Two-phase flow filtering device based on T-shaped tube droplet generation and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of microfluidic technology and signal processing, in particular to a two-phase flow filtering device based on T-shaped tube droplet generation and a control method thereof, two inlets of a T-shaped tube are connected with a water phase inlet and an oil phase inlet respectively, and the T-shaped tube is used for optimizing droplet generation efficiency; a pressure wave generator at the water phase inlet controls the water phase flow velocity through a pulse signal, generates frequency pressure waves and is used for simulating a high-frequency noise signal; an image recognition and processing device is arranged at an outlet of the T-shaped pipe; and the image capturing module is used for capturing liquid drop images in real time, extracting liquid drop sizes and generating frequencies through an edge detection algorithm, and outputting filtered low-frequency signals. According to the invention, dynamic feedback of filtering signals is realized; no complex electronic or mechanical filter is needed, and system cost and maintenance difficulty are reduced. And the signal output system and the image processing device are combined, so that real-time monitoring and feedback of droplet parameters are realized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of microfluidics and signal processing, and in particular to a two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation and a control method thereof, which is used to filter out high-frequency signals of pressure waves through the droplet generation mechanism and extract low-frequency signals after filtering using image recognition technology. Background Art

[0002] A T-tube droplet generator, a microfluidic device, is widely used in fields such as biomedicine, chemical synthesis, materials science, and the food industry. Its operating principle is to generate droplets through the shear action of two fluid phases (typically an immiscible oil and water phases) at the intersection of a T-tube. The size and frequency of droplets significantly influence experimental results, necessitating precise control of the droplet generation process in many applications.

[0003] During the droplet generation process, the noise in the fluid (such as pressure fluctuations, turbulence, bubbles, etc.) will significantly affect the stability and uniformity of the droplets. In order to eliminate these noises, the existing technology usually uses filtering devices to smooth the fluid flow. However, the existing filtering technology has obvious deficiencies in the following aspects: 1. Low filtering efficiency: Existing filtering devices (such as mechanical voltage stabilizers or porous materials) can usually only filter out low-frequency noise, and the filtering effect on high-frequency noise is poor. High-frequency noise will cause fluctuations in droplet size and generation frequency, reducing the repeatability of the experiment. 2. Insufficient dynamic response: Mechanical filters have a slow response speed and cannot adapt to rapidly changing pressure wave signals. 3. Complex structure and high cost: Although some high-precision filtering devices (such as electronic flow controllers) can achieve good filtering effects, their complex structure and high cost make them difficult to promote in low-cost applications. 4. Lack of real-time monitoring: Existing technologies are usually unable to monitor droplet parameters (such as size and frequency) in real time, making it difficult to evaluate the filtering effect.

[0004] In response to the above problems, the existing technology has proposed some improvement solutions, but they still have the following limitations:

[0005] 1. Mechanical pressure stabilizers: While they can stabilize fluid pressure to a certain extent, they have a slow response speed, cannot adapt to rapidly changing fluid conditions, and have limited filtering effectiveness against high-frequency noise. 2. Electronic flow controllers: While they offer high control accuracy, they are expensive and have limited control over minute flow changes, making them difficult to meet the needs of high-precision experiments.

[0006] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a device and method that can utilize the droplet generation mechanism to achieve efficient filtering and extract the filtering signal in real time through image recognition technology. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation and its control method, which filters out the high-frequency signal of the pressure wave through the droplet generation mechanism and uses image recognition technology to extract the filtered low-frequency signal.

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0009] A two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation, comprising a water phase inlet, an oil phase inlet, a T-tube, and an image recognition and processing device;

[0010] The two inlets of the T-tube are respectively connected to the water phase inlet and the oil phase inlet, and the intersection of the two inlets of the T-tube is used to optimize the droplet generation efficiency.

[0011] The system also includes a pressure wave generator located at the water phase inlet, which controls the water phase flow rate through a pulse signal to generate pressure waves for simulating high-frequency noise signals.

[0012] An image recognition and processing device is provided at one outlet of the T-tube; the image recognition and processing device includes a high-speed camera and an image processing unit, which is used to capture droplet images in real time, extract the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm, and output a filtered low-frequency signal.

