Analysis of Hydraulic Mixing Efficiency in Widespread Models of Micromixers
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Mathematical Model and Numerical Computation Method
3. Results
3.1. Flow Analysis in a Basic T Micromixer
3.2. Flow Analysis in Micromixer No. 2
3.3. Flow Analysis in Micromixer No. 3
3.4. Flow Analysis in Micromixer No. 4
4. Discussions
5. Conclusions
- The normalized mixing efficiency decreases with an increase in the Re number for all the considered mixers.
- It is shown that the maximum normalized mixing efficiency in the entire range of Re numbers was noted for mixer No. 4, in which a vortex-based intensification of mixing occurs due to the flow swirling in cylindrical chambers. This mixer allows mixing the fluids 600 times more efficiently than a straight T-mixer, while all other conditions being equal.
- Mixer No. 3, which implements the flow multiplication principle, is inferior in terms of normalized mixing efficiency to mixer No. 4 by about 1.5 times. At the same time, this mixer is much more difficult to manufacture due to its complicated geometric configuration.
- It was shown that mixer No. 2, which implements, the principle of alternating split and recombine of the flow, has a minimum normalized mixing efficiency. This mixer allows increasing the mixing efficiency by only 1.5 times compared to the straight T-mixer.
- It is established that in addition to the mixer geometric configuration, the flow mode has a determining effect on mixer performance efficiency. It is shown that for all the considered mixers, at Re > 145, the flow regime is rearranged to form a two-vortex S-shaped structure that increases the mixing efficiency tenfold without an additional increase in pressure loss. From a practical perspective, this flow mode is the most effective for any micromixer.
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Boundary | Mass Flow Rate (Qin) (mg/s) | Pressure (pa) | Passive Scalar (φ) |
---|---|---|---|
Inlets | 0.2, 2, 10, 20, 24, 28, 29, 30, 32, 36, 40, 45, 50, 60 | Zero gradient | 1 |
Outlet | Zero gradient | 0 | 0 |
Walls | 0 | Zero gradient | Zero gradient |
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Minakov, A.V.; Lobasov, A.S.; Shebeleva, A.A.; Shebelev, A.V. Analysis of Hydraulic Mixing Efficiency in Widespread Models of Micromixers. Fluids 2020, 5, 211. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5040211
Minakov AV, Lobasov AS, Shebeleva AA, Shebelev AV. Analysis of Hydraulic Mixing Efficiency in Widespread Models of Micromixers. Fluids. 2020; 5(4):211. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5040211
Chicago/Turabian StyleMinakov, Andrey V., Alexander S. Lobasov, Anna A. Shebeleva, and Alexander V. Shebelev. 2020. "Analysis of Hydraulic Mixing Efficiency in Widespread Models of Micromixers" Fluids 5, no. 4: 211. https://doi.org/10.3390/fluids5040211