Passive Micro Mixers for Applications in the Micro Reactor and µTAS Field

Author(s):  
Steffen Hardt ◽  
Klaus Drese ◽  
Volker Hessel ◽  
Friedhelm Scho¨nfeld

An overview is given of current developments in micro mixing technology, where the emphasis is on liquid mixing in passive micro mixers. The mixers presented are differentiated by the hydrodynamic principle employed, and four important principles are discussed in some detail: hydrodynamic focusing, flow separation, chaotic advection and split-and-recombine flows. It is shown that these principles offer an excellent mixing performance in various dynamical regimes. Hydrodynamic focusing is a concept working very much independently of the Reynolds number of the flow. Flow separation offers a rich dynamical behavior over a Reynolds number scale of several hundred, with superior performance compared to purely diffusive mixing already found at low Reynolds numbers. For chaotic advection different implementations tailor-made for low and comparatively high Reynolds numbers exist, both leading to an exponential increase of the interface between two fluids. Split-and-recombine flows can only be realized in a close-to-ideal form in the low Reynolds number regime. Corresponding mixers can be equipped with comparatively wide channels, enabling a favorable ratio of throughput to pressure drop. The overview given in this article should enable a potential user of micro mixing technology to select the most favorable concept for the application envisaged, especially in the field of chemical process technology.

1971 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 229-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius C. Shih ◽  
Harry J. Buchanan

An experimental investigation was conducted to describe the fluid flow about oscillating flat plates and to determine the magnitude and nature of forces acting on the plates at low Reynolds numbers. In the experiment, the Reynolds number was varied from 1·01 to 1057·0; three period parameters, 1·57, 2·07 and 4·71, were applied; two fluids, water and SAE 30 motor oil, and three flat plates of various sizes with or without end plates were used. The analysis of data resulted in graphical presentation of the relationships among the drag coefficient, the Reynolds number and period parameter. The drag coefficient becomes less dependent on the Reynolds number for values greater than 250. The relationship between the drag coefficient and period parameter is pronounced throughout the entire range of the Reynolds number tested.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Zhang ◽  
Zhou Zhou ◽  
Kelei Wang ◽  
Xu Li

A numerical study was conducted on the influence of turbulence intensity and Reynolds number on the mean topology and transition characteristics of flow separation to provide better understanding of the unsteady jet flow of turboelectric distributed propulsion (TeDP) aircraft. By solving unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equation based on C-type structural mesh and γ - Re ˜ θ t transition model, the aerodynamic characteristics of the NACA0012 airfoil at different turbulence intensities was calculated and compared with the experimental results, which verifies the reliability of the numerical method. Then, the effects of varied low Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities on the aerodynamic performance of NACA0012 and SD7037 were investigated. The results show that higher turbulence intensity or Reynolds number leads to more stable airfoil aerodynamic performance, larger stalling angle, and earlier transition with a different mechanism. The generation and evolution of the laminar separation bubble (LSB) are closely related to Reynolds number, and it would change the effective shape of the airfoil, having a big influence on the airfoil’s aerodynamic characteristics. Compared with the symmetrical airfoil, the low-Reynolds-number airfoil can delay the occurrence of flow separation and produce more lift in the same conditions, which provides guidance for further airfoil design under TeDP jet flow.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedieh Fallahi ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Jordan Nicholls ◽  
Pradip Singha ◽  
Nhat-Khuong Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Chemical reactions in microscale require good mixing at a relatively low flowrate. However, mixing in microscale faces the major challenge of stable laminar flow associated with the low Reynolds number, the relative ratio between inertial force and viscous force. For low Reynolds numbers of less than unity, mixing occurs due to molecular diffusion. For high Reynolds number of more than several tens, chaotic advection enhances mixing. However, in the intermediate regime, mixing is not efficient. This paper reports a stretchable micromixer with dynamically tuneable channel dimensions. Periodically stretching the device changes the channel geometry and the curvature induced secondary Dean flows. The dynamically evolving secondary and main flows in the mixing channel result in chaotic advection and enhance mixing. The concept was demonstrated in a stretchable micromixer with a serpentine channel. We evaluated the performance of this stretchable micromixer both experimentally and numerically. At the intermediate range of Reynolds numbers from 4 to 17, the periodically stretched micromixer showed a better mixing efficiency than the non-stretched counterpart. Therefore, our stretchable micromixer is a potential candidate for applications where precious reagents need to be mixed at relatively low flow rate conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hedieh Fallahi ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Jordan Nicholls ◽  
Pradip Singha ◽  
Nhat-Khuong Nguyen ◽  
...  

