A CFD investigation of mixing profiles within a micro-coiled flow inverter

Background/Objectives: Due to the low Reynolds number (Re) in microfluidic domain, the predominant laminar flow might inhibit effective mixing in micro-Coiled Flow Inverter (mCFI). Fluid dynamics within the mCFI was simulated with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to investigate the mixing...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zi, Joanne En Soh, Supriyanto, Eko
Format: Article
Published: Indian Society for Education and Environment & Informatics Publishing 2017
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Online Access:http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/80545/
http://dx.doi.org/10.17485/ijst%2F2017%2Fv10i7%2F111452
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Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
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Summary:Background/Objectives: Due to the low Reynolds number (Re) in microfluidic domain, the predominant laminar flow might inhibit effective mixing in micro-Coiled Flow Inverter (mCFI). Fluid dynamics within the mCFI was simulated with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software to investigate the mixing profile. Methods/Statistical Analysis: Fluid flow was simulated with the software FLUENT with Species Transport (ST) setting, to replicate the mixing of two water bodies. Geometry of the mCFI was designed with a tubing diameter of 0.5 mm and curvature ratio of λ = 10. Fluid flow rate was adjusted to attain 25≤ Re ≤ 250. Findings: A mixing time of 0.59s was achieved with Re = 250. However complete mixing was still achievable even in Re = 25 albeit with a longer mixing time. Application/Improvements: Flow inversion is improved the mixing condition in micro-structured tubing, in enhancement of the diffusive mixing in microfluidics.