WO2006001195A1 - Micromixer and fluid mixing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A micromixer capable of achieving sufficient and excellent mixing more than a conventional laminated micromixer even in a multi-layer fluid formed of fluids with different specific gravities due to the presence or absence of particles and a fluid mixing method. In the method, the fluid is parted into right and left sides by using a first fluid parting means of the micromixer, and the fluid parted into the right and left sides is parted upward by using a second fluid parting means. Next, the fluid parted into the right and left sides is parted downward by using a third fluid parting means, and the fluid parted upward is converged to the fluidparted downward by using a fluid converging means.

Description

 Specification

 Micromixer and fluid mixing method

 Technical field

 [0001] The present invention relates to a micromixer and a fluid mixing method.

 Background art

 [0002] A conventional stacked micromixer in which different fluids are divided into two flow paths at approximately the same flow rate ratio and then stacked at a merging portion so that different fluids form a layer is an interface between different fluids. After splitting on a vertical plane, the different fluid layers are stacked in the same direction as the stacking direction of each different fluid layer to form a thin fluid layer, and this process is finally performed with a thickness that is dominant by molecular diffusion. Repeat until it achieves effective mixing. Laminated micromixers based on this concept can be found in, for example, Branebjeg et.al, Proc.IEEE—MEMS96, pp441-446, 1996 and Byoung—Gyun et al, Proc.IntSensor Conf 2001, Seoul, Korea, PP.157. — Proposed by 158 et al.

 [0003] However, if a conventional laminated micromixer is used to mix a fluid such as a magnetic bead with a fluid containing particles having different specific gravity, particles having a high density will precipitate due to gravity. . For this reason, the liquid phases become very thin layers, and the particles with a large force density to be mixed settle at the bottom of the flow path, and the mixing of the original target particles with the other fluid layer is not sufficiently achieved. There was a problem.

 Disclosure of the invention

 Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] The present invention solves the problem of achieving sufficiently good mixing even in a multilayer fluid having a fluid force with different specific gravity depending on the presence or absence of particles as compared with a conventional laminated micromixer. Means

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:

 A first fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid left and right;

A second fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid divided into the left and right upwards; A third fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid divided into the left and right; a fluid merging means for joining the fluid divided above and the fluid divided downward;

 The present invention relates to a micromixer characterized by comprising:

[0006] The present invention also provides:

 Using a first fluid dividing means, a first step of dividing the fluid left and right;

 Using a second fluid dividing means, a second step of dividing the fluid divided into the left and right upwards;

 Using a third fluid dividing means, a third step of dividing the fluid divided into the left and right downwards;

 A fourth step of joining the fluid divided above and the fluid divided below using a fluid merging means;

 It is related with the fluid mixing method characterized by comprising.

 [0007] According to the present invention, a predetermined fluid is divided in the left-right direction, and the divided fluid is divided in the vertical direction, and then the divided fluids are joined. In this process, the cross section of the fluid divided in the vertical direction can be rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the cross section of the first fluid, and when the fluid divided in the vertical direction is further joined. In addition, it can be rotated by a predetermined angle again with respect to the cross section of the first fluid. Therefore, through the above process, the first fluid is divided and the cross-section of the divided fluid is rotated by a predetermined angle and then joined, so that the fluid is sufficiently stirred and mixed. Will be.

 [0008] Therefore, when the fluid is a multilayer fluid in which different fluids form layers, the fluid of each layer is divided by the above-described process of the present invention, and the cross section is rotated and then merged. As a result, the fluids of the respective layers are sufficiently uniformly mixed, and finally, a single-layer fluid in which the fluids are almost uniformly mixed is obtained.

As a result, a fluid having a high specific gravity and a fluid having a low specific gravity including magnetic beads flow through the same flow path, and these fluids are separated based on the specific gravity difference between the fluids to form a multilayer fluid. Even if there is a difference in specific gravity difference as described above, the process of the present invention described above is performed. It becomes possible to sufficiently mix the fluid.

