Comparison of hydrodynamics and micromixing quality in a two-stage microreactor with intensely swirled flows and in a T-mixer

Abstract

The advantages of a two-stage microreactor with intensely swirled flows (MRISF-2) in comparison with a T-mixer are studied. Both numerical simulation and experimental study were used. The best way of solutions feeding was found experimentally, through the tangential inlet pipe and axial nozzle. It was revealed that the maximum values of the specific energy dissipation rate and correspondingly the best quality of micromixing are achieved with this method. The results of numerical simulation demonstrate the predominant energy dissipation in the neck of MRISF-2, which is a key knowledge for the proper use of such type of microreactors for co-precipitation reactions, because the micromixing quality plays crucial role in the synthesis of nanosized particles. The specific energy dissipation rate in the neck is from 10 to 20 times higher than just upstream or downstream the neck. The micromixing quality (index of segregation) in MRISF-2 was one order of magnitude better compared to the T-mixer; besides, the MRISF-2 allows to increase energy dissipation rate in a much wider range.