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Simulation and experimental research of an effective SAR multilayer interlaced micromixer based on Koch fractal geometry

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Abstract

This paper analyzes a three-dimensional micromixer based on Koch fractal and split-and-recombination (SAR) channel through simulation and experiment. It is proved that the microchannel with Koch fractal structure can effectively increase the contact area of the fluid, the SAR cross channel can generate chaotic convection through irregular splitting, recombination and folding of fluid flow and is not particularly dependent on fluid inertia, so satisfactory mixing efficiency can be achieved even at low Reynolds number (Re). The simulation results show that when Re is 0.1, the mixing efficiency can reach 97.44%. Since the channels are interlaced with multiple layers, it is a challenging task to use conventional lithography or chemical etching, Therefore, CO2 laser system was used to process and manufacture a SAR micromixer with Koch fractal on a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrate. This study focuses on the effects of laser power and cutting times on the quality of microchannels in a CO2 laser system. Finally, 20 w CO2 laser power and 15 mm/s laser cutting speed were selected to cut the PMMA substrate for three times, and the micromixer was fabricated by combining the hot-pressing bonding technology.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Young Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province of China (tsqn202103091), Shandong Provincial Natural Science Foundation (ZR2021JQ).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, 121001, Liaoning, China

    Siyue Xiong

  2. College of Transportation, Ludong University, Yantai, 264025, Shandong, China

    Xueye Chen

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  1. Siyue Xiong
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  2. Xueye Chen
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Correspondence to Xueye Chen.

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Xiong, S., Chen, X. Simulation and experimental research of an effective SAR multilayer interlaced micromixer based on Koch fractal geometry. Microfluid Nanofluid 25, 92 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-021-02495-y

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