Abstract
Existing valveless piezoelectric pumps are mostly based on the flow resistance mechanism to generate unidirectional fluid pumping, resulting in inefficient energy conversion because the majority of mechanical energy is consumed in terms of parasitic loss. In this paper, a novel tube structure composed of a Y-shaped tube and a ȹ-shaped tube was proposed considering theory of jet inertia and vortex dissipation for the first time to improve energy efficiency. After verifying its feasibility through the flow field simulation, the proposed tubes were integrated into a piezo-driven chamber, and a novel valveless piezoelectric pump with the function of rectification (NVPPFR) was reported. Unlike previous pumps, the reported pump directed the reflux fluid to another flow channel different from the pumping fluid, thus improving pumping efficiency. Then, mathematical modeling was established, including the kinetic analysis of vibrator, flow loss analysis of fluid, and pumping efficiency. Eventually, experiments were designed, and results showed that NVPPFR had the function of rectification and net pumping effect. The maximum flow rate reached 6.89 mL/min, and the pumping efficiency was up to 27%. The development of NVPPFR compensated for the inefficiency of traditional valveless piezoelectric pumps, broadening the application prospect in biomedicine and biology fields.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Abbreviations
- b half-i :
-
Half characteristic thickness of jet in direction i
- b thi-i :
-
Jet thickness in direction i
- C ε :
-
Damping of the vibrator
- C H :
-
Attachment damping causing by fluid coupling
- d :
-
Diameter of cross-section of tube
- D :
-
Diameter of pump chamber
- D 0 :
-
Diameter of piezoelectric vibrator
- E :
-
Mechanical energy generated by the deformation of entire surface of piezoelectric vibrator
- E 0 :
-
Initial kinetic energy of fluid
- ΔE :
-
Kinetic energy loss of fluid
- E ir :
-
Kinetic energy of the fluid
- ΔE i :
-
Total energy loss of fluid flowing
- ΔE ie :
-
Extra kinetic energy loss of fluid
- ΔE ir :
-
Kinetic energy loss of fluid
- E (r, θ):
-
Kinetic energy at the point above the piezoelectric vibrator
- f :
-
Working frequency of the piezoelectric vibrator
- f max :
-
Function that takes the maximum value
- f min :
-
Function that takes the minimum value
- f n :
-
Resonance frequency
- F :
-
Vector sum of the exciting force
- h :
-
Chamber height
- H :
-
Distance between composite tubes and pump chamber
- K :
-
Stiffness of the elastic system
- K H :
-
Attachment stiffness causing by fluid coupling
- K ε :
-
Stiffness of the vibrator
- L 1 :
-
Length of the confluence tube
- L 2 :
-
Length of the straight tube
- l ir :
-
Prandtl mixing length
- m :
-
Mass of the piezoelectric vibrator
- M :
-
Mass of elastic system
- M H :
-
Attachment mass causing by fluid coupling
- M ε :
-
Mass of the vibrator
- P f, P r :
-
Forward and reverse pressures, respectively
- q, q̇, q̈ :
-
Displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the piezoelectric vibrator, respectively
- Q :
-
Flow rate of pump
- R 0 :
-
Radius of bend tube
- R 1, R 2 :
-
Radii of the semi-arc tube
- s :
-
Distance between chamber outlets
- S :
-
Sectional area of the composite tube
- t :
-
Time
- u :
-
Sum of velocity vectors of fluid at the outer joint
- u 0 :
-
Fluid velocity of the chamber outlet
- u 1m :
-
Maximum velocity of the fluid flowing in direction 1 at cross-section m′n′
- u m′n′ :
-
Velocity of the fluid on the cross-section m′n′
- ΔV :
-
Volume variation of pump chamber in a half period
- (r, θ):
-
Polar point
- α :
-
Bifurcation angle of tubes
- β :
-
Diffusion angle of jet flow
- ε coef-i :
-
Thickness diffusion coefficient in direction i
- ρ :
-
Density of the fluid
- η :
-
Pumping efficiency in the outer joint
- η r :
-
Pumping efficiency in Channel r
- ζ ir :
-
Energy loss coefficient in the direction i inside flow channel r
- ζ ie :
-
Extra energy loss coefficient when fluid flowed in the direction i
- τ ir1 :
-
Shear stress in the direction i
- τ ir2 :
-
Turbulent shear stress in the direction i
- λ i :
-
Velocity ratios of fluid between Channels 1 and 2
- μ ir :
-
Dynamic coefficient of viscosity
- \({{{\rm{d}}{\mu _{ir}}} \over {{\rm{d}}{y_{ir}}}}\) :
-
Velocity gradient of fluid
