Numerical Simulation of Mixing Characteristics in a Split-and-Recombine Microchannel

Abstract

The mixing efficiency in microdevices is limited by laminar flow. For passive mixing, the structure of micromixer determines its mixing performance. A novel micromixer with a self-designed repetitive SAR (split-and-recombine) mixing element was carried out and investigated in the present work. The number of mixing elements for simulation was confirmed primarily. Based on the established model, the flow and geometric parameters in this micromixer were discussed systematically by numerical simulation and evaluated by mixing index. Furthermore, the mixing performance of SAR micromixer was compared with conventional T-shaped micromixer for Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.05 to 960. Finally, we concluded that the novel SAR micromixer revealed high performance of mixing due to the enhanced convection. In addition, its input power was similar to that of T-shaped micromixer, which provided the possibility for future industrial applications.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research is founded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51979003).

Notes on contributors

Qiushi Chen

Qiushi Chen received his bachelor’s degree in process equipment and control engineering at Hebei University of Technology. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in vehicle engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. His research interests include mixing and flow chemistry in micro devices.

Mindi Zhang

Mindi Zhang is an assistant professor in the school of mechanical engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. She received her Ph.D. from Tianjin University. Her research interests include cavitation flow and cavitation erosion mechanism, flow in microchannels, and drag reduction of water and underwater vehicles. She now presides over the National Natural Science Foundation of China: study on the interaction mechanism between a single cavitation bubble and flat-plate boundary of different carbon fiber composites.

Chen Zheng

Chen Zheng completed his master’s degree in power engineering and engineering thermophysics at Beijing Institute of Technology. He is currently studying for his Ph.D. His research interests are gas-liquid two-phase flow in complex microchannels.

Hansheng Li

Hansheng Li is an assistant professor of chemistry and chemical engineering at Beijing Institute of Technology. He completed his Ph.D. from Tianjin University. His research includes design and preparation of novel catalytic materials, green synthesis process and technology, new reactor design and development and energy chemical industry. He has presided over several national Natural Science Foundation projects.