Mixing Enhancement in a Novel Type of “Split and Recombine” Static Mixer

Abstract

Mixing in laminar flow regimes is crucial for many engineering applications in which highly viscous and fragile fluids are used. Moreover, the compactness of laminar mixers is a great challenge due to the large mixing time required to obtain the desired homogeneity. The “Split And Recombine” (SAR) static mixers are a promising solution for this challenge. This type of mixers consists of a network of separated and then recombined channels in which two fluids are introduced separately and mixed by a multi-lamination process. The SAR static mixers perform a series of baker’s transforms on the concentration profile enhancing thus the mixing process at very low Reynolds numbers. In the present study, numerical simulations are carried out to analyze the mixing process in a new topology of SAR mixer with double separation and recombination in order to increase the lateral gradients and destroy the concentration profile faster. The new geometry proposed here is compared to two SAR configurations widely studied in the open literature namely the Gray and the Chen SAR configurations. The results show a good enhancement of the mixing process in the new double SAR configuration with decrease in the power dissipation.