Issue 99, 2014

Experimental optimization of a passive planar rhombic micromixer with obstacles for effective mixing in a short channel length

Abstract

This paper presents the performance of a passive planar rhombic micromixer with diamond-shaped obstacles and a rectangular contraction between the rhombi. The device was experimentally optimized using water for high mixing efficiency and a low pressure drop over a wide range of Reynolds numbers (Re = 0.1–117.6) by varying geometrical parameters such as the number of rhombi, the distance between obstacles and the contraction width. Due to the large amount of data generated, statistical methods were used to facilitate and improve the results of the analysis. The results revealed a rank of factors influencing mixing efficiency: Reynolds number > number of rhombi > contraction width > inter-obstacles distance. The pressure drop measured after three rhombi depends mainly on Re and inter-obstacle distance. The resulting optimum geometry for the low Re regime has a contraction width of 101 μm and inter-obstacles distance of 93 μm, while for the high Re regime a contraction width of 400 μm and inter-obstacle distance of 121 μm are more appropriate. These mixers enabled 80% mixing efficiency creating a pressure drop of 6.0 Pa at Re = 0.1 and 5.1 × 104 Pa at Re = 117.6, with a mixer length of 2.5 mm. To the authors' knowledge, the developed mixer is one of the shortest planar passive micromixers reported to date.

Graphical abstract: Experimental optimization of a passive planar rhombic micromixer with obstacles for effective mixing in a short channel length

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
10 Sep 2014
Accepted
14 Oct 2014
First published
14 Oct 2014

RSC Adv., 2014,4, 56013-56025

Author version available

Experimental optimization of a passive planar rhombic micromixer with obstacles for effective mixing in a short channel length

I. Bernacka-Wojcik, S. Ribeiro, P. J. Wojcik, P. U. Alves, T. Busani, E. Fortunato, P. V. Baptista, J. A. Covas, H. Águas, L. Hilliou and R. Martins, RSC Adv., 2014, 4, 56013 DOI: 10.1039/C4RA10160J

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