Measurement of liquid parameters using a microfluidic device

A method of a measuring a parameter of a fluid containing hydrocarbons, comprising:

• introducing the fluid into a microchannel including at least one vertically-oriented segment, each segment having:
• a wide section having a first opening,
• a non-tapered narrow section having a second opening, and
• a tapered section between the wide and non-tapered narrow sections, the tapered section tapering down from the wide section to the non-tapered narrow section, wherein the first opening is wider than the second opening, and the wide section is larger in volume relative to the non-tapered narrow section, wherein the at least one segment comprises at least two segments arranged in series or wherein the at least one segment comprises at least two segments arranged in parallel with the wide sections of all of the segments coupled by a first fluid line, and the non-tapered narrow sections of all of the segments coupled by a second fluid line;
• modifying at least one of a pressure and a temperature of the fluid in the microchannel;
• monitoring the microchannel to identify a change of state of fluid in the microchannel;
• and
• measuring a parameter of the fluid based on the change of state.