Convective mixing and chemical reactions in microchannels with high flow rates

This study presents a theoretical and experimental investigation on convective micro mixing in different mixing structures and their combinations. Different mixing elements have been integrated on a silicon chip to achieve a device for a high mass flow above 20 kg/h. These test structures were fabricated and characterized concerning their flow behavior and mixing performance. Flow measurements with pH neutralisation and indication by bromothymol blue confirm the numerical simulations of the flow characteristics and mixing behaviour. The integral mixing quality in the micro mixer is measured with the iodide-iodate-reaction (Villermaux-Dushman) and shows excellent values for high Re numbers. This opens the potential to use microstructures for new applications in the production of chemicals.