scholarly journals Uncertainty Analysis of Mixing Efficiency Variation in Passive Micromixers due to Geometric Tolerances

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Stanciu

The geometric layout is the key factor for enhancing the efficiency of the fluid mixing in passive micromixers. Therefore, by adjusting the geometric design and by controlling the geometric parameters, one can enhance the mixing process. However, through any fabrication process, the geometric parameters present slight, inherent variation from the designed values than might affect the performance of the micromixer. This paper proposes a numerical study on the influence of the unavoidable geometric tolerances on the mixing efficiency in passive micromixers. A probabilistic simulation model, based on the Monte Carlo method, is developed and implemented for this purpose. An uncertainty simulation model shows that significant deviations from the deterministic design can appear due to small variations in the geometric parameters values and demonstrates how a more realistic mixing performance can be estimated.

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (27) ◽  
pp. 1850301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiajia Xu ◽  
Xueye Chen ◽  
Yanlin Liu ◽  
Zhen Yao

In this paper, we have designed a rhombic microchannel plane micromixer (RMPM). The RMPM uses the principle of converging and diverging to improve the mixing efficiency. We improved the mixing efficiency by changing the rhombic angles and the rhombic channel width ratios. The influence of geometric parameters on mixing efficiency is analyzed by control of the variable method. Through the analysis of the numerical simulation, the RMPM can help increase the chaotic convection between different concentrations of fluids. The results of the study show that the rhombic angle and the width ratio of a microchannel can have a considerable effect on the mixing efficiency. The micromixer can be potentially useful in the future applications of rapid and high throughput mixing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Banerjee ◽  
A. K. Nayak ◽  
B. Weigand

Abstract This paper focuses on the comparative electrokinetic micromixing of non-Newtonian fluid in cylindrical microchannels with surface potential heterogeneity due to sudden constriction/expansion. In numerical simulations, the rheology of the aqueous solution is considered to follow power-law characteristic. Based on the Poisson–Nernst–Planck model, the simulations are performed to investigate the mixing efficiency and pressure drop for constricted and expanded configurations over a wide range of the flow behavior index, potential patch strength, and geometric parameters. The results show that, irrespective of geometric configurations, the mixing efficiency can be improved significantly by increasing the flow behavior index, geometric parameters, and the overpotential patch strength. In addition, it is also revealed that the constricted geometry yields better mixing as compared to the other configuration, but the average pressure drop shows reverse characteristics. Thus, a parametric relationship is tried to be established between mixing efficiency and pressure drop for both these configurations to propose an effective and efficient micromixer, which can produce maximum possible mixing efficiency with minimum pressure drop.


2012 ◽  
Vol 516-517 ◽  
pp. 854-857
Author(s):  
Shu Xia Qiu ◽  
Ning Pang

Inspired by the increasing interests on mixing effectiveness of opposed impinging jets, a numerical work is carried out to study the flow characteristics. The fluid temperature is used as a passive tracer to evaluate the mixing rate in the current mathematical models. The effect of Reynolds number on the mixing performance is discussed. Furthermore, in order to enhance the mixing efficiency and reduce the energy cost, unsteady flow pulsations are induced at the jet inlets. The numerical results indicate that the mixing efficiency can be improved by the unsteady flow pulsations via adjusting the hydrodynamics characteristics in the opposed jets.


Author(s):  
Dariush Bahrami ◽  
Afshin Ahmadi Nadooshan ◽  
Morteza Bayareh

AbstractThe effective mixing process is critical in biological and chemical processes. The main objective of the present study is to investigate the influence of normal and Halbach magnet arrays on the mixing performance of a three-inlet micromixer numerically. In this microdevice, ferrofluid is injected into the center inlet, and water is injected into two other inlets. The influence of Remanent Flux Density Norm (RFDN), number of magnets, magnet distance from the main microchannel entrance, and inlet flow rate is considered. It is revealed that the micromixer with magnets exhibits a 165% improvement in the mixing efficiency compared to the one with no magnetic field. The results show that increasing the magnetic field does not always increase the mixing quality. Even in some cases, it has a negative effect. It is demonstrated that the mixing efficiency is strongly influenced by the magnet arrangement. An optimal position is found for the magnet arrangement to achieve the maximum mixing efficiency of 91%. Contrary to the normal configuration, Halbach magnet array creates a parabolic profile for flux density. Halbach array can improve the mixing performance, depending on all magnets’ RFDN. The proposed microchannel can be used as a useful device for biological applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3404
Author(s):  
Majid Hejazian ◽  
Eugeniu Balaur ◽  
Brian Abbey

Microfluidic devices which integrate both rapid mixing and liquid jetting for sample delivery are an emerging solution for studying molecular dynamics via X-ray diffraction. Here we use finite element modelling to investigate the efficiency and time-resolution achievable using microfluidic mixers within the parameter range required for producing stable liquid jets. Three-dimensional simulations, validated by experimental data, are used to determine the velocity and concentration distribution within these devices. The results show that by adopting a serpentine geometry, it is possible to induce chaotic mixing, which effectively reduces the time required to achieve a homogeneous mixture for sample delivery. Further, we investigate the effect of flow rate and the mixer microchannel size on the mixing efficiency and minimum time required for complete mixing of the two solutions whilst maintaining a stable jet. In general, we find that the smaller the cross-sectional area of the mixer microchannel, the shorter the time needed to achieve homogeneous mixing for a given flow rate. The results of these simulations will form the basis for optimised designs enabling the study of molecular dynamics occurring on millisecond timescales using integrated mix-and-inject microfluidic devices.


