| abstract |
A bridge ( 30 ) comprises a first inlet port ( 31 ) at the end of a capillary, a narrower second inlet port ( 32 ) which is an end of a capillary, an outlet port ( 33 ) which is an end of a capillary, and a chamber ( 34 ) for silicone oil. The oil is density-matched with the reactor droplets such that a neutrally buoyant environment is created within the chamber ( 34 ). The oil within the chamber is continuously replenished by the oil separating the reactor droplets. This causes the droplets to assume a stable capillary-suspended spherical form upon entering the chamber ( 34 ). The spherical shape grows until large enough to span the gap between the ports, forming an axisym metric liquid bridge. The introduction of a second droplet from the second inlet port ( 32 ) causes the formation of an unstable funicular bridge that quickly ruptures from the, finer, second inlet port ( 32 ), and the droplets combine at the liquid bridge ( 30 ). In another embodiment, a droplet ( 55 ) segments into smaller droplets which bridge the gap between the inlet and outlet ports. |