Abstract Chemical reactions in microscale require good mixing at a relatively low flowrate. However, mixing in microscale faces the major challenge of stable laminar flow associated with the low Reynolds number, the relative ratio between inertial force and viscous force. For low Reynolds numbers of less than unity, mixing occurs due to molecular diffusion. For high Reynolds number of more than several tens, chaotic advection enhances mixing. However, in the intermediate regime, mixing is not efficient. This paper reports a stretchable micromixer with dynamically tuneable channel dimensions. Periodically stretching the device changes the channel geometry and the curvature induced secondary Dean flows. The dynamically evolving secondary and main flows in the mixing channel result in chaotic advection and enhance mixing. The concept was demonstrated in a stretchable micromixer with a serpentine channel. We evaluated the performance of this stretchable micromixer both experimentally and numerically. At the intermediate range of Reynolds numbers from 4 to 17, the periodically stretched micromixer showed a better mixing efficiency than the non-stretched counterpart. Therefore, our stretchable micromixer is a potential candidate for applications where precious reagents need to be mixed at relatively low flow rate conditions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 15-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bolló

Abstract The two-dimensional flow around a stationary heated circular cylinder at low Reynolds numbers of 50 < Re < 210 is investigated numerically using the FLUENT commercial software package. The dimensionless vortex shedding frequency (St) reduces with increasing temperature at a given Reynolds number. The effective temperature concept was used and St-Re data were successfully transformed to the St-Reeff curve. Comparisons include root-mean-square values of the lift coefficient and Nusselt number. The results agree well with available data in the literature.


2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miles Greiner ◽  
Paul F. Fischer ◽  
Henry Tufo

Abstract The effect of flow rate modulation on low Reynolds number heat transfer enhancement in a transversely grooved passage was numerically simulated using a two-dimensional spectral element technique. Simulations were performed at subcritical Reynolds numbers of Rem = 133 and 267, with 20% and 40% flow rate oscillations. The net pumping power required to modulate the flow was minimized as the forcing frequency approached the predicted natural frequency. However, mixing and heat transfer levels both increased as the natural frequency was approached. Oscillatory forcing in a grooved passage requires two orders of magnitude less pumping power than flat passage systems for the same heat transfer level. Hydrodynamic resonance appears to be an effective method of increasing heat transfer in low Reynolds number systems where pumping power is at a premium, such as micro heat transfer applications.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajit Pal Singh ◽  
S. H. Winoto ◽  
D. A. Shah ◽  
K. G. Lim ◽  
Robert E. K. Goh

Abstract Performance characteristics of some low Reynolds number airfoils for the use in micro air vehicles (MAVs) are computationally studied using XFOIL at a Reynolds number of 80,000. XFOIL, which is based on linear-vorticity stream function panel method coupled with a viscous integral formulation, is used for the analysis. In the first part of the study, results obtained from the XFOIL have been compared with available experimental data at low Reynolds numbers. XFOIL is then used to study relative aerodynamic performance of nine different airfoils. The computational analysis has shown that the S1223 airfoil has a relatively better performance than other airfoils considered for the analysis.