- i (i = 1,2):
-
Flow direction i
- r (r = 1,2):
-
Flow channel r
References
Castilla R, Gamez-Montero P J, Ertürk N, Vernet A, Coussirat M, Codina E. Numerical simulation of turbulent flow in the suction chamber of a gearpump using deforming mesh and mesh replacement. International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2010, 52(10): 1334–1342
Arun Shankar V K, Subramaniam U, Paramasivam S, Hanigovszki N. A comprehensive review on energy efficiency enhancement initiatives in centrifugal pumping system. Applied Energy, 2016, 181: 495–513
Wang T, Wang C, Kong F Y, Gou Q Q, Yang S S. Theoretical, experimental, and numerical study of special impeller used in turbine mode of centrifugal pump as turbine. Energy, 2017, 130: 473–485
Wang Z Y, Qian Z D, Lu J, Wu P F. Effects of flow rate and rotational speed on pressure fluctuations in a double-suction centrifugal pump. Energy, 2019, 170: 212–227
Liu H, Zhao B Y, Zhang Z P, Li H B, Hu B, Wang R Z. Experimental validation of an advanced heat pump system with high-efficiency centrifugal compressor. Energy, 2020, 213: 118968
Nguyen N T, Huang X Y, Chuan T K. MEMS-micropumps: a review. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 2002, 124(2): 384–392
Nguyen N T, Truong T Q. A fully polymeric micropump with piezoelectric actuator. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2004, 97(1): 137–143
Choi S B, Yoo J K, Cho M S, Lee Y S. Position control of a cylinder system using a piezoactuator-driven pump. Mechatronics, 2005, 15(2): 239–249
Yakut Ali M, Kuang C F, Khan J, Wang G R. A dynamic piezoelectric micropumping phenomenon. Microfluidics and Nanofluidics, 2010, 9(2–3): 385–396
Zhang R H, You F, Lv Z H, He Z C, Wang H W, Huang L. Development and characterization a single-active-chamber piezoelectric membrane pump with multiple passive check valves. Sensors, 2016, 16(12): 2108
Zhang J H, Wang Y, Huang J. Advances in valveless piezoelectric pump with cone-shaped tubes. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2017, 30(4): 766–781
Ye Y, Chen J, Ren Y J, Feng Z H. Valve improvement for high flow rate piezoelectric pump with PDMS film valves. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2018, 283: 245–253
Bao Q B, Zhang J H, Tang M, Huang Z, Lai L Y, Huang J, Wu C Y. A novel PZT pump with built-in compliant structures. Sensors, 2019, 19(6): 1301
Peng T J, Guo Q Q, Yang J, Xiao J F, Wang H, Lou Y, Liang X. A high-flow, self-filling piezoelectric pump driven by hybrid connected multiple chambers with umbrella-shaped valves. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2019, 301: 126961
Woo J, Sohn D K, Ko H S. Performance and flow analysis of small piezo pump. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2020, 301: 111766
Li H Y, Liu J K, Li K, Liu Y X. A review of recent studies on piezoelectric pumps and their applications. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing, 2021, 151: 107393
Valdovinos J, Williams R J, Levi D S, Carman G P. Evaluating piezoelectric hydraulic pumps as drivers for pulsatile pediatric ventricular assist devices. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures, 2014, 25(10): 1276–1285
Ma H K, Chen R H, Yu N S, Hsu Y H. A miniature circular pump with a piezoelectric bimorph and a disposable chamber for biomedical applications. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2016, 251: 108–118
Opekar F, Nesměrák K, Tůma P. Electrokinetic injection of samples into a short electrophoretic capillary controlled by piezoelectric micropumps. Electrophoresis, 2016, 37(4): 595–600
Haber J M, Gascoyne P R C, Sokolov K. Rapid real-time recirculating PCR using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and piezo-electric pumping. Lab on a Chip, 2017, 17(16): 2821–2830
Sakuma S, Kasai Y, Hayakawa T, Arai F. On-chip cell sorting by high-speed local-flow control using dual membrane pumps. Lab on a Chip, 2017, 17(16): 2760–2767
Wang Y N, Fu L M. Micropumps and biomedical applications—a review. Microelectronic Engineering, 2018, 195: 121–138
Chen S, Liu H D, Ji J J, Kan J W, Jiang Y H, Zhang Z H. An indirect drug delivery device driven by piezoelectric pump. Smart Materials and Structures, 2020, 29(7): 075030
Singhal V, Garimella S V, Raman A. Microscale pumping technologies for microchannel cooling systems. Applied Mechanics Reviews, 2004, 57(3): 191–221
