  In this paper we numerically investigate the breakup dynamics of droplets in
an emulsion flowing in a tapered microchannel with a narrow constriction. The
mesoscale approach for multicomponent fluids with near contact interactions is
shown to capture the deformation and breakup dynamics of droplets interacting
within the constriction, in agreement with experimental evidences. In addition,
it permits to investigate in detail the hydrodynamic phenomena occurring during
the breakup stages. Finally, a suitable deformation parameter is introduced and
analyzed to characterize the state of deformation of the system by inspecting
pairs of interacting droplets flowing in the narrow channel.