[0013] Water phase inlet: The water phase flows into the T-tube at a constant speed. The water phase may contain high-frequency noise signals (sources include external interference, system noise or fluctuations of the fluid itself).

[0014] Oil phase inlet: The oil phase flows into the T-tube at a constant speed, exerting a constant pressure, forming a shear effect with the water phase at the intersection of the T-tube to generate droplets.

[0015] T-tube: used to optimize droplet generation efficiency.

[0016] Droplet generation mechanism: Due to the physical limitations of droplet generation, high-frequency pressure wave signals cannot be effectively transmitted to the droplets and are therefore filtered out; low-frequency pressure wave signals are retained through changes in droplet size and generation frequency.

[0017] Image recognition and processing device: A high-speed camera and image processing unit are set at the outlet of the T-tube to capture the droplet image in real time, extract the droplet size and generation frequency through the edge detection algorithm, and output the filtered low-frequency signal.

[0018] A control method for a two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation comprises the following steps:

[0019] Step A: The water phase flows into the T-tube from the water phase inlet through a constant flow pump, and the pressure wave generator inputs a pressure wave signal of a specific frequency into the water phase to simulate a high-frequency noise signal;

[0020] Step B: The oil phase flows from the oil phase inlet into the T-tube through a constant flow pump, and forms a shearing effect with the water phase at the intersection of the T-tube to generate uniform droplets.

[0021] Step C: The low-frequency pressure wave signal of the pressure wave generator is retained by changing the droplet size and generation frequency;

[0022] Step D: The image recognition and processing device captures the droplet image in real time;

[0023] Step E: The image recognition and processing device extracts the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm and outputs a filtered low-frequency signal;

[0024] Step F: The signal output by the image recognition and processing device is fed back to the control system, and the control system dynamically adjusts the frequency input system according to the droplet parameters to achieve closed-loop feedback control.

[0025] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0026] Natural low-pass filtering function: The T-tube structure itself has low-pass filtering characteristics, which can naturally filter out high-frequency noise signals and retain low-frequency signals.

[0027] Real-time monitoring: Use image recognition technology to extract droplet parameters in real time and realize dynamic feedback of filtering signals.

[0028] Simple structure: No complex electronic or mechanical filters are required, reducing system costs and maintenance difficulties.

[0029] Intelligence: The combination of signal output system and image processing device realizes real-time monitoring and feedback of droplet parameters, improving the intelligence level of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the filtering device of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is the schematic diagram of T-tube droplet generation.

[0032] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Pressure wave signal diagram for case 1;

[0033] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Pressure wave signal diagram for case 2;

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 Pressure wave signal diagram for case 3;

[0035] Figure 6This is a workflow diagram of the T-tube droplet generation, image recognition and processing device.

[0036] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the filtering situation of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings to further describe the present invention in detail.

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, the filtering device of the present invention includes a water phase inlet 2, an oil phase inlet 3, a T-tube 1, a pressure wave generator 6 and an image recognition and processing device 5.

[0039] The two inlets of the T-tube 1 are connected to the water phase inlet 2 and the oil phase inlet 3 respectively. The cross section of the intersection of the two inlets of the T-tube 1 is rectangular, which is used to optimize the droplet generation efficiency;

[0040] It also includes a pressure wave generator 6 provided at the water phase inlet 2, which controls the water phase flow rate through a pulse signal to generate a pressure wave for simulating a high-frequency noise signal;

[0041] An image recognition and processing device 5 is provided at an outlet 4 of the T-tube 1 ; it is used to capture the droplet image in real time, extract the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm, and output a filtered low-frequency signal.

[0042] The water phase inlet 2: the water phase flows into the T-shaped tube 1 through a constant flow pump, and the inlet is connected to a pressure wave generator 6.

[0043] The oil phase inlet 3: the oil phase flows into the T-shaped tube 1 through a constant flow pump, and forms a shearing effect with the water phase at the intersection of the T-shaped tube 1.

