NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF FLUID MIXING IN A MICROMIXER USING CFD SIMULATIONS

This study investigates the mixing behavior of water and colored water in a complex micromixer geometry, using CFD simulations with Ansys Fluent® and ParticleWorks® to analyze performance. The two solvers employ distinct numerical methods: the Finite Volume Method (FVM) in Ansys Fluent®, which uses a computational mesh, and the meshless Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) method in ParticleWorks®. The simulations assess concentration profiles, pressure drop, and the mixing index across different Reynolds numbers and flow rates. Additionally, the impact of temperature differences between the inlet fluids on mixing quality was examined. The results of this study were validated against previously conducted experimental data and the CFX® numerical results confirm their accuracy and reliability. The micromixer features a Y-mixer and an S-type microchannel, designed for improved fluid blending.