MICROFLUIDIC MIXER, METHOD FOR MIXING FLUIDS

• US 20120218857A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
• Original Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
• Inventors: OCOLA, Leonidas E., JOSHI-IMRE, Alexandra, PALACIOS, Edgar
• Application Number:
  US13/407,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 366/336
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0431 Numerical size values, e.g. diameter of a hole or conduit, area, volume, length, width, or ratios thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/045 Numerical flow-rate values
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2215/0468 Numerical pressure values
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 25/4338 Mixers with a succession of converging-diverging cross-sections, i.e. undulating cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/3011 using a sheathing stream of a fluid surrounding a central stream of a different fluid, e.g. for reducing the cross-section of the central stream or to produce droplets from the central stream

Abstract

The invention provides a fluid mixer comprising a substrate defining channels having varying widths and depths, wherein the channels have a total mixing distance of from about 50 microns to 1 millimeter. Also provided is a method for mixing fluids, the method comprising: directing a plurality of fluids to a mixing channel having a first width and a first depth; redirecting the directed plurality of fluids to a mixing channel having a second width smaller than the first width and having a second depth greater than the first depth; and repeating the process.

Claims

1. A fluid mixer comprising a substrate defining channels having varying widths and depths, wherein the channels have a total fluid mixing distance of less than 100 microns.

2. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein the substrate is integrally molded with fluid ingress and egress conduits.

3. The mixer as recited in claim 1 adapted to receive a fluid having a density of about 1000 kg/m³.

4. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein the channels have substantially flat floors.

5. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein the channels are substantially straight.

6. The mixer as recited in claim 1 further comprising a flat substrate overlaying the channels.

7. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein some of the channels are wide and shallow compared to other channels.

8. The mixer as recited in claim 7 wherein some of the channels are narrow relative to the wide channels and the wide channels are more shallow than the narrow channels.

9. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein said channels are in fluid communication with each other.

10. The mixer as recited in claim 1 wherein the channels are co-linear with each other and no obstructions exist within said channels.

11. The mixer as recited in claim 2 wherein the mixer, the ingress and egress conduits are formed on a monolith.

12. A method of mixing fluids, the method comprising:

a. directing a plurality of fluids to a mixing channel having a first width and a first depth; and

b. redirecting the directed plurality of fluids to a mixing channel having a second width smaller than the first width and having a second depth greater than the first depth;

wherein the channels have a total mixing distance of more than about 50 microns and less than about 100 microns.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein steps a and b are repeated.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein fluid is subjected to a constant pressure drop throughout the total mixing distance.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the fluids are subjected to laterally directed force when directed to said first widths and are subjected to a medially directed force when subjected to said second widths.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the fluids are pressurized.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the fluids are charged.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the mixing channel defines a means of ingress for charged particles to enter the channel.