Editorial

2 pages, 184 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Editorial for the Special Issue on Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers

by Kwang-Yong Kim

Micromachines 2021, 12(5), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12050533 - 07 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1218

During the last couple of decades, there have been rapid developments in analysis, design, and fabrication of micromixers [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

20 pages, 3667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toward the Next Generation of Passive Micromixers: A Novel 3-D Design Approach

by Mahmut Burak Okuducu and Mustafa M. Aral

Micromachines 2021, 12(4), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12040372 - 30 Mar 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2288

Abstract

Passive micromixers are miniaturized instruments that are used to mix fluids in microfluidic systems. In microchannels, combination of laminar flows and small diffusion constants of mixing liquids produce a difficult mixing environment. In particular, in very low Reynolds number flows, e.g., Re < [...] Read more.

Passive micromixers are miniaturized instruments that are used to mix fluids in microfluidic systems. In microchannels, combination of laminar flows and small diffusion constants of mixing liquids produce a difficult mixing environment. In particular, in very low Reynolds number flows, e.g., Re < 10, diffusive mixing cannot be promoted unless a large interfacial area is formed between the fluids to be mixed. Therefore, the mixing distance increases substantially due to a slow diffusion process that governs fluid mixing. In this article, a novel 3-D passive micromixer design is developed to improve fluid mixing over a short distance. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are used to investigate the performance of the micromixer numerically. The circular-shaped fluid overlapping (CSFO) micromixer design proposed is examined in several fluid flow, diffusivity, and injection conditions. The outcomes show that the CSFO geometry develops a large interfacial area between the fluid bodies. Thus, fluid mixing is accelerated in vertical and/or horizontal directions depending on the injection type applied. For the smallest molecular diffusion constant tested, the CSFO micromixer design provides more than 90% mixing efficiency in a distance between 260 and 470 µm. The maximum pressure drop in the micromixer is found to be less than 1.4 kPa in the highest flow conditioned examined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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12 pages, 4648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Kinematic Measurements of Novel Chaotic Micromixers to Enhance Mixing Performances at Low Reynolds Numbers: Comparative Study

by Toufik Tayeb Naas, Shakhawat Hossain, Muhammad Aslam, Arifur Rahman, A. S. M. Hoque, Kwang-Yong Kim and S. M. Riazul Islam

Micromachines 2021, 12(4), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12040364 - 28 Mar 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2265

Abstract

In this work, a comparative investigation of chaotic flow behavior inside multi-layer crossing channels was numerically carried out to select suitable micromixers. New micromixers were proposed and compared with an efficient passive mixer called a Two-Layer Crossing Channel Micromixer (TLCCM), which was investigated [...] Read more.

In this work, a comparative investigation of chaotic flow behavior inside multi-layer crossing channels was numerically carried out to select suitable micromixers. New micromixers were proposed and compared with an efficient passive mixer called a Two-Layer Crossing Channel Micromixer (TLCCM), which was investigated recently. The computational evaluation was a concern to the mixing enhancement and kinematic measurements, such as vorticity, deformation, stretching, and folding rates for various low Reynolds number regimes. The 3D continuity, momentum, and species transport equations were solved by a Fluent ANSYS CFD code. For various cases of fluid regimes (0.1 to 25 values of Reynolds number), the new configuration displayed a mixing enhancement of 40%–60% relative to that obtained in the older TLCCM in terms of kinematic measurement, which was studied recently. The results revealed that all proposed micromixers have a strong secondary flow, which significantly enhances the fluid kinematic performances at low Reynolds numbers. The visualization of mass fraction and path-lines presents that the TLCCM configuration is inefficient at low Reynolds numbers, while the new designs exhibit rapid mixing with lower pressure losses. Thus, it can be used to enhance the homogenization in several microfluidic systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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17 pages, 5116 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Mixing Performance of Two-Layer Crossing Micromixer through Surrogate-Based Optimization

by Shakhawat Hossain, Nass Toufiq Tayeb, Farzana Islam, Mosab Kaseem, P.D.H. Bui, M.M.K. Bhuiya, Muhammad Aslam and Kwang-Yong Kim

Micromachines 2021, 12(2), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12020211 - 19 Feb 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2288

Abstract

Optimum configuration of a micromixer with two-layer crossing microstructure was performed using mixing analysis, surrogate modeling, along with an optimization algorithm. Mixing performance was used to determine the optimum designs at Reynolds number 40. A surrogate modeling method based on a radial basis [...] Read more.

