In fluid dynamics, a vortex is a region within a fluid where the flow is mostly a spinning motion about an imaginary axis, straight or curved. That motion pattern is called a vertical flow.
A vortex mixer is a simple device used commonly in laboratories to mix small vials of liquid. It consists of an electric motor with the drive shaft oriented vertically and attached to a cupped rubber piece mounted slightly off-center. As the motor runs the rubber piece oscillates rapidly in a circular motion. When a test tube or other appropriate container is pressed into the rubber cup the motion is transmitted to the liquid inside and a vortex is created. Most vortex mixers have variable speed settings and can be set to run continuously, or to run only when downward pressure is applied to the rubber piece.In any laboratory where liquids are mixed in test tubes you can see Vortex, the Vortex replaces the test tube shaking by hand and saves time and effort from the lab staff,
It vibrates aggressively and mixes the liquid well up and down, to a vortex head with a hole suitable for insertion of a test tube from a volume of 10 ml to 100 ml.
Applications:
Vortex mixers are quite commonplace in bio-science laboratories. In cell culture and microbiology laboratories they may be used to suspend cells. In a biochemical laboratory they may be used to mix the reagents of an assay or to mix an experimental sample and a dilutant.
The Vortex mixer can be used in:
Suspension of cells in a microbiology laboratory or cell culture.
Mixing test reagents in an analytical or biochemical laboratory
