Experimental Investigation of Split and Recombination Micromixer in Confront with Basic T- and O- type Micromixers

Abstract

The paper presents an experimental comparison of three types of static micromixer. Efficiencies of a split and recombination micromixer (SAR) based on plate symmetrical modules (PSM) and basic T-type and O-type mixers are examined. Experimental tests were carried out in the laminar flow regime with a low Reynolds number range, 0.083 ≤ Re ≤ 4.166 and image-based techniques were used to evaluate mixing efficiency. Experimental results illustrate that the micromixers with splitting and recombination have outstanding mixing efficiency than those of without SAR process. Indeed split and recombine (SAR) structures of the flow channels result in the reduction of the diffusion distance of two fluids and optimize the diffusion process and after a short distance from inlet high mixing efficiency can be achieved. Also, experimental data show that the SAR PSM mixer is up to 99% efficient, and that efficiency reaches 90% in a short distance, demonstrating this type of mixer’s high mixing performance and the effect of splitting and recombination on the degree of mixing and the efficiency of the micromixer.Both of the T- and O-type micromixers are designed and fabricated from plexiglas using a computer milling process.