Chemical Engineering & Technology, Vol.43, No.9, 1866-1875, 2020
Numerical and Experimental Study on Mixing in Chaotic Micromixers with Crossing Structures
Two chaotic micromixers (Models A and B) based on the split-and-recombine principle using multilayer microchannels are proposed and the mixing performance was analyzed numerically and experimentally for a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The fluid flow and mixing performance were numerically analyzed by solving Navier-Stokes equations. Micromixers were fabricated using a soft-lithography technique. As working fluids, water and a dye/water mixture were used. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed using confocal scanning microscopy and image processing techniques. The micromixers could enhance the mixing performance by expanding the interfaces between the working fluids to be mixed. The results confirm the superior mixing index of Model B compared to that of Model A.