Optimum configuration of a micromixer with two-layer crossing microstructure was performed using mixing analysis, surrogate modeling, along with an optimization algorithm. Mixing performance was used to determine the optimum designs at Reynolds number 40. A surrogate modeling method based on a radial basis neural network (RBNN) was used to approximate the value of the objective function. The optimization study was carried out with three design variables; viz., the ratio of the main channel thickness to the pitch length (H/PI), the ratio of the thickness of the diagonal channel to the pitch length (W/PI), and the ratio of the depth of the channel to the pitch length (d/PI). Through a primary parametric study, the design space was constrained. The design points surrounded by the design constraints were chosen using a well-known technique called Latin hypercube sampling (LHS). The optimal design confirmed a 32.0% enhancement of the mixing index as compared to the reference design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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12 pages, 2456 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Liquid Mixing Based on Electrokinetic Vortices Generated in a T-Type Microchannel

by Chengfa Wang

Micromachines 2021, 12(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12020130 - 26 Jan 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2101

Abstract

This article proposes a micromixer based on the vortices generated in a T-type microchannel with nonuniform but same polarity zeta potentials under a direct current (DC) electric field. The downstream section (modified section) of the outlet channel was designed with a smaller zeta [...] Read more.

This article proposes a micromixer based on the vortices generated in a T-type microchannel with nonuniform but same polarity zeta potentials under a direct current (DC) electric field. The downstream section (modified section) of the outlet channel was designed with a smaller zeta potential than others (unmodified section). When a DC electric field is applied in the microchannel, the electrokinetic vortices will form under certain conditions and hence mix the solution. The numerical results show that the mixing performance is better when the channel width and the zeta potential ratio of the modified section to the unmodified section are smaller. Besides, the electrokinetic vortices formed in the microchannel are stronger under a larger length ratio of the modified section to the unmodified section of the outlet channel, and correspondingly, the mixing performance is better. The micromixer presented in the paper is quite simple in structure and has good potential applications in microfluidic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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16 pages, 4926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study of T-Shaped Micromixers with Vortex-Inducing Obstacles in the Inlet Channels

by Chih-Yang Wu and Bing-Hao Lai

Micromachines 2020, 11(12), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11121122 - 18 Dec 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2532

Abstract

To enhance fluid mixing, a new approach for inlet flow modification by adding vortex-inducing obstacles (VIOs) in the inlet channels of a T-shaped micromixer is proposed and investigated in this work. We use a commercial computational fluid dynamics code to calculate the pressure [...] Read more.

To enhance fluid mixing, a new approach for inlet flow modification by adding vortex-inducing obstacles (VIOs) in the inlet channels of a T-shaped micromixer is proposed and investigated in this work. We use a commercial computational fluid dynamics code to calculate the pressure and the velocity vectors and, to reduce the numerical diffusion in high-Peclet-number flows, we employ the particle-tracking simulation with an approximation diffusion model to calculate the concentration distribution in the micromixers. The effects of geometric parameters, including the distance between the obstacles and the angle of attack of the obstacles, on the mixing performance of micromixers are studied. From the results, we can observe the following trends: (i) the stretched contact surface between different fluids caused by antisymmetric VIOs happens for the cases with the Reynolds number (Re) greater than or equal to 27 and the enhancement of mixing increases with the increase of Reynolds number gradually, and (ii) the onset of the engulfment flow happens at

R e \approx 125

in the T-shaped mixer with symmetric VIOs or at

R e \approx 140

in the standard planar T-shaped mixer and results in a sudden increase of the degree of mixing. The results indicate that the early initiation of transversal convection by either symmetric or antisymmetric VIOs can enhance fluid mixing at a relatively lower Re. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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19 pages, 5207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Fluid Mixing with U-Shaped Channels on a Rotating Disc

by Chi-Wei Hsu, Po-Tin Shih and Jerry M. Chen

Micromachines 2020, 11(12), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11121110 - 15 Dec 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2779

Abstract

In this study, centrifugal microfluidics with a simple geometry of U-shaped structure was designed, fabricated and analyzed to attain rapid and efficient fluid mixing. Visualization experiments together with numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the mixing behavior for the microfluidics with single, [...] Read more.

