Numerical simulation of fluid flow mixing in flow-focusing microfluidic devices

Abstract

Abstract A numerical simulation through computational fluid dynamics is presented on the fluid flow mixing in a flow-focusing microfluidic device with three inlet channels confluence angles of 45, 67.5, and 90°. The effect of various parameters such as aspect ratio (0.5, 1, and 1.5), mixing channel length (1–4 mm), and Reynolds number (1–20) on the mixing efficiency, and the pressure drop are evaluated. The results demonstrate that the increase in mixing efficiency results from an increase in the Reynolds number and aspect ratio for all the angles. In addition, an increase in the pressure drop due to an increase in the Reynolds number and a decrease in the aspect ratio is observed. A longer length of the mixing channel indicates a higher mixing efficiency. The mixing efficiency is more suitable at an angle of 45° among the applied angles in terms of the operational and geometric parameters due to an increase in the contact surface of the flows at the inlet channels junction since the mixing index range is between 0.54 and 1 by varying the mentioned parameters.