Experimental and Numerical Study of the Micromixer Using the Taylor-Dean Flow

(Rotation Effect of Channel Walls on the Mixing)

Abstract

Chaotic mixing in three different types of curved-square channel flow has been studied experimentally and numerically. The wall of channel rotates around the center of curvature and a pressure gradient is imposed in the direction toward the exit of the channel. This flow is a kind of Taylor-Dean flow. Effects of three different types of moving walls, top and inner walls (B.C.1; Boundary Condition 1), an inner wall (B.C.2; Boundary Condition 2), and a top wall (B.C.3; Boundary Condition 3) on chaotic mixing, have been investigated experimentally and numerically. The secondary flow is measured using PIV (Particle Image Velocimetry) and LIF (Laser Induced Fluorescence) methods to examine secondary flow characteristics. Also we performed three-dimensional numerical simulations for the exactly same configuration as the experimental system to study the mechanism of chaotic mixing. It is found that good mixing performance is obtained in the case of B.C.1.