In this study, centrifugal microfluidics with a simple geometry of U-shaped structure was designed, fabricated and analyzed to attain rapid and efficient fluid mixing. Visualization experiments together with numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the mixing behavior for the microfluidics with single, double and triple U-shaped structures, where each of the U-structures consisted of four consecutive 90° bends. It is found that the U-shaped structure markedly enhances mixing by transverse secondary flow that is originated from the Coriolis-induced vortices and further intensified by the Dean force generated as the stream turns along the 90° bends. The secondary flow becomes stronger with increasing rotational speed and with more U-shaped structures, hence higher mixing performance. The mixing efficiency measured for the three types of mixers shows a sharp increase with increasing rotational speed in the lower range. As the rotational speed further increases, nearly complete mixing can be achieved at 600 rpm for the triple-U mixer and at 720 rpm for the double-U mixer, while a maximum efficiency level of 83–86% is reached for the single-U mixer. The simulation results that reveal detailed characteristics of the flow and concentration fields are in good agreement with the experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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15 pages, 3602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Soft Tooling Photopolymers and Processes for Micromixing Devices with Variable Cross-Section

by J. Israel Martínez-López, Héctor Andrés Betancourt Cervantes, Luis Donaldo Cuevas Iturbe, Elisa Vázquez, Edisson A. Naula, Alejandro Martínez López, Héctor R. Siller, Christian Mendoza-Buenrostro and Ciro A. Rodríguez

Micromachines 2020, 11(11), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11110970 - 29 Oct 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2852

Abstract

In this paper, we characterized an assortment of photopolymers and stereolithography processes to produce 3D-printed molds and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) castings of micromixing devices. Once materials and processes were screened, the validation of the soft tooling approach in microfluidic devices was carried out through [...] Read more.

In this paper, we characterized an assortment of photopolymers and stereolithography processes to produce 3D-printed molds and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) castings of micromixing devices. Once materials and processes were screened, the validation of the soft tooling approach in microfluidic devices was carried out through a case study. An asymmetric split-and-recombine device with different cross-sections was manufactured and tested under different regime conditions (10 < Re < 70). Mixing performances between 3% and 96% were obtained depending on the flow regime and the pitch-to-depth ratio. The study shows that 3D-printed soft tooling can provide other benefits such as multiple cross-sections and other potential layouts on a single mold. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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15 pages, 3008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A 3D Printed Jet Mixer for Centrifugal Microfluidic Platforms

by Yunxia Wang, Yong Zhang, Zheng Qiao and Wanjun Wang

Micromachines 2020, 11(7), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11070695 - 17 Jul 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3854

Abstract

Homogeneous mixing of microscopic volume fluids at low Reynolds number is of great significance for a wide range of chemical, biological, and medical applications. An efficient jet mixer with arrays of micronozzles was designed and fabricated using additive manufacturing (three-dimensional (3D) printing) technology [...] Read more.

Homogeneous mixing of microscopic volume fluids at low Reynolds number is of great significance for a wide range of chemical, biological, and medical applications. An efficient jet mixer with arrays of micronozzles was designed and fabricated using additive manufacturing (three-dimensional (3D) printing) technology for applications in centrifugal microfluidic platforms. The contact surface of miscible liquids was enhanced significantly by impinging plumes from two opposite arrays of micronozzles to improve mixing performance. The mixing efficiency was evaluated and compared with the commonly used Y-shaped micromixer. Effective mixing in the jet mixer was achieved within a very short timescale (3s). This 3D printed jet mixer has great potential to be implemented in applications by being incorporated into multifarious 3D printing devices in microfluidic platforms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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23 pages, 3799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mechanical Characterisation and Analysis of a Passive Micro Heat Exchanger

by Francisco-Javier Granados-Ortiz and Joaquín Ortega-Casanova

Micromachines 2020, 11(7), 668; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11070668 - 09 Jul 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1945

Abstract

Heat exchangers are widely used in many mechanical, electronic, and bioengineering applications at macro and microscale. Among these, the use of heat exchangers consisting of a single fluid passing through a set of geometries at different temperatures and two flows in T-shape channels [...] Read more.

Heat exchangers are widely used in many mechanical, electronic, and bioengineering applications at macro and microscale. Among these, the use of heat exchangers consisting of a single fluid passing through a set of geometries at different temperatures and two flows in T-shape channels have been extensively studied. However, the application of heat exchangers for thermal mixing over a geometry leading to vortex shedding has not been investigated. This numerical work aims to analyse and characterise a heat exchanger for microscale application, which consists of two laminar fluids at different temperature that impinge orthogonally onto a rectangular structure and generate vortex shedding mechanics that enhance thermal mixing. This work is novel in various aspects. This is the first work of its kind on heat transfer between two fluids (same fluid, different temperature) enhanced by vortex shedding mechanics. Additionally, this research fully characterise the underlying vortex mechanics by accounting all geometry and flow regime parameters (longitudinal aspect ratio, blockage ratio and Reynolds number), opposite to the existing works in the literature, which usually vary and analyse blockage ratio or longitudinal aspect ratio only. A relevant advantage of this heat exchanger is that represents a low-Reynolds passive device, not requiring additional energy nor moving elements to enhance thermal mixing. This allows its use especially at microscale, for instance in biomedical/biomechanical and microelectronic applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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14 pages, 2374 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Interdependencies between Mechanical Velocity and Electrical Voltage in Electromagnetic Micromixers

