Enhanced mixing quality of ring-type electroosmotic micromixer using baffles

Abstract

In this study, an attempt has been taken to enhance the mixing efficiency in a micromixer of two different concentration fluids using electrokinetic effects such as electroosmotic flow. Four microelectrodes are located at specific locations on the outer surface of the one ring-shaped micromixer chamber. In addition, rigid baffles at the inlet side of the microchannel have been considered to enhance the mixing quality. The computation is performed using the finite element-based solver. The influences of different parameters such as average inlet fluid velocity (U0), frequency of the alternating current (f), the voltage amplitude of the alternating current (V), angle of inclination of the baffles (α), and the orientation fashion of the baffles at the inlet side have been investigated to achieve best mixing quality. This technique produces rapid mixing in the microchamber. Higher mixing quality can be achieved by considering the baffles in a specific orientation. The best mixing quality (99.67%) is obtained at the low inlet velocity of 0.05 mm/s. On the contrary, the lowest mixing quality (15.78%) is concerned with the higher inlet velocity with a high frequency of AC electric field.