A universal inverse design methodology for microfluidic mixers

Abstract

The intelligent design of microfluidic mixers encompasses both the automation of predicting fluid performance and the structural design of mixers. This article delves into the technical trajectory of computer-aided design for micromixers, leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms. We propose an automated micromixer design methodology rooted in cost-effective artificial neural network (ANN) models paired with inverse design algorithms. Initially, we introduce two inverse design methods for micromixers: one that combines ANN with multi-objective genetic algorithms, and another that fuses ANN with particle swarm optimization algorithms. Subsequently, using two benchmark micromixers as case studies, we demonstrate the automatic derivation of micromixer structural parameters. Finally, we automatically design and optimize 50 sets of micromixer structures using the proposed algorithms. The design accuracy is further enhanced by analyzing the inverse design algorithm from a statistical standpoint.