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A novel design for passive micromixer based on Cantor fractal structure

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Abstract

This paper presents a simple and convenient rectangular fractal micromixer, called imitate Cantor structure (ICS). According to the principle of enhancing chaotic advection and folding fluid, it can produce better mixing performance. We study this new structure that a geometry microchannel is designed with reference to the Cantor structure. Simulations is researched using multi-physics field simulation software COMSOL 5.2a based on finite element theory. This paper will compare with fractal obstacle number, fractal obstacle series, fractal obstacle height, fractal obstacle spacing, as well as at various flow velocities. The results indicate that as the flow velocity increase, the mixing performance shows a V-type trend. Through observation of fluid flow in microchannel, we clearly see the chaos vortex promotes the mixing of the fluid. After multiple comparisons, we select the best structure to form the ICS micromixer.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by The Key Project of Department of Education of Liaoning Province (JZL201715401), Liaoning Province BanQianWan Talent Project. We sincerely thank Prof. Chong Liu for his kind guidance.

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Correspondence to Xueye Chen.

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Wu, Z., Chen, X. A novel design for passive micromixer based on Cantor fractal structure. Microsyst Technol 25, 985–996 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-018-4027-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-018-4027-7

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