mojica

DESIGN OF PASSIVE MIXERS UTILIZING MICROFLUIDIC SELF-

CIRCULATION IN THE MIXING CHAMBER

Abstract

This paper proposes the design of a passive micromixer that utilizes the self-circulation of the fluid
in the mixing chamber for applications in the Micro Total Analysis Systems (μTAS). The
micromixer with a total volume of about 20 µL and consisting of an inlet port, a circular mixing
chamber and an outlet port was designed. The device was actuated by a pneumatic pump to induce
self-circulation of the fluid. The self-circulation phenomenon in the micromixer was predicted by
the computational simulation of the microfluidic dynamics. Flow visualization with
fluorescence tracer was used to verify the numerical simulations and indicated that the simulated
and the experimental results were in good agreement. Besides, an index for quantifying the mixing
performance was employed to compare different situations and to demonstrate the advantages of
the self-circulation mixer. The mixing efficiencies in the mixer under different Reynolds numbers
(Re) were evaluated numerically. The numerical results revealed that the mixing efficiency of the
mixer with self-circulation was 1.7 to 2 times higher than that of the straight channel without a
mixing chamber at Re = 150. When Re was as low as 50, the mixing efficiency of the mixer with
self-circulation in the mixing chamber was improved approximately 30% higher than that in the
straight channel. The results indicated that the self-circulation in the mixer could enhance the
mixing even at low Re. The features of simple mixing method and fabrication process make this
micromixer ideally suitable for μTAS applications

Keywords
microfluidic dynamics, the mixing efficiencies, reynolds numbers.
Diego

DESIGN OPTIMIZATION OF TWIN-FLUID ATOMIZERS WITH AN INTERNAL

MIXING CHAMBER FOR HEAVY FUEL OILS

Abstract
The present work is devoted to determine the magnitude of the main parameters that yield
the optimum results for twin-fluid nozzles with an internal mixing chamber. The focus is
placed on the study of the interaction of both air and liquid flows at the internal chamber and
its effects on the resulting spray. To this end, some experiments have been performed for
different air central channel diameters and liquid ports, as well as for several experimental
conditions (air and liquid mass flow rates), in order to understand the influence of the flow
conditions at the mixing chamber on the size of the droplets produced. It has been
demonstrated that under certain experimental conditions the atomizing fluid discharged to
the internal chamber is choked. The sonic condition is achieved for different air and liquid
mass flow rates as a function of the air central channel diameter. It has also been obtained
that to achieve the best results with moderate atomizing fluid flow rates, it is convenient to
operate in choked conditions. This is an important result that will help in the optimum design
of this type of nozzles.

Keywords
Heavy fuel oils, Twin-fluid atomizers, Liquid atomization, SMD
Machado

HYDRODYNAMICS OF THE MIXING CHAMBER IN RIM: PIV FLOW‐FIELD

CHARACTERIZATION

Abstract

The flow‐field in a Reaction Injection Moulding, RIM, machine mixing chamber was
characterized using the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technique. This study covered the
industrial range of Reynolds numbers, Re, for the RIM process, from 100 to 500, setting the
overall trends of the flow‐field in that range, with particular focus on the flow regime
transition range of 100 ≤ Re ≤ 150. The instantaneous 2D velocity vector maps were obtained
with PIV in a plane containing the chamber and injectors axis. From instantaneous velocity
data, the following quantities were computed: the probability density functions, the average
velocity, and turbulence intensity. The present study sheds additional light into the transition
of flow‐field regime that marks the onset of mixing on RIM, and also into the mixing
mechanisms and respective underlying flow‐field features. © 2008 American Institute of
Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2008

Keywords
Reaction Injection Moulding, the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), Reynolds numbers.