scholarly journals Mixing Performance of a Cross-Channel Split-and-Recombine Micro-Mixer Combined with Mixing Cell

Micromachines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 685
Author(s):  
Makhsuda Juraeva ◽  
Dong Jin Kang

A new cross-channel split-and-recombine (CC-SAR) micro-mixer was proposed, and its performance was demonstrated numerically. A numerical study was carried out over a wide range of volume flow rates from 3.1 μL/min to 826.8 μL/min. The corresponding Reynolds number ranges from 0.3 to 80. The present micro-mixer consists of four mixing units. Each mixing unit is constructed by combining one split-and-recombine (SAR) unit with a mixing cell. The mixing performance was analyzed in terms of the degree of mixing and relative mixing cost. All numerical results show that the present micro-mixer performs better than other micro-mixers based on SARs over a wide range of volume flow rate. The mixing enhancement is realized by a particular motion of vortex flow: the Dean vortex in the circular sub-channel and another vortex inside the mixing cell. The two vortex flows are generated on the different planes perpendicular to each other. They cause the two fluids to change their relative position as the fluids flow into the circular sub-channel of the SAR, eventually promoting violent mixing. High vorticity in the mixing cell elongates the flow interface between two fluids, and promotes mixing in the flow regime of molecular diffusion dominance.

Author(s):  
Shakhawat Hossain ◽  
Mubashshir Ahmad Ansari ◽  
Afzal Husain ◽  
Kwang-Yong Kim

In this study, a parametric investigation on mixing of two fluids in a modified Tesla microchannel, has been preformed. Modified Tesla micromixer applies both flow separation and vortices string principles to enhance the mixing. The fluid stream splits into two sub-streams and one of them mixes with the other again at the exit of the Tesla unit. Analyses of mixing and flow field have been carried out for a wide range of Reynolds number from 0.05 to 40. Mixing performance and pressure drop characteristics with two geometrical parameters, i.e, ratio of the diffuser gap to channel width (h/w) and ratio of the curved gap to the channel width (s/w), have been analyzed at six different Reynolds numbers. The vortical structure of the flow has been analyzed to explain mixing performance. The sensitivity analysis reveals that mixing is more sensitive s/w, than the h/w.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1530
Author(s):  
Makhsuda Juraeva ◽  
Dong-Jin Kang

A new passive micro-mixer with mixing units stacked in the cross flow direction was proposed, and its performance was evaluated numerically. The present micro-mixer consisted of eight mixing units. Each mixing unit had four baffles, and they were arranged alternatively in the cross flow and transverse direction. The mixing units were stacked in four different ways: one step, two step, four step, and eight step stacking. A numerical study was carried out for the Reynolds numbers from 0.5 to 50. The corresponding volume flow rate ranged from 6.33 μL/min to 633 μL/min. The mixing performance was analyzed in terms of the degree of mixing (DOM) and relative mixing energy cost (MEC). The numerical results showed a noticeable enhancement of the mixing performance compared with other micromixers. The mixing enhancement was achieved by two flow characteristics: baffle wall impingement by a stream of high concentration and swirl motion within the mixing unit. The baffle wall impingement by a stream of high concentration was observed throughout all Reynolds numbers. The swirl motion inside the mixing unit was observed in the cross flow direction, and became significant as the Reynolds number increased to larger than about five. The eight step stacking showed the best performance for Reynolds numbers larger than about two, while the two step stacking was better for Reynolds numbers less than about two.


Author(s):  
Dong Jin Kang

A new design scheme is proposed for twisting the walls of a microchannel, and its performance is demonstrated numerically. The numerical study was carried out for a T-shaped microchannel with twist angles in the range of 0 to 34π. The Reynolds number range was 0.15 to 6. The T-shaped microchannel consists of two inlet branches and an outlet branch. The mixing performance was analyzed in terms of the degree of mixing and relative mixing cost. All numerical results show that the twisting scheme is an effective way to enhance the mixing in a T-shaped microchannel. The mixing enhancement is realized by the swirling of two fluids in the cross section and is more prominent as the Reynolds number decreases. The twist angle was optimized to maximize the DOM, which increases with the length of the outlet branch. The twist angle was also optimized in terms of the relative mixing. The two optimum twisting angles are generally not coincident. The optimum twist angle shows a dependence on the length of the outlet branch but it is not affected much by the Reynolds number.


Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dong Jin Kang

A new design scheme is proposed for twisting the walls of a microchannel, and its performance is demonstrated numerically. The numerical study was carried out for a T-shaped microchannel with twist angles in the range of 0 to 34π. The Reynolds number range was 0.15 to 6. The T-shaped microchannel consists of two inlet branches and an outlet branch. The mixing performance was analyzed in terms of the degree of mixing and relative mixing cost. All numerical results show that the twisting scheme is an effective way to enhance the mixing in a T-shaped microchannel. The mixing enhancement is realized by the swirling of two fluids in the cross section and is more prominent as the Reynolds number decreases. The twist angle was optimized to maximize the degree of mixing (DOM), which increases with the length of the outlet branch. The twist angle was also optimized in terms of the relative mixing cost (MC). The two optimum twisting angles are generally not coincident. The optimum twist angle shows a dependence on the length of the outlet branch but it is not affected much by the Reynolds number.


Author(s):  
C. Nonino ◽  
S. Savino ◽  
S. Del Giudice

The results of a comparative numerical study aimed at assessing the mixing performance of planar zig-zag, curvilinear and square-wave microchannels of square cross-section is presented in the paper. To evaluate the mixing enhancement characteristics of each geometry, suitable mixing indices are computed at different axial locations of a single repetitive module of each microchannel when this is fed with two equal streams of fluid having the same thermophysical properties, but different solute concentrations. To separate the effects of the geometry from those of molecular diffusion, entrance flow and channel length, the mixing by pure diffusion in straight microchannels of the same length is also evaluated for comparison. Reynolds numbers in the range from 5 to 150 are considered, while the Pe´clet number is held constant and equal to 2500. All the numerical simulations are carried out using an in-house finite element code for the solution of all model equations.


