The Microfluidics Module brings easy-to-use tools for the study microfluidic devices and rarefied gas flows. Important applications include simulations of lab-on-a-chip devices, digital microfluidics, electrokinetic and magnetokinetic devices, inkjets, and vacuum systems.

In addition to enhanced interfaces for single phase flow, Microfluidics Module users will have dedicated interfaces for two-phase flow using the level set, phase field, and moving mesh methods. Each of these interfaces includes surface tension forces, capillary forces, and Marangoni effects.

COMSOL’s general purpose multiphysics features makes it easy to set up coupled electrokinetic and magnetodynamic simulations including electrophoresis, magnetophoresis, dielectrophoresis, electroosmosis, and electrowetting. The chemical diffusion and reactions for dilute species interfaces included in the Module enable the simulation of processes occurring in lab-on-chip devices. For simulating rarefied gas flows, you can use the specialized boundary conditions that activate flow simulation in the slip flow regime.

A new free molecular flow interface using the fast angular coefficient method allows for simulations where the molecular mean free path is much longer than the geometric dimensions. Combined with COMSOL’s LiveLink interfaces for industry-standard CAD packages, this tool is invaluable for vacuum system design, allowing quick parametric studies of chamber geometries and pump configurations.