| abstract |
Micromixers constitute a main component of microreactors that have three-dimensional microstructures in a fixed matrix, in which chemical reactions take place. In said micromixer, fluids from their respective supply chambers are divided into spatially separated fluid streams using a network of microchannels allocated to the respective streams. Said streams then emerge as jets with identical volumetric flows for each fluid into a mixing chamber. The invention aims to ensure that identical volumetric flows are achieved for each fluid at the respective microchannel outflow and to produce a micromixer with a simple, compact construction. Wedge-shaped plates can be used as the supply elements ( 2 a - d ). Said plates can be assembled to form at least one ring sector which surrounds the mixing chamber ( 5 ) in the form of a curve. Alternatively, planar plates can be used which comprise a cavity in their central region, into which the microchannels ( 31 - 34 ) provided for each fluid form one or more symmetrical bifurcation cascades ( 3 ) comprising at least two stages. The micromixer can be used in microreactors, for example in the field of combined chemistry, for creating emulsion and gaseous/liquid dispersions and for gas-phase catalysis. |