Realizing Spiral Laminar Flow Interfaces with Improved Micro Rotary Reactor

Research and development of micro-fluidic systems, such as μ-TAS and micro reactor system, has recently become active in the fields of chemical engineering and biotechnology. Micro mixing devices are an essential element in the realization of micro-fluidic systems. Therefore, in this research, a micro rotary reactor has been developed as a micro mixing device incorporated into micro-fluidic systems. The micro rotary reactor can form spiral laminar flow interfaces of two liquids through the rotation of a rotor. The spiral laminar flow interfaces increases the length and surface area of the reaction area between two liquids. But the previous prototype micro rotary reactor was only able to form spiral laminar flow interfaces under certain conditions. Therefore, the micro rotary reactor has been improved to form stable spiral laminar flow interfaces under a greater number of conditions. The full length and diameter of the improved micro rotary reactor are 60 mm and 15 mm, respectively. Experiments have shown that the improved micro rotary reactor can form spiral laminar flow interfaces under more varied conditions. This paper details the structure and the characteristics of the improved micro rotary reactor, as well as the experiments on its ability to form spiral laminar flow interfaces.