 The invention's effect

 [0010] As described above, according to the present invention, sufficiently good mixing can be achieved even in a multilayer fluid having a fluid force with different specific gravity depending on the presence or absence of particles, as compared with the conventional laminated micromixer. .

 Brief Description of Drawings

 FIG. 1 is an exploded configuration diagram showing an example of a micromixer of the present invention.

 FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state of fluid when flowing in the micromixer shown in FIG. 1.

 FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state of fluid when flowing in the micromixer shown in FIG.

 Explanation of symbols

[0012] 10 Micromixer

 11 First plate member

 12 Second plate member

 13 Third plate member

 14 Fourth plate member

 15 Fifth plate member

 111 First opening

 112 4th opening

 121 Second opening

 131 Third opening

 S1, S2 multilayer fluid

 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] Details of the present invention, as well as other features and advantages, will be described in detail below based on the best mode.

FIG. 1 is an exploded configuration diagram showing an example of the micromixer of the present invention. A micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a first plate-like member 11 and an upper portion of the first plate-like member 11 sequentially. Second plate member 12 and fourth plate member 14 provided, and third plate member 13 and fifth plate member 15 provided sequentially below first plate member 11. It contains.

 [0015] The first plate-like member 11 is formed with a T-shaped first opening 111 and an I-shaped fourth opening 112, and the ends 111A and 112A of these openings are respectively The first plate-like member 11 is opened at the side ends facing each other.

 In addition, the L-shaped second opening 121 is formed in the second plate-shaped member 12, and one end 121 A thereof is the first opening in the first plate-shaped member 11. 111 The upper end of the upper edge 1 1 1 1 B is continuous. Further, the other end 121 B of the second opening 121 is continuous with the front end 112 B of the fourth opening 112 in the first plate member 11.

 The third plate-like member 13 is similarly formed with an L-shaped third opening 131, and one end 131 A thereof is the first opening in the first plate-like member 11. 111 End of upper side opening 111 Continuation with 11C. The other end 131 B of the third opening 131 is continuous with the front end 112 B of the fourth opening 112 in the first plate-like member 11.

 [0018] Note that the fourth plate member 14 and the fifth plate member 15 are provided as so-called lids for sealing the first opening 111 to the fourth opening 112, respectively. This is to make the micromixer shown in Fig. 1 function as an actual device.

 Next, a fluid mixing method using the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

 2 and 3 are diagrams showing the state of the fluid when flowing in the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. In this example, the case where the fluid is a multilayer fluid in which two types of fluids having different specific gravities are layered upward and downward will be described.

[0020] First, the multilayer fluid S1 is introduced into the first opening 111 in the first plate-like member 11 of the micromixer 10. At this time, the multilayer fluid S1 is divided in the left-right direction at the upper side of the first opening 111. Next, the multilayer fluid S1 divided in the left-right direction is continuous with the first opening 111, and the second opening 121 in the second plate member 12 and the second plate 121 in the third plate member 13, respectively. It is introduced into the third opening 131, and as a result, it is divided in the vertical direction. At this time, the multilayer fluid S1 is rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the flow direction, so that the cross section is rotated by 90 degrees. Next, the multilayer fluid SI is introduced into the fourth opening 112 of the first plate-like member 11 that is continuous with the second opening 121 and the third opening 131, and is divided in the vertical direction. The multilayer fluid S1 joins to become multilayer fluid S2. At this time, each of the divided multilayer fluids S1 is further rotated by 90 degrees with respect to the flow direction, so that the cross section is rotated by 90 degrees. Therefore, the multilayer fluid S2 rotates 180 degrees in cross section with respect to the previous multilayer fluid S1, and the stacking order of the fluid constituting each layer is reversed, and the number of layers is doubled.

As a result, the multilayer fluid S1 is divided in the cross-sectional direction by passing through the micromixer 10 shown in FIG. 1, and the cross-section itself is rotated 180 degrees. In the multilayer fluid S 2, each layer is more mixed and uniform than the multilayer fluid S 1. Even when the multilayer fluid S1 becomes a force with a fluid having a large specific gravity and a fluid with a small specific gravity including magnetic beads and the like and the fluids are separated based on a difference in the specific gravity of these fluids, the above-described process of the present invention is performed. By passing through the above, it is possible to overcome the above-described difference in specific gravity and obtain a multilayer fluid S2 in which the multilayer fluid S1 is sufficiently uniformly mixed.

