Numerical study of mixing enhancement through nanomixers using the throttling approach

In this study, we intend to improve the mixing performance of a nanoscale mixer using the throttling idea. the study is conducted at a knudsen number of 0.12, which corresponds to the transitional ow regime. therefore, we have chosen the dsmc method to perform reliable numerical simulations. we consider a number of dierent throttles with various widths and shapes to enrich our study and to explore a wider range of their inuences on the mixing evolution. we choose a linear converging-diverging nozzle profile, an arced converging-diverging nozzle profile, and a sudden contraction-expansion configuration as our throttle shapes. the results show that both the mixing length and the mass ow rate decrease as the throttle widths decrease. however, the decrease in throttle width plays a more effective role in reducing the mixing length than the decrease in mass ow rate. evaluating the results of three chosen throttle shapes, we conclude that the arced nozzle and sudden contraction-expansion shapes result in less mixing length and mass ow rate magnitudes; although the reductions are more pronounced for the latter shape. we also conclude that throttle shape aects the reduction in mixing length more seriously than the reduction in mass ow rate.