Micro-mixing chip under piezoelectric pulse discontinuous flow mechanism

Abstract

Efficient mixing and precise control of fluid micro-mixing technology are indispensable across industries. Despite significant advancements, micro-mixing based on the pulsed discontinuous flow (PDF) mechanism requires further scrutiny. Hence, a PDF micro-mixing chip was developed with piezoelectric micropumps as the driving source. The chip featured a piezoelectric micropump with a unique four-leaf valve structure, dedicated control power supply and a V-shaped obstruction channel. Simulations and experiments demonstrated the feasibility of micro-mixing using the piezoelectric-driven PDF mechanism. The key factors affecting the mixing efficiency were investigated. The fluid in the chip channel was exposed to vibrational excitation, pulsation, convection, and free diffusion. The mixing index of the micro-mixing chip in the output port exceeded 95%, which realized efficient mixing. Controllable mixing was achieved on the chip by modifying the operating frequency and driving voltage of the piezoelectric micropump. This study provides a new feasible solution for fluid micro-mixing in various fields.