Author(s):  
Hiroshi Suzuki ◽  
Shinpei Maeda ◽  
Yoshiyuki Komoda

Two-dimensional numerical computations have been performed in order to investigate the development characteristics of flow and thermal field in a flow between parallel plates swept by a visco-elastic fluid. In the present study, the effect of the cavity number in the domain and of Reynolds number was focused on when the geometric parameters were set constant. From the results, it is found that the flow penetration into the cavities effectively causes the heat transfer augmentation in the cavities in any cavity region compared with that of water case. It is also found that the development of thermal field in cases of the present visco-elastic fluid is quicker compared with that of water cases. The present heat transfer augmentation technique using Barus effect of a visco-elastic fluid is effective in the range of low Reynolds number.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 7601
Author(s):  
Beatriz Arauzo ◽  
Álvaro González-Garcinuño ◽  
Antonio Tabernero ◽  
María Pilar Lobera ◽  
Jesús Santamaría ◽  
...  

A new approach based on the atomization of non-Newtonian fluids has been proposed to produce microparticles for a potential inhalation route. In particular, different solutions of alginate were atomized on baths of different crosslinkers, piperazine and barium chloride, obtaining microparticles around 5 and 40 microns, respectively. These results were explained as a consequence of the different viscoelastic properties, since oscillatory analysis indicated that the formed hydrogel beads with barium chloride had a higher storage modulus (1000 Pa) than the piperazine ones (20 Pa). Pressure ratio (polymer solution-air) was identified as a key factor, and it should be from 0.85 to 1.00 to ensure a successful atomization, obtaining the smallest particle size at intermediate pressures. Finally, a numerical study based on dimensionless numbers was performed to predict particle size depending on the conditions. These results highlight that it is possible to control the microparticles size by modifying either the viscoelasticity of the hydrogel or the experimental conditions of atomization. Some experimental conditions (using piperazine) reduce the particle size up to 5 microns and therefore allow their use by aerosol inhalation.


Micromachines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1470
Author(s):  
Omid Rouhi ◽  
Sajad Razavi Bazaz ◽  
Hamid Niazmand ◽  
Fateme Mirakhorli ◽  
Sima Mas-hafi ◽  
...  

Mixing at the microscale is of great importance for various applications ranging from biological and chemical synthesis to drug delivery. Among the numerous types of micromixers that have been developed, planar passive spiral micromixers have gained considerable interest due to their ease of fabrication and integration into complex miniaturized systems. However, less attention has been paid to non-planar spiral micromixers with various cross-sections and the effects of these cross-sections on the total performance of the micromixer. Here, mixing performance in a spiral micromixer with different channel cross-sections is evaluated experimentally and numerically in the Re range of 0.001 to 50. The accuracy of the 3D-finite element model was first verified at different flow rates by tracking the mixing index across the loops, which were directly proportional to the spiral radius and were hence also proportional to the Dean flow. It is shown that higher flow rates induce stronger vortices compared to lower flow rates; thus, fewer loops are required for efficient mixing. The numerical study revealed that a large-angle outward trapezoidal cross-section provides the highest mixing performance, reaching efficiencies of up to 95%. Moreover, the velocity/vorticity along the channel length was analyzed and discussed to evaluate channel mixing performance. A relatively low pressure drop (<130 kPa) makes these passive spiral micromixers ideal candidates for various lab-on-chip applications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (Suppl. 2) ◽  
pp. 769-776
Author(s):  
Fei Ren ◽  
Longkai Xiang ◽  
Huaqiang Chu ◽  
Weiwei Han

The reduction of nitrogen oxides in the high temperature flame is the key factor affecting the oxygen-enriched combustion performance. A numerical study using an OPPDIF code with detailed chemistry mechanism GRI 3.0 was carried out to focus on the effect of strain rate (25-130 s?1) and CO2 addition (0-0.59) on the oxidizer side on NO emission in CH4 / N2 / O2 counter-flow diffusion flame. The mole fraction profiles of flame structures, NO, NO2 and some selected radicals (H, O, OH) and the sensitivity of the dominant reactions contributing to NO formation in the counter-flow diffusion flames of CH4\/ N2 /O2 and CH4 / N2 / O2 / CO2 were obtained. The results indicated that the flame temperature and the amount of NO were reduced while the sensitivity of reactions to the prompt NO formation was gradually increased with the increasing strain rate. Furthermore, it is shown that with the increasing CO2 concentration in oxidizer, CO2 was directly involved in the reaction of NO consumption. The flame temperature and NO production were decreased dramatically and the mechanism of NO production was transformed from the thermal to prompt route.


Author(s):  
S. A. Kazemi ◽  
M. Passandideh-Fard ◽  
J. Esmaeelpanah

In this paper, a numerical study of two new designs of passive micro-mixers based on chaotic advection is presented. The advection phenomenon in a T-shaped micro-mixer is enhanced using a segmented gas-liquid flow; and a peripheral/axial mixing mechanism. The simulations are performed for two non-reactive miscible gases: oxygen and methanol. The numerical model employed for this study is based on the solution of the physical governing equations namely the continuity, momentum, species transport and an equation to track the free surface development. The equations are discretized using a control volume numerical technique. The distribution of the species concentration within the domain is calculated based on which a mixing intensity factor is introduced. This factor is then used as a criterion for the mixing length. In the first micro-mixer design with a drop injection mechanism for a typical condition, the mixing length is reduced by nearly 15%. Compared to that of a simple T-shaped micro-mixer with the same flow rates, the two gases interface area is increased in axisymmetric micro-mixer leading to an increase of the mixing efficiency and a reduction of the mixing length. Also, the effects of the baffles height and span on the mixing efficiency and length in axisymmetric micro-mixer are studied. Having baffles in the channel can substantially decrease the mixing length.


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