Author(s):  
Kenneth Van Treuren ◽  
Tyler Pharris ◽  
Olivia Hirst

The low-pressure turbine has become more important in the last few decades because of the increased emphasis on higher overall pressure and bypass ratios. The desire is to increase blade loading to reduce blade counts and stages in the low-pressure turbine of a gas turbine engine. Increased turbine inlet temperatures for newer cycles results in higher temperatures in the low-pressure turbine, especially the latter stages, where cooling technologies are not used. These higher temperatures lead to higher work from the turbine and this, combined with the high loadings, can lead to flow separation. Separation is more likely in engines operating at high altitudes and reduced throttle setting. At the high Reynolds numbers found at takeoff, the flow over a low-pressure turbine blade tends to stay attached. At lower blade Reynolds numbers (25,000 to 200,000), found during cruise at high altitudes, the flow on the suction surface of the low-pressure turbine blades is inclined to separate. This paper is a study on the flow characteristics of the L1A turbine blade at three low Reynolds numbers (60,000, 108,000, and 165,000) and 15 turbulence intensities (1.89% to 19.87%) in a steady flow cascade wind tunnel. With this data, it is possible to examine the impact of Reynolds number and turbulence intensity on the location of the initiation of flow separation, the flow separation zone, and the reattachment location. Quantifying the change in separated flow as a result of varying Reynolds numbers and turbulence intensities will help to characterize the low momentum flow environments in which the low-pressure turbine must operate and how this might impact the operation of the engine. Based on the data presented, it is possible to predict the location and size of the separation as a function of both the Reynolds number and upstream freestream turbulence intensity (FSTI). Being able to predict this flow behavior can lead to more effective blade designs using either passive or active flow control to reduce or eliminate flow separation.


Author(s):  
Olanrewaju Miracle Oyewola ◽  
Adebunmi Okediji ◽  
Olusegun Olufemi Ajide ◽  
Muyiwa Samuel Adaramola

In this study, the Reynolds number effect on the development of round jet flow is presented. The jet is produced from a smoothly contracting round nozzle and the flow structure is controlled by varying the air blower speed in order to obtain various Reynolds numbers (Re). The flow Reynolds number considered varies between 1140 and 9117. Mean velocity measurements were taken using hot-wire probe at different axial and lateral distances (0≤x/d≤50, where x is the downstream distance and d is the nozzle diameter) for the jet flow and at for 0≤x/d≤30 in long pipe attached to the nozzle. Measurements reveal that Reynolds number dictate the potential core length such that the higher the Reynolds number, the lower the potential core which is a measure of mixing of jet and ambient fluid. It shows that further away from the jet exit section, potential core decreases as Reynolds number increases, the velocity profile has a top hat shape very close to the nozzle exit and the shape is independent of Reynolds number. It is found that potential core extends up to x/d=8 for Reynolds number of 1140 as against conventional near field 0≤x/d≤6. This may suggest effect of very low Reynolds number. However, further investigation is required to ascertain this at extremely low Reynolds numbers. It is also observed that further away from the jet exit section, the higher the downstream distance, the higher the jet half-width (R1/2). Furthermore, the flow in the pipe shows almost constant value of normalised axial centerline velocity for a longer distance and this clearly indicates that there is mass redistribution rather than entrainment of ambient fluid. Overall, the Reynolds number controls the magnitude rather than the wavelength of the oscillation


2021 ◽  
pp. 0309524X2110550
Author(s):  
Moutaz Elgammi ◽  
Tonio Sant ◽  
Atiyah Abdulmajid Ateeah

Modeling of the flow over aerofoil profiles at low Reynolds numbers is difficult due to the complex physics associated with the laminar flow separation mechanism. Two major problems arise in the estimation of profile drag: (1) the drag force at low Reynolds numbers is extremely small to be measured in a wind tunnel by force balance techniques, (2) the profile drag is usually calculated by pressure integration, hence the skin friction component of drag is excluded. In the present work, three different 4-digit NACA aerofoils are investigated. Measurements are conducted in an open-ended subsonic wind tunnel, while numerical work is performed by time Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) coupled with the laminar-kinetic-energy ( K-kl-w) turbulence model. The influence of the flow separation bubbles and transition locations on the profile drag is discussed and addressed. This paper gives important insights into importance of measurements at low Reynolds numbers for better aerodynamic loads predictions.


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