Predicting the fluid behavior of random microfluidic mixers using convolutional neural networks

With the various applications of microfluidics, numerical simulation is highly recommended to verify its performance and reveal potential defects before fabrication. Among all the simulation parameters and simulation tools, the velocity field and concentration profile are the key parts and are generally simulated using finite element analysis (FEA). In our previous work [Wang et al., Lab Chip, 2016, 21, 4212–4219], automated design of microfluidic mixers by pre-generating a random library with the FEA was proposed. However, the duration of the simulation process is time-consuming, while the matching consistency between limited pre-generated designs and user desire is not stable. To address these issues, we inventively transformed the fluid mechanics problem into an image recognition problem and presented a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based technique to predict the fluid behavior of random microfluidic mixers. The pre-generated 10 513 candidate designs in the random library were used in the training process of the CNN, and then 30 757 brand new microfluidic mixer designs were randomly generated, whose performance was predicted by the CNN. Experimental results showed that the CNN method could complete all the predictions in just 10 seconds, which was around 51 600× faster than the previous FEA method. The CNN library was extended to contain 41 270 candidate designs, which has filled up those empty spaces in the fluid velocity versus solute concentration map of the random library, and able to provide more choices and possibilities for user desire. Besides, the quantitative analysis has confirmed the increased compatibility of the CNN library with user desire. In summary, our CNN method not only presents a much faster way of generating a more complete library with candidate mixer designs but also provides a solution for predicting fluid behavior using a machine learning technique.