Author(s):  
Horacio Antonio Flo´rez Guzma´n

A computer code for solving the equations of mass diffusion has been developed and applied to study the molecular-level mixing between two fluids inside a pipe. First, one fluid occupies the entire volume within the pipe, and then a second miscible fluid is forced into the pipe, developing a mixing process through the interface between the fluids. This phenomenon occurs as the combination of molecular diffusion, variation of velocity over the cross-section and turbulence. The code developed for this study is based on the finite element method for domain discretization and standard finite difference schemes for temporal discretization. Comparison with experimental data shows that the code is able to reproduce the physical trends and gives good predictions for engineering applications. A grid independence analysis is presented for all computations.


1970 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 247
Author(s):  
Bence Fenyvesi ◽  
Csaba Horváth

Vortex shedding flowmeters can be used for a wide range of flow measurement applications with various kinds of fluids. The critical point in applying this method comes from the assumption that the Strouhal number is constant for the given Reynolds number range. In some cases – typically regarding flowmeters with narrow gauge pipes –, this assumption is only partially met, thus limiting the widespread use of these instruments in certain industrial appliances. The paper presents a diagnostic investigation on the effects of this nonconstant behavior. The method elaborated in this report can be applied to vortex flowmeters with narrow gauge pipes. In these instruments – usually due to the narrow cross-sections of the gauge pipe – measurement possibilities are limited, thus it is not possible for the user to determine the effects of the nonconstant behavior. To conduct these investigations, a calibration rig was designed and assembled. The presented diagnostic method combines measurements and numerical simulations. The results of the investigations can be used in the data processing phase, in order to reduce the uncertainty of the volume flow rate measured by vortex flowmeters.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Keller ◽  
Willie Peijnenburg ◽  
Kai Werle ◽  
Robert Landsiedel ◽  
Wendel Wohlleben

Dissolution rates of nanomaterials can be decisive for acute in vivo toxicity (via the released ions) and for biopersistence (of the remaining particles). Continuous flow systems (CFSs) can screen for both aspects, but operational parameters need to be adjusted to the specific physiological compartment, including local metal ion saturation. CFSs have two adjustable parameters: the volume flow-rate and the initial particle loading. Here we explore the pulmonary lysosomal dissolution of nanomaterials containing the metals Al, Ba, Zn, Cu over a wide range of volume flow-rates in a single experiment. We identify the ratio of particle surface area (SA) per volume flow-rate (SA/V) as critical parameter that superimposes all dissolution rates of the same material. Three complementary benchmark materials—ZnO (quick dissolution), TiO2 (very slow dissolution), and BaSO4 (partial dissolution)—consistently identify the SA/V range of 0.01 to 0.03 h/μm as predictive for lysosomal pulmonary biodissolution. We then apply the identified method to compare against non-nanoforms of the same substances and test aluminosilicates. For BaSO4 and TiO2, we find high similarity of the dissolution rates of their respective nanoform and non-nanoform, governed by the local ion solubility limit at relevant SA/V ranges. For aluminosilicates, we find high similarity of the dissolution rates of two Kaolin nanoforms but significant dissimilarity against Bentonite despite the similar composition.


Author(s):  
Brahim Dennai ◽  
Rachid Khelfaoui ◽  
A. hak Bentaleb ◽  
A. hak Maazouzi

Mixing rate is characterized by the diffusion flux given by the Fick’s law. A passive mixing strategy is proposed to enhance mixing of two fluids through perturbed jet flow. A numerical study of passive mixers has been presented. This paper is focused on the modeling of a micro-injection systems composed of passive amplifier without mechanical part. The microsystem modeling is based on geometrical oscillators form. An asymmetric micro-oscillator design based on a monostable fluidic amplifier is proposed [2,7]. The characteristic size of the channels is generally about a few hundred of microns. The numerical results indicate that the mixing performance can be as high as 92% within a typical mixing chamber of 2.25 mm diameter and 0.20 mm length when the Reynolds number is Re = 490. In addition, the results confirm that self-rotation in the circular mixer significantly enhances the mixing performance. The novel micro mixing method presented in this study provides a simple solution to mixing problems in micro system.


Micromachines ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 786 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramezan Ali Taheri ◽  
Vahabodin Goodarzi ◽  
Abdollah Allahverdi

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of a novel passive micromixer based on the lamination of fluid layers. Lamination-based mixers benefit from increasing the contact surface between two fluid phases by enhancing molecular diffusion to achieve a faster mixing. Novel three-dimensional split and recombine (SAR) structures are proposed to generate fluid laminations. Numerical simulations were conducted to model the mixer performance. Furthermore, experiments were conducted using dyes to observe fluid laminations and evaluate the proposed mixer’s characteristics. Mixing quality was experimentally obtained by means of image-based mixing index (MI) measurement. The multi-layer device was fabricated utilizing the Xurography method, which is a simple and low-cost method to fabricate 3D microfluidic devices. Mixing indexes of 96% and 90% were obtained at Reynolds numbers of 0.1 and 1, respectively. Moreover, the device had an MI value of 67% at a Reynolds number of 10 (flow rate of 116 µL/min for each inlet). The proposed micromixer, with its novel design and fabrication method, is expected to benefit a wide range of lab-on-a-chip applications, due to its high efficiency, low cost, high throughput and ease of fabrication.


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