Mixing of fluids with space-filling curves

Abstract

In a current research project in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS a complex structure was created which spreads two liquids in such a way that they can blend especially homogeneously. To realize this application, a Peano curve was used Four different iteration steps were arranged in which one curve was placed above the other and a NURBS-based surface was put above the curves. This structure may serve as a mixer for two fluids or as a basis for the construction of heat exchangers. Because a space-filling curve maps a set of points uniformly and constant in a coherent series, it separates two fluids perfectly while the needed surface area for heat exchange is maximized. The main purpose of this study is to analyze and examine particularly simple mechanisms to construct alternative curves with a similar mapping structure. This research also aims to develop a curve generator based on the so-called Lindenmayer system. Through combining several basic curve-motifs, a multitude of curves with simple parameters for evaluation and optimization algorithms will be provided. This paper presents the possibilities introducing only 2 × 2 and 3 × 3 grids. In fact, the presented algorithm already produces about 15,000 different structures and therefore sets a solid foundation for further investigations.