[0044] The pressure wave generator 6: The pressure wave generator 6 controls the water phase flow rate through a pulse signal, and generates pressure waves for simulating high-frequency noise signals, the sources of which include external interference, system noise or fluctuations of the fluid itself.

[0045] like Figure 2 、 Figures 3 to 5 As shown, the water and oil phases form a shearing effect at the intersection of T-tube 1, generating droplets. Due to the physical limitations of droplet formation, high-frequency pressure wave signals cannot be effectively transmitted to the droplets and are therefore filtered out. However, low-frequency pressure wave signals are retained due to changes in droplet size and generation frequency.

[0046] like Figure 6 , the filtering workflow of the present invention is as follows:

[0047] Step A: The water phase flows into the T-tube 1 from the water phase inlet 2 through a constant flow pump, and the pressure wave generator 6 inputs a pressure wave signal of a specific frequency into the water phase to simulate a high-frequency noise signal;

[0048] Step B: The oil phase flows from the oil phase inlet 3 into the T-tube 1 through a constant flow pump, and forms a shearing effect with the water phase at the intersection of the T-tube 1 to generate uniform droplets;

[0049] Step C: Due to the physical limitations of droplet generation, the high-frequency pressure wave signal cannot be effectively transmitted to the droplet and is thus filtered out; the low-frequency pressure wave signal of the pressure wave generator 6 is retained by the change of droplet size and generation frequency; Figure 7 ;

[0050] Step D: The high-speed camera of the image recognition and processing device 5 captures the droplet image in real time;

[0051] Step E: The image processing unit of the image recognition and processing device 5 extracts the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm and outputs a filtered low-frequency signal;

[0052] Step F: The signal output by the image processing device is fed back to the control system, and the control system dynamically adjusts the frequency input system according to the droplet parameters such as size and frequency to achieve closed-loop feedback control.

[0053] While the present invention is described through the above-described embodiments to illustrate the detailed features and methods of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described detailed features and methods, and does not necessarily rely on the above-described detailed features and methods for implementation. Those skilled in the art will understand that any improvements to the present invention, the selection of two-phase flows with different properties, the selection of specific methods, etc., fall within the scope of protection and disclosure of the present invention.

Claims

1. A two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation, characterized in that: It includes a water phase inlet (2), an oil phase inlet (3), a T-shaped tube (1), and an image recognition and processing device (5); The two inlets of the T-shaped tube (1) are respectively connected to the water phase inlet (2) and the oil phase inlet (3), and the intersection of the two inlets of the T-shaped tube (1) is used to optimize the droplet generation efficiency; It also includes a pressure wave generator (6) provided at the water phase inlet (2), the pressure wave generator (6) controls the water phase flow rate through a pulse signal to generate pressure fluctuations for simulating noise signals within the structure; An image recognition and processing device (5) is provided at the outlet (4) of the T-tube (1); the device is used to capture the image of the droplet in real time, extract the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm, and output a filtered low-frequency signal.

2. A two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image recognition and processing device (5) comprises a high-speed camera and an image processing unit.

3. A control method for a two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation, characterized in that: A two-phase flow filtering device based on T-tube droplet generation according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the following steps: Step A: The water phase flows from the water phase inlet (2) into the T-tube (1) through a constant flow pump, and the pressure wave generator (6) inputs a pressure wave signal of a specific frequency into the water phase to simulate a high-frequency noise signal; Step B: The oil phase flows from the oil phase inlet (3) into the T-tube (1) through a constant flow pump, and forms a shearing effect with the water phase at the intersection of the T-tube (1), generating uniform droplets; Step C: The low-frequency pressure wave signal of the pressure wave generator (6) is retained by changing the droplet size and generation frequency; Step D: the image recognition and processing device (5) captures the droplet image in real time; Step E: The image recognition and processing device (5) extracts the droplet size and generation frequency through an edge detection algorithm and outputs a filtered low-frequency signal; Step F: The signal output by the image recognition and processing device (5) is fed back to the control system, and the control system dynamically adjusts the frequency input system according to the droplet parameters to achieve closed-loop feedback control.

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