Experimental study of flow regime and mixing in T-jets mixers

The flow field in T-jets mixers is studied experimentally for different geometrical parameters using Planar Laser Induced Fluorescence (PLIF). A particular chaotic flow regime is reported for the first time from experimental work. It is shown that two geometrical parameters, the ratio of the mixing chamber width to the injectors’ width, and chamber's width to the chamber's depth, have an impact on the flow dynamics as important as the jets Reynolds numbers that were here studied over a range of values from 50 to 500. The values of the geometrical parameters and operation Reynolds number that mark the transitions of flow regime in the T-jets mixers are reported, and the impact of the geometry on such transitions is analyzed. The main features of the flow regimes are related with the mixing efficiency in T-jets mixers. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for a particular case are shown in order to reveal the 3D flow structure of chaotic flow regime.

► Mixing in several T-jets geometry was experimentally characterized.
► The ratio of injectors to chamber widths is a critical parameter for mixing.
► The ratio of T-jets chamber depth to width is also a critical parameter for mixing.
► A new chaotic flow regime was experimentally observed in T-jets mixers.
► The 3D structure of the chaotic flow regime was numerically studied.