Duration
22h Th, 8h Pr, 16h Labo., 14h Proj.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This course is an introduction to small-scale flows and the burgeoning field of microfluidics. Course content: Applications and microfluidic markets, microfabrication, fluidic design and chip control, surface tension and capillary phenomena, centrifugal microfluidics, droplet microfluidics, diffusion/convection coupling, low Reynolds number locomotion, electro-hydrodynamics.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of this course, the student will have a good overview of microfluidics. He/She will get a good intuition of microscale flows. He/She will be able to apply theoretical bases, for the design of microfluidic components among others.
Thanks to the problems and lab sessions (group work), he/she will benefit from the background and potential of other students. He/she will develop critical thinking, creativity and writing skills (in English).
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.4, IV.2, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4, VII.6 of the MSc in biomedical engineering.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.4, IV.2, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4, VII.6 of the MSc in mechanical engineering.
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.2, III.4, IV.2, IV.3, V.1, V.2, V.3, VI.1, VI.2, VII.1, VII.2, VII.4, VII.6 of the MSc in engineering physics.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Pre-requisites: Elementary fluid mechanics, including Navier-Stokes equations (e.g. MECA0011), physics (e.g. PHYS2020, PHYS2021, PHYS2022), mechanics (e.g. MECA0001), chemistry (e.g. CHIM0603) and linear systems (e.g. SYST0002).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The theory, applications and problems are covered in several sessions. The problems deal with small scale fluid mechanics and microfluidic design and they are solved in small groups.
Lab sessions will be organized. The students will build their own lab-on-a-chip device. They will interface and test this device. Finally, they will process and analyze the data (image processing). A lab report (one per group, in English) will be submitted at the end of the sessions.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face
Recommended or required readings
The course is not yet based on a unique textbook. It is more a synthesis of many textbooks and recent publications. At the end of each class, several reading suggestions will be given.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire, open-ended questions )
Written work / report
Additional information:
- One lab report (group). Weight 30%. The mark is kept from the first to the second exam session.
- Written exam (weight 70%, notes allowed) on theory and problems
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The course is given in the Spring term, on Tuesday from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Presence to the lab sessions is mandatory - any absence to these sessions will have to be officially justified.
An electronic version of the course notes and slides will be available on a server.
Contacts
Tristan Gilet Assistant professor Microfluidics Lab Office: B52 - 0/420 Email: Tristan.Gilet@uliege.be