Enhanced mixing characteristics of unbaffled U-shaped microreactor coupled oscillatory flow

Abstract

The Microscale Oscillatory Flow Reactor (MOFR) can achieve good plug flow and micromixing performance simultaneously at laminar net flow conditions. An unbaffled U-shaped microreactor coupled with oscillating flow technology was designed to study the macro and micromixing performance. Firstly, the influence of oscillations on the flow performance was studied to reveal the formation rule of vortex. The simulation results showed that the continuous formation and destruction of periodic vortexes occurred in the microreactor with oscillation. With the increase of oscillation intensity, the vortex size in the radial direction first gradually increased and then becomes stable, and gradually moved axially, resulting in axial diffusion. Secondly, the effect of oscillation on the macromixing and micromixing performance were investigated. The results showed that the coupling oscillation could greatly improve the macromixing and micromixing performance. The macromixing and micromixing performance were promoted simultaneously at lower oscillation intensity and then tended to be flat due to the axial diffusion at high oscillation intensity. When φ>6.05, the minimum micromixing time and the maximum number of tanks can be achieved at the same time. At a velocity ratio of about 23, FoM reached a maximum of about 3.5.