. They can be classified into two categories: one-time use and reusable packaging ...

Fabrication and Testing of Photonic Thermometers

In recent years, a push for developing novel silicon photonic devices for telecommunications has generated a vast knowledge base that is now being leveraged for developing sophisticated photonic sensors. Silicon photonic sensors seek to exploit the strong confinement of light in nano-waveguides to transduce changes in physical state to changes in resonance frequency. In the case of thermometry, the thermo-optic coefficient, i.e., changes in refractive index due to temperature, causes the resonant frequency of the photonic device such as a Bragg grating to drift with temperature. We are developing a suite of photonic devices that leverage recent advances in telecom compatible light sources to fabricate cost-effective photonic temperature sensors, which can be deployed in a wide variety of settings ranging from controlled laboratory conditions, to the noisy environment of a factory floor or a residence. In this manuscript, we detail our protocol for the fabrication and testing of photonic thermometers.

We describe the process of fabrication and testing of photonic thermometers.

In recent years, a push for developing novel silicon photonic devices for telecommunications has generated a vast knowledge base that is now being ...

Chemistry

Near-Infrared Temperature Measurement Technique for Water Surrounding an Induction-heated Small Magnetic Sphere

A technique to measure the temperature of water and non-turbid aqueous media surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented. This technique utilizes wavelengths of 1150 and 1412 nm, at which the absorption coefficient of water is dependent on temperature. Water or a non-turbid aqueous gel containing a 2.0-mm- or 0.5-mm-diameter magnetic sphere is irradiated with 1150 nm or 1412 nm incident light, as selected using a narrow bandpass filter; additionally, two-dimensional absorbance images, which are the transverse projections of the absorption coefficient, are acquired via a near-infrared camera. When the three-dimensional distributions of temperature can be assumed to be spherically symmetric, they are estimated by applying inverse Abel transforms to the absorbance profiles. The temperatures were observed to consistently change according to time and the induction heating power.

A technique utilizing wavelengths of 1150 and 1412 nm to measure the temperature of water surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented.

A technique to measure the temperature of water and non-turbid aqueous media surrounding an induction-heated small magnetic sphere is presented. This ...

Measurements of Local Instantaneous Convective Heat Transfer in a Pipe - Single and Two-phase Flow

This manuscript provides step by step description of the manufacturing process of a test section designed to measure the local instantaneous heat transfer coefficient as a function of the liquid flow rate in a transparent pipe. With certain amendments, the approach is extended to gas-liquid flows, with a particular emphasis on the effect of a single elongated (Taylor) air bubble on heat transfer enhancement. A non-invasive thermography technique is applied to measure the instantaneous temperature of a thin metal foil heated electrically. The foil is glued to cover a narrow slot cut in the pipe. The thermal inertia of the foil is small enough to detect the variation in the instantaneous foil temperature. The test section can be moved along the pipe and is long enough to cover a considerable part of the growing thermal boundary layer.
At the beginning of each experimental run, a steady state with a constant water flow rate and heat flux to the foil is attained and serves as the reference. The Taylor bubble is then injected into the pipe. The heat transfer coefficient variations due to the passage of a Taylor bubble propagating in a vertical pipe is measured as function of the distance of the measuring point from the bottom of the moving Taylor bubble. Thus, the results represent the local heat transfer coefficients. Multiple independent runs preformed under identical conditions allow accumulating sufficient data to calculate reliable ensemble-averaged results on the transient convective heat transfer. In order to perform this in a frame of reference moving with the bubble, the location of the bubble along the pipe has to be known at all times. Detailed description of measurements of the length and of the translational velocity of the Taylor bubbles by optical probes is presented.

This manuscript describes methods aimed at measuring the local instantaneous convective heat transfer coefficients in a single or two-phase pipe flow. A simple optical method to determine the length and the propagation velocity of an elongated (Taylor) air bubble moving at a constant velocity is also presented.

This manuscript provides step by step description of the manufacturing process of a test section designed to measure the local instantaneous heat transfer ...

