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A CFD Model of Mixing in a Microfluidic Device for Space Medicine Technology

McKay, Terri L.

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Cleveland State University, Fenn College of Engineering.
The DNA Medicine Institute (DMI) is currently developing a device to be used for blood analysis to satisfy the unique requirements of space medicine applications. A key component of that device is the micromixer, which will ensure mixing and dilution of reagents utilized for detection assays. As part of the device design process, the micromixer was modeled, and the mixing characteristics were analyzed and compared to experimental data. The experimental data was based on a top-view of the system and, lacking data throughout the fluid domain, could not provide the insight into the mixing process that modeling could readily provide. COMSOL, a Finite Element Method (FEM) package, was used to model the mixer. The mixer design is essentially a spiral channel and relies on centrifugal effects, or Dean flow forces that arise from flows in curved channels, to enhance mixing. A computational model of DMI’s spiral mixer was analyzed and compared to experimental data for flow ranging in Reynolds number between 8 and 90. The Dean number range was between 0 and 25. The fluids modeled were miscible and Newtonian. It was observed that at Reynolds number less than 12 (De < 2), the mixing occurred primarily by diffusion and at Reynolds numbers above 30 (De > 11), convective forces dominated. In an intermediate range, Reynolds numbers between 12 and 30 (De 2 – 11), mixing appeared to be enhanced as both diffusion and convection aided the mixing. Due to the rotational nature of the flow, this was not readily apparent from the experimental data. The model is a good tool to optimize design choices since the numerical data can be used to quantify mixing characteristics throughout the entire mixer volume, thereby providing a better insight into mixing performance.
Mounir Ibrahim, PhD (Committee Chair)
Petru Fodor, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Miron Kaufman, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
Emily Nelson, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
103 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McKay, T. L. (2011). A CFD Model of Mixing in a Microfluidic Device for Space Medicine Technology [Master's thesis, Cleveland State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1305563573

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McKay, Terri. A CFD Model of Mixing in a Microfluidic Device for Space Medicine Technology. 2011. Cleveland State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1305563573.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McKay, Terri. "A CFD Model of Mixing in a Microfluidic Device for Space Medicine Technology." Master's thesis, Cleveland State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=csu1305563573

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)