Numerical Study on Mixing Performance of Straight Groove Micromixers

Abstract

Numerical analyses have been performed to investigate the effects of geometric parameters of a straight groove micromixer on mixing performance and pressure drop. Three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations with two working fluids, water and ethanol have been used to calculate mixing index and pressure drop. A parametric study has been carried out to find the effects of the number of grooves per cycle, arrangement of patterned walls, and additional grooves in triangular dead zones between half cycles of grooves. The three arrangements of patterned walls in a micromixer, i.e., single wall patterned, both walls patterned symmetrically, and both walls patterned asymmetrically, have been tested. The results indicate that as the number of grooves per cycle increases the mixing index increases and the pressure drop decreases. The microchannel with both walls patterned asymmetrically shows the best mixing performance among the three different arrangements of patterned walls. Additional grooves confirm the better mixing performance and lower pressure drop.