Date of Award

Spring 2009

Project Type

Thesis

Program or Major

Chemical Engineering

Degree Name

Master of Science

First Advisor

Russell T Carr

Abstract

In this paper, a three node network topology with one inlet and two outlets is studied for the existence of the steady state solutions. Both mathematical stimulation and in-vitro experimental methods are studied. The solution for the steady state is found numerically using MATLAB software. The experimental data are studied to verify the stimulation results.

In-vitro experiments are performed on two different diameter (35 micrometers and 50 micrometers) dimension microchannel devices using red blood cells flow. Closing material balance on the feed hematocrit is successfully attained. The results follow the trend of the results obtained from the numerical stimulation. However, the dimension control on the diameter of the microchannel device remains an issue. Numerical stimulation confirms the existence of single and multiple steady states for specific parameter values. Multiple steady states region is identified for such a network.

Future work may include understanding of a better technique for dimension control on the microchannel device. Also a wider parameteric range could be studied for the similar and more complicated network topology. In-vitro experiments may be conducted to verify the results of the numerical analysis.

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