Improving dynamic agitation by optimizing the localization of fins in an unsteady 2D chaotic mixer

Abstract

The present paper investigates numerically the impacts of the addition of fins in 2D-unsteady chaotic micromixer on the dynamic behavior of fluid flow. Proposed designs are mainly based on the mounting of rigid fins on the constituted parts of the chaotic mixer. Fluid flow pattern is evaluated with the variance of the local properties presented in terms of velocity field, deformation and rotation rates, streamlines and elongation rate according to the proposed architectures. More precisely, the effects of three geometric configurations of the considered mixer are examined and compared. Findings illustrate that deformation and rotation rates are significantly improved with configuration 3 of the chaotic mixer protocol, where rotation phenomena create vortices of different sizes which improve mixing rate. In addition, configuration 3 enhances the elongation process responsible for fluid element stretching and folding, as continuous application of this transformation mixes the fluids in such geometry.