 [0023] It should be noted that a plurality of micromixers 10 as shown in FIG. 1 are connected in series, and the multilayer fluid S1 is continuously passed through the plurality of micromixers, so that the multilayer fluid S1 is connected to each microfluidic fluid. Since the mixing operation as described above is performed in the mixer and uniform mixing is performed, the degree of uniform mixing of the finally obtained multilayer fluid S2 is further improved.

 [0024] The first opening 111 and the fourth opening 112 provided in the first plate-like member 11, the second opening 121 provided in the second plate-like member 12, and the first opening The corner portion can be chamfered in at least one of the third openings 131 provided in the three plate-like members 13. If there are sharp corners in these openings, the flow rate decreases in the corners when the multilayer fluid S1 flows through those openings, so that the multilayer fluid S1 is sufficiently mixed. It may not be possible. Therefore, in order to suppress the occurrence of these problems, it is preferable to chamfer the corners of the opening as described above.

[0025] It should be noted that each plate-like member can form any material force, but as long as the above-described fluid mixing method of the present invention can be realized, a force such as a resin, metal, glass, etc. can be formed. . Therefore, preparation of each plate-like member and processing for each plate-like member are easy. Thus, the above-described opening, that is, the formation of the micromixer itself can be easily performed.

 As described above, the present invention has been described in detail based on the embodiments of the present invention with specific examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described contents, as long as it does not depart from the scope of the present invention. All modifications and changes are possible. For example, in the above specific example, the force described in the case of mixing a multilayer fluid. The present invention can be applied not only to a multilayer fluid but also to a single-layer fluid, and the yarn formation and concentration in the fluid are more uniform. Can be mixed.

 For example, in the micromixer 10 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the multilayer fluid S1 passes through the fourth opening 112, the second opening 121, and the third opening 131, and then the first opening. It can be made to flow backward toward 111. In this case, the multilayer fluid S1 divides the multilayer fluid S1 upward at the second opening 121, divides the multilayer fluid S1 downward at the third opening 131, and upwards at the first opening 111. The divided multi-layer fluid S1 and the multi-layer fluid S1 divided below can be joined together. Even in this case, the multilayer fluid S1 can be sufficiently mixed in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to obtain the multilayer fluid S2.

