Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method
This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of a novel passive micromixer based on the lamination of fluid layers. Lamination-based mixers benefit from increasing the contact surface between two fluid phases by enhancing molecular diffusion to achieve a faster mixing. Novel three-d...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2019-11-01
|
| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/11/786 |
| _version_ | 1819052046714667008 |
|---|---|
| author | Ramezan Ali Taheri Vahabodin Goodarzi Abdollah Allahverdi |
| author_facet | Ramezan Ali Taheri Vahabodin Goodarzi Abdollah Allahverdi |
| author_sort | Ramezan Ali Taheri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of a novel passive micromixer based on the lamination of fluid layers. Lamination-based mixers benefit from increasing the contact surface between two fluid phases by enhancing molecular diffusion to achieve a faster mixing. Novel three-dimensional split and recombine (SAR) structures are proposed to generate fluid laminations. Numerical simulations were conducted to model the mixer performance. Furthermore, experiments were conducted using dyes to observe fluid laminations and evaluate the proposed mixer’s characteristics. Mixing quality was experimentally obtained by means of image-based mixing index (MI) measurement. The multi-layer device was fabricated utilizing the Xurography method, which is a simple and low-cost method to fabricate 3D microfluidic devices. Mixing indexes of 96% and 90% were obtained at Reynolds numbers of 0.1 and 1, respectively. Moreover, the device had an MI value of 67% at a Reynolds number of 10 (flow rate of 116 µL/min for each inlet). The proposed micromixer, with its novel design and fabrication method, is expected to benefit a wide range of lab-on-a-chip applications, due to its high efficiency, low cost, high throughput and ease of fabrication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:13:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e58f16ac63cd409fbc4d01dc5880c847 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T12:13:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-e58f16ac63cd409fbc4d01dc5880c8472022-12-21T19:04:30ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2019-11-01101178610.3390/mi10110786mi10110786Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic MethodRamezan Ali Taheri0Vahabodin Goodarzi1Abdollah Allahverdi2Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1435116471, IranApplied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1435116471, IranBiophysics Department, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-335, IranThis paper presents experimental and numerical investigations of a novel passive micromixer based on the lamination of fluid layers. Lamination-based mixers benefit from increasing the contact surface between two fluid phases by enhancing molecular diffusion to achieve a faster mixing. Novel three-dimensional split and recombine (SAR) structures are proposed to generate fluid laminations. Numerical simulations were conducted to model the mixer performance. Furthermore, experiments were conducted using dyes to observe fluid laminations and evaluate the proposed mixer’s characteristics. Mixing quality was experimentally obtained by means of image-based mixing index (MI) measurement. The multi-layer device was fabricated utilizing the Xurography method, which is a simple and low-cost method to fabricate 3D microfluidic devices. Mixing indexes of 96% and 90% were obtained at Reynolds numbers of 0.1 and 1, respectively. Moreover, the device had an MI value of 67% at a Reynolds number of 10 (flow rate of 116 µL/min for each inlet). The proposed micromixer, with its novel design and fabrication method, is expected to benefit a wide range of lab-on-a-chip applications, due to its high efficiency, low cost, high throughput and ease of fabrication.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/11/786microfluidicsmicromixerreynolds numbersplit and recombinemicrofabricationdiffusionlamination |
| spellingShingle | Ramezan Ali Taheri Vahabodin Goodarzi Abdollah Allahverdi Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method Micromachines microfluidics micromixer reynolds number split and recombine microfabrication diffusion lamination |
| title | Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method |
| title_full | Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method |
| title_fullStr | Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method |
| title_short | Mixing Performance of a Cost-effective Split-and-Recombine 3D Micromixer Fabricated by Xurographic Method |
| title_sort | mixing performance of a cost effective split and recombine 3d micromixer fabricated by xurographic method |
| topic | microfluidics micromixer reynolds number split and recombine microfabrication diffusion lamination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/10/11/786 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ramezanalitaheri mixingperformanceofacosteffectivesplitandrecombine3dmicromixerfabricatedbyxurographicmethod AT vahabodingoodarzi mixingperformanceofacosteffectivesplitandrecombine3dmicromixerfabricatedbyxurographicmethod AT abdollahallahverdi mixingperformanceofacosteffectivesplitandrecombine3dmicromixerfabricatedbyxurographicmethod |