Computational fluid dynamics simulation and experimental study on mixing performance of a three-dimensional circular cyclone-type microreactor

Microchannels enable the fast and efficient mixing of multiphase fluids. In this study, a millimeter -scale three-dimensional (3D) circular cyclone -type microreactor was designed for the mixing. The flow characteristics and mixing intensity were simulated by computational fluid dynamics simulations at a flow rate range of 12-96 mL/min using a water/ethyl acetate system. In the 3D variable -diameter structure, the microreactor induced paired opposite vortices and abruptly changed the local pressure to achieve a stable turbulent effect within the theoretical range of laminar flow. Tracer injection simulations indicated that sufficient mixing units successfully promote fluid dispersion. Diazo-coupling experiments showed a segregation index of XS = 0. 00,039 within a residence time of 9 s. Extraction experiments on the n- butanol/succinic acid/water system showed that the 3D circular cyclone -type microreactor achieved 100% extraction efficiency ( E ) in 4.25 s, and the overall volume mass transfer coefficient (KLa) reached 0.05-1.5 s-1 in 12-96 mL/min. The isolated yield of the phase transfer alkylation and oxidation reactions in the 3D circular cyclone -type microreactor achieved 99% within 36 s, which was superior to the coil microreactor and batch reactor. (c) 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.