Mixing performance of a planar micromixer with circular obstructions in a curved microchannel

Abstract A numerical investigation of the mixing and fluid flow in a new design of passive micromixer employing several cylindrical obstructions within a curved microchannel is presented in this work. Mixing in the channels is analyzed using Navier–Stokes equations and the diffusion equation between two working fluids (water and ethanol) for Reynolds numbers from 0.1 to 60. The proposed micromixer shows far better mixing performance than a T-micromixer with circular obstructions and a simple curved micromixer. The effects of cross-sectional shape, height, and placement of the obstructions on mixing performance and the pressure drop of the proposed micromixer are evaluated.