Mixing Enhancement of Non-Newtonian Shear-Thinning Fluid for a Kenics Micromixer

Abstract

In this work, a numerical investigation was analyzed to exhibit the mixing behaviors of non-Newtonian shear-thinning fluids in Kenics micromixers. The numerical analysis was performed using the computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tool to solve 3D Navier-Stokes equations with the species transport equations. The efficiency of mixing is estimated by the calculation of the mixing index for different cases of Reynolds number. The geometry of micro Kenics collected with a series of six helical elements twisted 180° and arranged alternately to achieve the higher level of chaotic mixing, inside a pipe with a Y-inlet. Under a wide range of Reynolds numbers between 0.1 to 500 and the carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions with power-law indices among 1 to 0.49, the micro-Kenics proves high mixing Performances at low and high Reynolds number. Moreover the pressure losses of the shear-thinning fluids for different Reynolds numbers was validated and represented.

Laminar mixing of Newtonian and non‐Newtonian fluids in SMX static mixer

“…As the flow velocity increases, at Reynolds number = 100, the performance of shear‐thinning fluids tends to improve. This observation is in coherence with the findings made by Mahammedi et al [ 21 ] In this study, mixing index was used to make comparisons in Kenics mixer. It was evident that there was an increase in the mixing index progressively until Reynolds number = 100, after which there is a reversal in the mixing performance, similar to observations made in our study for SMX mixer.…”

Editorial for the Special Issue on Analysis, Design and Fabrication of Micromixers II

“…The results revealed that higher nanofluid concentration and stronger chaotic advection improved the hydrodynamic and thermal performances over the whole Re range remarkably. Mahammedi et al [14] also numerically examined the mixing of non-Newtonian fluids in Kenics micromixers for Re = 0.1-500. The Y-shaped micromixer consisted of six helical elements arranged alternately.…”