Fluid mixing in planar spiral microchannels

Abstract

Mixing of fluids at the microscale poses a variety of challenges, many of which arise from the fact that molecular diffusion is the dominant transport mechanism in the laminar flow regime. While considerable progress has been made toward developing strategies to achieve improved mixing in microfluidic systems, many of these techniques introduce additional complexity to device fabrication and/or operation processes. In this work, we explore the use of compact spiral-shaped flow geometries designed to achieve efficient mixing in a format that can be constructed using a single planar soft lithography step without the need for multilayer alignment. A series of 150 microm-wide by 29 microm-tall channels were constructed, each of which incorporated a series of spiral shaped sections arrayed along the flow path. Five spiral designs with varying channel lengths were investigated, and mixing studies were carried out at flow rates corresponding to Reynolds numbers ranging from 0.02 to 18.6. Under appropriate conditions, transverse Dean flows are induced that augment diffusive transport and promote enhanced mixing in considerably shorter downstream distances as compared with conventional planar straight channel designs. Mixing efficiency can be further enhanced by incorporating expansion vortex effects via abrupt changes in cross-sectional area along the flow path.

Polymer precursors from catalytic reactions of natural oils

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Review Article: Recent advancements in optofluidic flow cytometer

“…4 below. 31 Their device allows easier operation, accurate detection, and differentiation of cells at higher sample concentrations than traditional flow cytometers will allow, while operating at a throughput of around 1 ϫ 10 6 cells/ s ͑over ten channels͒. 32 Most recently, Oakey et al 33 fabricated a staged device including both curved and straight channels to confine particles into a single streamline without sheath flow ͑Fig.…”

Physique des fluides aux échelles microscopiques pour l’ingénierie des microsystèmes : l’apprentissage par la simulation

“…Enfin, le TD se conclue sur une perspective pour améliorer l'efficacité des mélanges en microfluidique, basée sur des recirculations de fluides (effet Dean) lorsqu'un microcanal présente une courbure [16]. Les étu-diants sont ici amenés à effectuer une simulation 3D dans laquelle ils observent la recirculation du fluide dans une section du microcanal (Figure 14).…”