Claims

The scope of the claims  [1] a first fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid left and right;  A second fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid divided in the left and right directions; a third fluid dividing means for dividing the fluid divided in the left and right directions; and the upper part. Fluid joining means for joining the fluid that has been separated and the fluid that has been divided downward;  A micromixer characterized by comprising: [2] The first fluid separating means according to claim 1, wherein the first plate-like member includes a T-shaped first opening having one end opened at an end thereof. The described micro mixer [3] In the second plate member, the second fluid dividing means is an L-shaped second opening continuous with the left end or the right end of the upper opening of the first opening. The micromixer according to claim 2, comprising:  [4] In the third plate-like member, the third fluid dividing means is the left end portion or the right end portion in which the second opening portion is continuous in the upper side opening portion of the first opening portion. 4. The mixer according to claim 3, further comprising an L-shaped third opening continuous with the rest of the section.  [5] In the first plate-like member, the fluid merging means includes a distal end portion of the second opening portion and a distal end portion of the third opening portion behind the first opening portion. 5. The micromixer according to claim 4, comprising a continuous I-shaped fourth opening. [6] In the second fluid dividing means, the cross section of the fluid is rotated by 90 degrees as compared with the time when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. 1 ~ 5. The micromixer according to one of the above. [7] The third fluid dividing means, wherein the cross section of the fluid is rotated by 90 degrees compared to the time when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. 1 ~ The micromixer described in 6! [8] The fluid merging means is characterized in that the cross section of the fluid is rotated by 180 degrees compared to the time when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. 7 V, a micromixer according to one of the above. [9] The fluid is a multilayer fluid in which a plurality of fluids are stacked in layers. The micromixer according to any one of claims 1 to 8. [10] When the multilayer fluid is divided by the first fluid dividing means, the second fluid dividing means, and the third fluid dividing means, and then joined by the fluid merging means, The stacking order is reversed, and the number of stacks is doubled. 9. The micromixer according to 9. 11. The micromixer according to claim 9, wherein the multilayer fluid is composed of a plurality of fluids having different specific gravities. [12] The first opening force according to any one of L1 to L1, wherein corner chamfering is performed in at least one of the fourth openings. Micro mixer. [13] The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein at least one of the first fluid dividing means, the third fluid dividing means, and the fluid merging means is also a resin, metal, or glass force. !, The micromixer described in one of the gaps. [14] The fluid flows backward from the fluid merging means to the first fluid dividing means via the second fluid dividing means and the third fluid dividing means, and the second fluid dividing means. The fluid is divided upward by the cutting means, the fluid is divided downward by the third fluid dividing means, and the fluid divided by the first fluid dividing means is separated from the fluid by the first fluid dividing means. The micromixer according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the fluid is combined with the fluid. [15] a first step of dividing the fluid left and right using the first fluid dividing means;  Using a second fluid dividing means, a second step of dividing the fluid divided into the left and right upwards;  Using a third fluid dividing means, a third step of dividing the fluid divided into the left and right downwards;  A fourth step of joining the fluid divided above and the fluid divided below using a fluid merging means; A fluid mixing method comprising the steps of: [16] The first fluid dividing means in the first step includes a T-shaped first opening having one end opened at an end of the first plate-like member. The fluid mixing method according to claim 15.  [17] In the second plate, the second fluid dividing means in the second step is an L-shaped continuous member in the second plate member that is continuous with the left end or the right end of the upper side opening of the first opening. 17. The fluid mixing method according to claim 16, further comprising a second opening.  [18] In the third plate, the third fluid dividing means in the third step is the third plate member, wherein the second opening is continuous in the upper opening of the first opening. 18. The fluid mixing method according to claim 17, further comprising an L-shaped third opening that is continuous with the left end or the rest of the right end.  [19] In the first plate member, the fluid merging means in the fourth step includes a tip end portion of the second opening portion and the third opening portion behind the first opening portion. 19. The fluid mixing method according to claim 18, further comprising an I-shaped fourth opening that is continuous with the tip of the part.  [20] In the second step, the second fluid dividing means rotates the cross section of the fluid by 90 degrees as compared to the time when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. The fluid mixing method according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the fluid mixing method is characterized in that:  [21] In the third step, the third fluid dividing means rotates the cross section of the fluid by 90 degrees as compared to the time when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. The fluid mixing method according to any one of claims 15 to 20, wherein the fluid mixing method is characterized in that:  [22] In the fourth step, the fluid merging means rotates the cross section of the fluid by 180 degrees compared to when the fluid flows into the first fluid dividing means. The fluid mixing method according to any one of claims 15 to 21.  [23] The fluid mixing method according to any one of claims 15 to 22, wherein the fluid is a multilayer fluid in which a plurality of fluids are stacked in layers. [24] When the multilayer fluid is divided by the first fluid dividing means, the second fluid dividing means, and the third fluid dividing means, and then joined by the fluid merging means, The stacking order is reversed, and the number of stacks is doubled. 24. The fluid mixing method according to 23. 25. The fluid mixing method according to claim 23, wherein the multilayer fluid also has a plurality of fluid forces having different specific gravities. [26] The chamfering of the corners of at least one of the first opening force and the fourth opening in the first fluid dividing means to the third fluid dividing means and the fluid merging means. The fluid mixing method according to any one of claims 15 to 25, wherein the fluid mixing method is performed.  27. At least one of the first fluid dividing means, the third fluid dividing means, and the fluid merging means is also made of grease, metal, or glass force. The fluid mixing method according to any one of the above.