Intensification of mixing efficiency and reduction of pressure drop in a millimeter scale T-junction mixer optimized by an elliptical array hole structure

Abstract

Due to the scale effects, reducing the scale of the channel is conducive to improve the mixing efficiency of the fluid in the T-junction mixer. However, directly reducing the scale to improve the mixing efficiency is accompanied by the sharp increase of pressure drop, resulting in a high energy consumption. The hole structures are proposed and compared to enhance the mixing performance and reduce the pressure drop of millimeter scale mixer. The SHS can enhance the mixing efficiency and mixing cost index of 10 mm T-junction mixer to a level comparable to the 1 mm mixer. The optimal E-90A can enhance the mixing efficiency of 10 mm T-junction mixer to a level comparable to the 0.5 mm mixer, and reduce the mixing cost index to 1.4% of the 0.5 mm mixer. The experimental and simulation results indicate that the optimal EAHS structure achieves a high mixing performance and a low pressure drop. All the findings reported provide useful references for intensification of mixing efficiency and reduction of pressure drop in a millimeter scale mixer.