Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Real-time embedded pressure and flow rate sensor in polydimethylsiloxane-based microchannel using fiber Bragg grating technique

Zhang, Zijun; Hou, Tuo; Ren, Yong; Wang, Chengbo; Wang, Zhukun; Pan, Han; Li, Peiyun; Smith, Richard; Wang, Jing

Authors

Zijun Zhang

Tuo Hou

Yong Ren

Chengbo Wang

Zhukun Wang

Han Pan

Peiyun Li

Jing Wang



Abstract

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has attracted huge interest as the soft material for microchannel fabrication, due to its high biocompatibility, durability and low cost. The rheological properties of the fluid and the deformable properties of PDMS substrate have imposed significant impacts on the fluid flow in the microchannel, therefore it is of critically importance to develop sensing methods for the accurate flow rate monitoring and the flow-induced pressure measurement without disturbing the fluid flow in the microchannel. This paper presents an embedded and miniaturized pressure sensor based on the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) technique for the measurement of both flow rate and flow-induced pressure in PDMS-based microchannel. This method has demonstrated a pressure sensitivity of 0.06 p.m./Pa and the Limit of Detection (LoD) for pressure is 19.5 Pa. The linearity between flow-induced pressure and flow rate in PDMS-based microchannel is about 4.86 Pa(ml/h)−1 based on simulation results and is within the range between 4.33 Pa(ml/h)−1 and 6.67 Pa(ml/h)−1 obtained from experimental results. The LoD of flow rate using this method is within the range between 2.9 ml/h and 4.5 ml/h. The random instability induced by the operation of the reconnection of syringe back to the liquid flow system was identified and the calibration of this instability is also presented in this paper. Using this method, the pressure and flow rate within PDMS-based microchannel can be monitored with high reliability and high sensitivity, and this will benefit the application of PDMS-based microfluidics in areas that require highly precise control in flow conditions, e.g. biosensing, cell culture, and drug delivery.

Citation

Zhang, Z., Hou, T., Ren, Y., Wang, C., Wang, Z., Pan, H., Li, P., Smith, R., & Wang, J. (2024). Real-time embedded pressure and flow rate sensor in polydimethylsiloxane-based microchannel using fiber Bragg grating technique. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 96, Article 102551. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2024.102551

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 27, 2024
Online Publication Date Feb 14, 2024
Publication Date 2024-04
Deposit Date Feb 29, 2024
Publicly Available Date Feb 15, 2025
Journal Flow Measurement and Instrumentation
Print ISSN 0955-5986
Electronic ISSN 1873-6998
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 96
Article Number 102551
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2024.102551
Keywords Microfluidics; Pressure sensor; Lab on a chip; Fiber Bragg grating; Optical sensor
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/31434954