by Noori Kim, Wei Xuan Chan, Sum Huan Ng, Yong-Jin Yoon and Jont B. Allen

Micromachines 2020, 11(7), 636; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11070636 - 29 Jun 2020

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2364

Abstract

Micromixers are critical components in the lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis systems technology found in micro-electro-mechanical systems. In general, the mixing performance of the micromixers is determined by characterising the mixing time of a system, for example the time or number of circulations [...] Read more.

Micromixers are critical components in the lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis systems technology found in micro-electro-mechanical systems. In general, the mixing performance of the micromixers is determined by characterising the mixing time of a system, for example the time or number of circulations and vibrations guided by tracers (i.e., fluorescent dyes). Our previous study showed that the mixing performance could be detected solely from the electrical measurement. In this paper, we employ electromagnetic micromixers to investigate the correlation between electrical and mechanical behaviours in the mixer system. This work contemplates the “anti-reciprocity” concept by providing a theoretical insight into the measurement of the mixer system; the work explains the data interdependence between the electrical point impedance (voltage per unit current) and the mechanical velocity. This study puts the electromagnetic micromixer theory on a firm theoretical and empirical basis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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20 pages, 6397 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Technical Model of Micro Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) Milling Suitable for Bottom Grooved Micromixer Design Optimization

by Izidor Sabotin, Gianluca Tristo and Joško Valentinčič

Micromachines 2020, 11(6), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11060594 - 16 Jun 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3391

Abstract

In this paper, development of a technical model of micro Electrical Discharge Machining in milling configuration (EDM milling) is presented. The input to the model is a parametrically presented feature geometry and the output is a feature machining time. To model key factors [...] Read more.

In this paper, development of a technical model of micro Electrical Discharge Machining in milling configuration (EDM milling) is presented. The input to the model is a parametrically presented feature geometry and the output is a feature machining time. To model key factors influencing feature machining time, an experimental campaign by machining various microgrooves into corrosive resistant steel was executed. The following parameters were investigated: electrode dressing time, material removal rate, electrode wear, electrode wear control time and machining strategy. The technology data and knowledge base were constructed using data obtained experimentally. The model is applicable for groove-like features, commonly applied in bottom grooved micromixers (BGMs), with widths from 40 to 120 µm and depths up to 100 µm. The optimization of a BGM geometry is presented as a case study of the model usage. The mixing performances of various micromixer designs, compliant with micro EDM milling technology, were evaluated using computational fluid dynamics modelling. The results show that slanted groove micromixer is a favourable design to be implemented when micro EDM milling technology is applied. The presented technical model provides an efficient design optimization tool and, thus, aims to be used by a microfluidic design engineer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

23 pages, 8058 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Passive Micromixers with a Comparative Analysis

by Wasim Raza, Shakhawat Hossain and Kwang-Yong Kim

Micromachines 2020, 11(5), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi11050455 - 27 Apr 2020

Cited by 94 | Viewed by 6331

Abstract

A wide range of existing passive micromixers are reviewed, and quantitative analyses of ten typical passive micromixers were performed to compare their mixing indices, pressure drops, and mixing costs under the same axial length and flow conditions across a wide Reynolds number range [...] Read more.

A wide range of existing passive micromixers are reviewed, and quantitative analyses of ten typical passive micromixers were performed to compare their mixing indices, pressure drops, and mixing costs under the same axial length and flow conditions across a wide Reynolds number range of 0.01–120. The tested micromixers were selected from five types of micromixer designs. The analyses of flow and mixing were performed using continuity, Navier-Stokes and convection-diffusion equations. The results of the comparative analysis were presented for three different Reynolds number ranges: low-Re (Re ≤ 1), intermediate-Re (1 < Re ≤ 40), and high-Re (Re > 40) ranges, where the mixing mechanisms are different. The results show a two-dimensional micromixer of Tesla structure is recommended in the intermediate- and high-Re ranges, while two three-dimensional micromixers with two layers are recommended in the low-Re range due to their excellent mixing performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers)

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