Publication

Abstract : Abstract: Micromixers are indispensable to microfluidic systems and influence the mixing of different species in chemical processes. This research involved modeling and comparing a novel bio-inspired Y-Pin Bone (YPB)-shaped micromixer with conventional micromixers (Y and T-shaped), which inculcates the transverse inlet mixing mechanism for enhanced mixing. The YPB-shaped micromixer, inspired by fish Y-pin bones, differs from current designs by maintaining one inlet constant along the mixing channel and refining the angle between inlets. To evaluate mixing effectiveness, researchers solved the Navier–Stokes equation and convection-diffusion equation using finite element analysis, simulated with COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2 software. The study examines design aspects, mixing mechanisms, and parameters, including inlet velocity, flow rate, mixing length, mixing efficiency, and pressure drop, for Reynolds numbers (Re) from 0.1 to 100. The YPB-shaped micromixer showed superior mixing performance, achieving over 99% efficiency under low Reynolds number (Re = 0.1) conditions, where diffusion dominates, and high Reynolds number (Re 20) conditions, where chaotic advection prevails. The relationship between pressure drop and mixing efficiency is reflected in mixing cost (MC), with the YPB-shaped micromixer showing lower MC due to reduced pressure drop and enhanced mixing efficiency, decreasing running cost (RC). Analysis revealed that the YPB-shaped micromixer achieved optimal performance with 99% mixing efficiency at Re = 20 and flow rate of 360 L/min. The results demonstrate advantages of rapid mixing, short mixing length, and running cost, making the novel micromixer promising for chemical and biological analysis applications. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.