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A novel research on serpentine microchannels of passive micromixers

Microsystem Technologies volume 23, pages 2649–2656 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

This paper aims at study and analysis on samples mixing performance of micromixers with serpentine microchannels by numerical simulations in depth. The research on shapes of microchannels is a meaningful issue for improving the samples mixing index in passive micromixers. Lots of productive numerical analysis show that the direction of streamlines changes constantly due to the shape change of microchannels, which enhance molecular diffusion and increases samples mixing index. The simulation and analysis of six microchannel shapes and further numerically analyzed the advantages of the square-wave micromixer have been completed, whose correctness are proved by several mixing experiments. Lots meaningful simulations shows that square-wave microchannels are the best for improving samples mixing among six kinds of micromixers. Adjusting the ratio of microchannels and the number of square-wave units is a effective and simple method to achieve a better mixing performance. It can be demonstrated that the presented design method of microchanel shape is a simple, flexible and efficient technology to improve samples mixing in microfluidic devices.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Liaoning Province Doctor Startup Fund (20141131), Fund of Liaoning Province Education Administration (L2014241), and the Fund in Liaoning University of Technology (X201301).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Xueye Chen, Tiechuan Li & Zengliang Hu

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  1. Xueye Chen
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  2. Tiechuan Li
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  3. Zengliang Hu
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Correspondence to Xueye Chen.

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Chen, X., Li, T. & Hu, Z. A novel research on serpentine microchannels of passive micromixers. Microsyst Technol 23, 2649–2656 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-016-3060-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-016-3060-7

Keywords

  • Inlet Flow Rate
  • Bonding Pressure
  • Groove Shape
  • PMMA Sheet
  • Passive Micromixers