3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers: A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

  • Anton Enders
  • Ina Gerhild Siller
  • Katharina Urmann
  • Michael R. Hoffmann
  • Janina Bahnemann

Organisationseinheiten

Externe Organisationen

  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Forschungs-netzwerk anzeigen

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer1804326
Seitenumfang9
FachzeitschriftSmall
Jahrgang15
Ausgabenummer2
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 11 Jan. 2019

Abstract

One of the basic operations in microfluidic systems for biological and chemical applications is the rapid mixing of different fluids. However, flow profiles in microfluidic systems are laminar, which means molecular diffusion is the only mixing effect. Therefore, mixing structures are crucial to enable more efficient mixing in shorter times. Since traditional microfabrication methods remain laborious and expensive, 3D printing has emerged as a potential alternative for the fabrication of microfluidic devices. In this work, five different passive micromixers known from literature are redesigned in comparable dimensions and manufactured using high-definition MultiJet 3D printing. Their mixing performance is evaluated experimentally, using sodium hydroxide and phenolphthalein solutions, and numerically via computational fluid dynamics. Both experimental and numerical analysis results show that HC and Tesla-like mixers achieve complete mixing after 0.99 s and 0.78 s, respectively, at the highest flow rate (Reynolds number (Re) = 37.04). In comparison, Caterpillar mixers exhibit a lower mixing rate with complete mixing after 1.46 s and 1.9 s. Furthermore, the HC mixer achieves very good mixing performances over all flow rates (Re = 3.7 to 37.04), while other mixers show improved mixing only at higher flow rates.

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Zitieren

3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers: A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances. / Enders, Anton; Siller, Ina Gerhild; Urmann, Katharina et al.
in: Small, Jahrgang 15, Nr. 2, 1804326, 11.01.2019.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Enders, A, Siller, IG, Urmann, K, Hoffmann, MR & Bahnemann, J 2019, '3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers: A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances', Small, Jg. 15, Nr. 2, 1804326. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201804326
Enders, A., Siller, I. G., Urmann, K., Hoffmann, M. R., & Bahnemann, J. (2019). 3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers: A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances. Small, 15(2), Artikel 1804326. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201804326
Enders A, Siller IG, Urmann K, Hoffmann MR, Bahnemann J. 3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers: A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances. Small. 2019 Jan 11;15(2):1804326. doi: 10.1002/smll.201804326
Enders, Anton ; Siller, Ina Gerhild ; Urmann, Katharina et al. / 3D Printed Microfluidic Mixers : A Comparative Study on Mixing Unit Performances. in: Small. 2019 ; Jahrgang 15, Nr. 2.
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