Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities
The T-shaped micro-junction is among the most used geometry in microfluidic applications, and many design modifications of the channel walls have been proposed to enhance mixing. In this work, we investigate through numerical simulations the introduction of one pair of small rectangular cavities in...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/2/159 |
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| author | Matteo Antognoli Sara Tomasi Masoni Alessandro Mariotti Roberto Mauri Maria Vittoria Salvetti Elisabetta Brunazzi Chiara Galletti |
| author_facet | Matteo Antognoli Sara Tomasi Masoni Alessandro Mariotti Roberto Mauri Maria Vittoria Salvetti Elisabetta Brunazzi Chiara Galletti |
| author_sort | Matteo Antognoli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The T-shaped micro-junction is among the most used geometry in microfluidic applications, and many design modifications of the channel walls have been proposed to enhance mixing. In this work, we investigate through numerical simulations the introduction of one pair of small rectangular cavities in the lateral walls of the mixing channel just downstream of the confluence region. The aim is to preserve the simple geometry that has contributed to spread the practical use of the T-shaped micro-junction while suggesting a modification that should, in principle, work jointly with the vortical structures present in the mixing channel, further enhancing their efficiency in mixing without significant additional pressure drops. The performance is analyzed in the different flow regimes occurring by increasing the Reynolds number. The cavities are effective in the two highly-mixed flow regimes, viz., the steady engulfment and the periodic asymmetric regimes. This presence does not interfere with the formation of the vortical structures that promote mixing by convection in these two regimes, but it further enhances the mixing of the inlet streams in the near-wall region of the mixing channel without any additional cost, leading to better performance than the classical configuration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:26:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c1cd8e32afce47fa8f291b41d3ea0d96 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:26:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-c1cd8e32afce47fa8f291b41d3ea0d962023-11-23T21:09:32ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2022-01-0113215910.3390/mi13020159Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular CavitiesMatteo Antognoli0Sara Tomasi Masoni1Alessandro Mariotti2Roberto Mauri3Maria Vittoria Salvetti4Elisabetta Brunazzi5Chiara Galletti6Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyDipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Industriale, Università di Pisa, Largo Lazzarino 2, 56122 Pisa, ItalyThe T-shaped micro-junction is among the most used geometry in microfluidic applications, and many design modifications of the channel walls have been proposed to enhance mixing. In this work, we investigate through numerical simulations the introduction of one pair of small rectangular cavities in the lateral walls of the mixing channel just downstream of the confluence region. The aim is to preserve the simple geometry that has contributed to spread the practical use of the T-shaped micro-junction while suggesting a modification that should, in principle, work jointly with the vortical structures present in the mixing channel, further enhancing their efficiency in mixing without significant additional pressure drops. The performance is analyzed in the different flow regimes occurring by increasing the Reynolds number. The cavities are effective in the two highly-mixed flow regimes, viz., the steady engulfment and the periodic asymmetric regimes. This presence does not interfere with the formation of the vortical structures that promote mixing by convection in these two regimes, but it further enhances the mixing of the inlet streams in the near-wall region of the mixing channel without any additional cost, leading to better performance than the classical configuration.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/2/159T-shaped micro-junctionsmall rectangular cavitiesflow regimesmixing degreenumerical simulations |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Antognoli Sara Tomasi Masoni Alessandro Mariotti Roberto Mauri Maria Vittoria Salvetti Elisabetta Brunazzi Chiara Galletti Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities Micromachines T-shaped micro-junction small rectangular cavities flow regimes mixing degree numerical simulations |
| title | Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities |
| title_full | Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities |
| title_fullStr | Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities |
| title_short | Mixing Improvement in a T-Shaped Micro-Junction through Small Rectangular Cavities |
| title_sort | mixing improvement in a t shaped micro junction through small rectangular cavities |
| topic | T-shaped micro-junction small rectangular cavities flow regimes mixing degree numerical simulations |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/13/2/159 |
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