Dispersion theory is a very important tool for design of sensor systems with short response time and of sensor systems based on pumps giving a pulsating flow. Also, this knowledge points to ways of making on-line dilution of concentrated samples in sensors. Dispersion is well described in pressure driven flow-systems using tubes (circular cross-section channels). Most microsystem-based flow systems, however, are based on channels of non-circular cross-section. If deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) is used to form the channels, as in this project, channels have a rectangular profile, and can be narrow and deep. Therefore an analysis of dispersion in rectangular micro channels has been presented, addressing the most significant dispersion effects related to non-circular flow channels and pointing to important optimisation criteria for future µ-TAS development.
It is shown that most practical rectangular channel cross-sections result in considerably higher dispersion than mathematically well-described structures such as circular tubes and infinite aspect ratio rectangular channels. Both analytical modelling as well as numerical simulations have been considered.
Extensive experimental dispersion data confirm the validity of the theory.