Abstract
In this paper, we present the results of a systematic numerical study of the flow and mixing modes of fluids in micromixers of various configurations, in particular, an analysis of passive micromixers, the most widely used in practice, as well as the main methods to intensify mixing. The advantages of microstructure reactors can significantly reduce reaction times and increase productivity compared to traditional bulk reactors. Four different geometries of micromixers, including the straight T-shaped microchannel, were considered. The effect of the geometrical patterns of micromixers, as well as of the Reynolds number on flow regimes and mixing efficiency were analyzed. The Reynolds number varied from 1 to 300. Unlike other studies, the efficiency of the considered mixers was for the first time compared with the cost of pressure loss during pumping. As a result, the efficiency of the most optimal micromixer in terms of hydraulic mixing and the optimal operation ranges were determined. It was shown that the maximum normalized mixing efficiency in the entire range of Re numbers was noted for mixer, 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.
Highlights
Much attention is paid to energy efficiency and energy conservation issues.Miniaturization of devices and processes is being actively promoted in various applications, such as the aerospace industry, transportation industry, and energy
For large Reynolds numbers, an organized and steady-state pattern of vortex structures is observed, in which the flow symmetry is broken, and elements of one fluid flow reach the opposite side of the mixing channel, which leads to a significant increase in the mixing efficiency compared to previous modes
In the mixers used in practice, the number of such time, we investigated the effect of the different number of mixing chambers of such mixers
Summary
Much attention is paid to energy efficiency and energy conservation issues. It was shown experimentally that effective mixing of fluids was observed in a T-shaped micromixer at certain flow rates at the mixer inlet. For large Reynolds numbers, an organized and steady-state pattern of vortex structures is observed (the engulfment flow regime), in which the flow symmetry is broken, and elements of one fluid flow reach the opposite side of the mixing channel, which leads to a significant increase in the mixing efficiency compared to previous modes. In contrast to most studies, the paper [25] shows the effect of geometric dimensions on the efficiency of fluids mixing and the pressure drop (PD), as well as determines the optimal operating modes of the T-shaped micromixer. The present paper deals with the systematic study of flow modes and analysis of the hydraulic efficiency of mixing in the most common types of micromixers
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