Performance analysis of T-shaped micromixers using an innovative bend structure of mixing channel

Abstract

Passive micromixers, known for their notable mixing effectiveness and simple manufacturing, are extensively utilized in the lab on chip devices, the bio-medicinal industry, the pharma industry and chemical process. Among the various designs of passive micromixers, the simple T-junction micromixer and the vortex T-junction micromixer are basic designs. In this paper, a comparative study was performed to analyze the influence of bend structural channels on the mixing quality, pressure drop and mixing cost for simple and vortex T micromixers by using numerical simulations. Reynolds numbers (30–120) and angle of bend (θ) ranging from 0° to 180° are the crucial parameters for the investigation. The outcomes suggest that vortex T-junction micromixers with bend structural channels have a greater mixing index than simple T-junction micromixers with bend structural channels, across all the Reynolds values. The findings also suggest that increasing the angle of bend (θ) improves the mixing performance. Additionally, the degree of mixing performance and pressure reduction both exhibit a positive correlation with higher Reynolds numbers.