Microfluidics and interfacial fluid mechanics
- Overview: Supports fundamental and applied research to understand and control the fluid flow environment, essential for addressing efficiency of industrial processes and in creating milli- and micro-scale flow devices to assess the role of flow in chemical and biological systems.
- Contact name: Professor Nik Kapur
- Phone: +44 (0)113 343 2152
- Email: n.kapur@leeds.ac.uk
Our research is highly interdisciplinary with many projects involving the design and testing of fluidic systems that find application in chemistry, biology and medicine.
We have considerable experience in designing fluidic systems for these environments (drawing on years of experience and supported by characterisation tools including computational fluid mechanics) and also in the control and operation of devices.
We have access to state-of-the art machining (both additive and subtractive) within our workshops and create flow devices over a wide range of sizes.
Our work with industry is also supported by the design of experimental equipment to explore fluid behaviour in an environment that mimics the industrial process.
Equipment
- High speed imaging
- Droplet and spray generation and analysis
- Micro-PIV
- Bespoke flow cells including microfluidics and milli-fluidics and heat transfer systems
- Fluid characterisation equipment including rheometry and contact angle measurement
- Automation
Applications
The lab supports many diverse applications including microfluidic systems for crystallisation studies, blood screening, protein and material stability, emulsion formation, etc.; inkjet printing; filtration; pharmaceutical and biological processing and cleaning; manufacturing; fill-finish and heat transfer.
Who can use the facility?
We are committed to sharing our facilities and associated expertise with external academic and industrial collaborators. To make an enquiry please contact Professor Nik Kapur, n.kapur@leeds.ac.uk.
Location
School of Mechanical Engineering, room G34