Mixing performance enhancement and parametric investigation of swirl-inlets split-and-recombine micromixer with pulsatile flow

Abstract

The current study develops a pulsatile flow micromixing model, and investigates the performance of swirl-inlets split-and-recombine micromixer. A three-dimensional transient flow numerical model solving Navier-Stokes and diffusion equation is prepared to model the species mixing in a microchannel. The effect of pulsatile flow parameters, i.e., Strouhal number, amplitude ratio, and phase difference, on mixing performance is investigated along with the nature and extent of performance enhancement. A significant improvement in the mixing index is observed with the application of pulsatile flow. The pulse phase difference was found to be the more effective parameter to enhance the mixing index compared to Strouhal number and amplitude ratios investigated in the present study.