Analyzing Mixing Inhomogeneity in a Microfluidic Device by Microscale Schlieren Technique

In this paper, we introduce the use of microscale schlieren technique to measure mixing inhomogeneity in a microfluidic device. The microscale schlieren system is constructed from a Hoffman modulation contrast microscope, which provides easy access to the rear focal plane of the objective lens, by removing the slit plate and replacing the modulator with a knife-edge. The working principle of microscale schlieren technique relies on detecting light deflection caused by variation of refractive index1-3. The deflected light either escapes or is obstructed by the knife-edge to produce a bright or a dark band, respectively. If the refractive index of the mixture varies linearly with its composition, the local change in light intensity in the image plane is proportional to the concentration gradient normal to the optical axis. The micro-schlieren image gives a two-dimensional projection of the disturbed light produced by three-dimensional inhomogeneity.
To accomplish quantitative analysis, we describe a calibration procedure that mixes two fluids in a T-microchannel. We carry out a numerical simulation to obtain the concentration gradient in the T-microchannel that correlates closely with the corresponding micro-schlieren image. By comparison, a relationship between the grayscale readouts of the micro-schlieren image and the concentration gradients presented in a microfluidic device is established. Using this relationship, we are able to analyze the mixing inhomogeneity from associate micro-schlieren image and demonstrate the capability of microscale schlieren technique with measurements in a microfluidic oscillator4. For optically transparent fluids, microscale schlieren technique is an attractive diagnostic tool to provide instantaneous full-field information that retains the three-dimensional features of the mixing process.

Herein, we describe a procedure that employs microscale schlieren technique to measure mixing inhomogeneity in a microfluidic device. Through calibration, distribution of concentration gradient can be derived from the micro-schlieren image.

In this paper, we introduce the use of microscale schlieren technique to measure mixing inhomogeneity in a microfluidic device. The microscale schlieren ...

A Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Bacterial Chemotaxis in Stable Concentration Gradients

Chemotaxis allows bacteria to approach sources of attractant chemicals or to avoid sources of repellent chemicals. Bacteria constantly monitor the concentration of specific chemoeffectors by comparing the current concentration to the concentration detected a few seconds earlier. This comparison determines the net direction of movement. Although multiple, competing gradients often coexist in nature, conventional approaches for investigating bacterial chemotaxis are suboptimal for quantifying migration in response to concentration gradients of attractants and repellents. Here, we describe the development of a microfluidic chemotaxis model for presenting precise and stable concentration gradients of chemoeffectors to bacteria and quantitatively investigating their response to the applied gradient. The device is versatile in that concentration gradients of any desired absolute concentration and gradient strength can be easily generated by diffusive mixing. The device is demonstrated using the response of Escherichia coli RP437 to gradients of amino acids and nickel ions.

This protocol describes the development of a microfluidic device for investigating bacterial chemotaxis in stable concentration gradients of chemoeffectors.

Chemotaxis allows bacteria to approach sources of attractant chemicals or to avoid sources of repellent chemicals. Bacteria constantly monitor the ...

Biology

Soft Lithographic Procedure for Producing Plastic Microfluidic Devices with View-ports Transparent to Visible and Infrared Light

Infrared (IR) spectro-microscopy of living biological samples is hampered by the absorption of water in the mid-IR range and by the lack of suitable microfluidic devices. Here, a protocol for the fabrication of plastic microfluidic devices is demonstrated, where soft lithographic techniques are used to embed transparent Calcium Fluoride (CaF2) view-ports in connection with observation chamber(s). The method is based on a replica casting approach, where a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) mold is produced through standard lithographic procedures and then used as the template to produce a plastic device. The plastic device features ultraviolet/visible/infrared (UV/Vis/IR) -transparent windows made of CaF2 to allow for direct observation with visible and IR light. The advantages of the proposed method include: a reduced need for accessing a clean room micro-fabrication facility, multiple view-ports, an easy and versatile connection to an external pumping system through the plastic body, flexibility of the design, e.g., open/closed channels configuration, and the possibility to add sophisticated features such as nanoporous membranes.

A protocol for the fabrication of plastic microfluidic devices with transparent view-ports for visible and infrared light imaging is described.

Infrared (IR) spectro-microscopy of living biological samples is hampered by the absorption of water in the mid-IR range and by the lack of suitable ...