Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms

Droplet coalescence in microchannels is a complex phenomenon influenced by various parameters such as droplet size, velocity, liquid surface tension, and droplet-droplet spacing. In this study, we thoroughly investigate the impact of these control parameters on droplet coalescence dynamics within a...

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Main Authors: Seyed Morteza Javadpour, Erfan Kadivar, Zienab Heidary Zarneh, Ebrahim Kadivar, Mohammad Gheibi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417541X
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author Seyed Morteza Javadpour
Erfan Kadivar
Zienab Heidary Zarneh
Ebrahim Kadivar
Mohammad Gheibi
author_facet Seyed Morteza Javadpour
Erfan Kadivar
Zienab Heidary Zarneh
Ebrahim Kadivar
Mohammad Gheibi
author_sort Seyed Morteza Javadpour
collection DOAJ
description Droplet coalescence in microchannels is a complex phenomenon influenced by various parameters such as droplet size, velocity, liquid surface tension, and droplet-droplet spacing. In this study, we thoroughly investigate the impact of these control parameters on droplet coalescence dynamics within a sudden expansion microchannel using two distinct numerical methods. Initially, we employ the boundary element method to solve the Brinkman integral equation, providing detailed insights into the underlying physics of droplet coalescence. Furthermore, we integrate Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to effectively optimize droplet coalescence dynamics, harnessing the power of machine learning algorithms. Our results showcase the efficacy of these computational techniques in enhancing experimental efficiency. Through rigorous evaluation utilizing Regression Coefficient and Mean Absolute Error metrics, we ascertain the accuracy of our estimations. Our findings highlight the significant influence of key parameters, specifically the non-dimensional initial distance of the droplets (D), viscosity ratio (μ), Capillary number (Ca), and width (w), as identified by the non-dimensional final droplet-droplet spacing (DD), velocity of the first droplet (VFD), and velocity of the second droplet (VBD), respectively. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into droplet coalescence phenomena and offers a robust framework for optimizing microfluidic systems. The most influential parameters on DD are the values of Ad and D, while viscosity has the lowest influence on DD. The most influential parameters on droplet velocity are viscosity and channel width, whereas the initial distance and Ca have the least influence on droplet velocity. The comparison of different machine learning algorithms indicates that the best ones for predicting DD, VFD, and VBD are function, SMOreg, Lazy-IBK, and Meta-Bagging, respectively.
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spelling doaj-art-fa38dc2f1adc4409bb2ff093f12dfd4c2025-01-17T04:51:30ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41510Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithmsSeyed Morteza Javadpour0Erfan Kadivar1Zienab Heidary Zarneh2Ebrahim Kadivar3Mohammad Gheibi4Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Gonabad, Gonabad, Iran; Corresponding author.Department of Physics, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, 71555-313, IranDepartment of Physics, Shiraz University of Technology, Shiraz, 71555-313, IranInstitute of Ship Technology, Ocean Engineering and Transport Systems, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057, Duisburg, Germany; Corresponding author.Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation, Technical University of Liberec, 46117, Liberec, Czech Republic; Faculty of Mechatronics, Informatics, and Interdisciplinary Studies, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec, Czech RepublicDroplet coalescence in microchannels is a complex phenomenon influenced by various parameters such as droplet size, velocity, liquid surface tension, and droplet-droplet spacing. In this study, we thoroughly investigate the impact of these control parameters on droplet coalescence dynamics within a sudden expansion microchannel using two distinct numerical methods. Initially, we employ the boundary element method to solve the Brinkman integral equation, providing detailed insights into the underlying physics of droplet coalescence. Furthermore, we integrate Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to effectively optimize droplet coalescence dynamics, harnessing the power of machine learning algorithms. Our results showcase the efficacy of these computational techniques in enhancing experimental efficiency. Through rigorous evaluation utilizing Regression Coefficient and Mean Absolute Error metrics, we ascertain the accuracy of our estimations. Our findings highlight the significant influence of key parameters, specifically the non-dimensional initial distance of the droplets (D), viscosity ratio (μ), Capillary number (Ca), and width (w), as identified by the non-dimensional final droplet-droplet spacing (DD), velocity of the first droplet (VFD), and velocity of the second droplet (VBD), respectively. This comprehensive approach provides valuable insights into droplet coalescence phenomena and offers a robust framework for optimizing microfluidic systems. The most influential parameters on DD are the values of Ad and D, while viscosity has the lowest influence on DD. The most influential parameters on droplet velocity are viscosity and channel width, whereas the initial distance and Ca have the least influence on droplet velocity. The comparison of different machine learning algorithms indicates that the best ones for predicting DD, VFD, and VBD are function, SMOreg, Lazy-IBK, and Meta-Bagging, respectively.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417541XCoalescenceDropletMicrochannelMachine learningOptimization
spellingShingle Seyed Morteza Javadpour
Erfan Kadivar
Zienab Heidary Zarneh
Ebrahim Kadivar
Mohammad Gheibi
Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
Heliyon
Coalescence
Droplet
Microchannel
Machine learning
Optimization
title Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
title_full Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
title_fullStr Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
title_short Optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels: A comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
title_sort optimizing droplet coalescence dynamics in microchannels a comprehensive study using response surface methodology and machine learning algorithms
topic Coalescence
Droplet
Microchannel
Machine learning
Optimization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402417541X
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