Tang Y, Jia M Z, Ding X R, Li Z T, Wan Z P, Lin Q H, Fu T. Experimental investigation on thermal management performance of an integrated heat sink with a piezoelectric micropump. Applied Thermal Engineering, 2019, 161: 114053
Kaynak M, Ozcelik A, Nama N, Nourhani A, Lammert P E, Crespi V H, Huang T J. Acoustofluidic actuation of in situ fabricated microrotors. Lab on a Chip, 2016, 16(18): 3532–3537
Wang X R, Jiang H W, Chen Y C, Qiao X, Dong L. Microblower-based microfluidic pump. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2017, 253: 27–34
Zhao B, Cui X Y, Ren W, Xu F, Liu M, Ye Z G. A controllable and integrated pump-enabled microfluidic chip and its application in droplets generating. Scientific Reports, 2017, 7(1): 11319
Zhang T, Wang Q M. Valveless piezoelectric micropump for fuel delivery in direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) devices. Journal of Power Sources, 2005, 140(1): 72–80
Ma H K, Huang S H, Kuo Y Z. A novel ribbed cathode polar plate design in piezoelectric proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Journal of Power Sources, 2008, 185(2): 1154–1161
Dau V T, Dinh T X, Katsuhiko T, Susumu S. A cross-junction channel valveless-micropump with PZT actuation. Microsystem Technologies, 2009, 15(7): 1039–1044
Xia Q X, Zhang J H, Lei H, Cheng W. Analysis on flow field of the valveless piezoelectric pump with two inlets and one outlet and a rotating unsymmetrical slopes element. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2012, 25(3): 474–483
Tseng L Y, Yang A S, Lee C Y, Cheng C H. Investigation of a piezoelectric valveless micropump with an integrated stainless-steel diffuser/nozzle bulge-piece design. Smart Materials and Structures, 2013, 22(8): 085023
Huang J, Zhang J H, Xun X C, Wang S Y. Theory and experimental verification on valveless piezoelectric pump with multistage Y-shape treelike bifurcate tubes. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2013, 26(3): 462–468
Leng X F, Zhang J H, Jiang Y, Zhang J Y, Sun X C, Lin X G. Theory and experimental verification of spiral flow tube-type valveless piezoelectric pump with gyroscopic effect. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2013, 195: 1–6
Kim C N. Internal pressure characteristics and performance features of the piezoelectric micropumps with the diffuser/nozzle and electromagnetic resistance. Computers & Fluids, 2014, 104: 30–39
Wei Y, Torah R, Yang K, Beeby S, Tudor J. A novel fabrication process to realize a valveless micropump on a flexible substrate. Smart Materials and Structures, 2014, 23(2): 025034
Huang J, Zhang J H, Shi W D, Wang Y. 3D FEM analyses on flow field characteristics of the valveless piezoelectric pump. Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2016, 29(4): 825–831
He X H, Zhu J W, Zhang X T, Xu L, Yang S. The analysis of internal transient flow and the performance of valveless piezoelectric micropumps with planar diffuser/nozzles elements. Microsystem Technologies, 2017, 23(1): 23–37
Zhang J H, Wang Y, Huang J. Equivalent circuit modeling for a valveless piezoelectric pump. Sensors, 2018, 18(9): 2881
Ji J J, Chen S, Xie X Y, Wang X M, Kan J W, Zhang Z H, Li J P. Design and experimental verification on characteristics of valve-less piezoelectric pump effected by valve hole spacing. IEEE Access: Practical Innovations, Open Solutions, 2019, 7: 36259–36265
Huang J, Zou L, Tian P, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Zhang J H. A valveless piezoelectric micropump based on projection micro litho stereo exposure technology. IEEE Access: Practical Innovations, Open Solutions, 2019, 7: 77340–77347
Park J H, Yoshida K, Yokota S. Resonantly driven piezoelectric micropump: fabrication of a micropump having high power density. Mechatronics, 1999, 9(7): 687–702
Park J H, Yoshida K, Nakasu Y, Yokota S, Seto T, Takagi K. A resonantly-driven piezoelectric micropump for microfactory. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Mechatronics Technology. Tokyo, 2002, 417–422
Park J H, Yoshida K, Yokota S, Seto T, Takagi K. Development of micro machines using improved resonantly-driven piezoelectric micropumps. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Fluid Power Transmission and Control (ISFP’2003). Wuhan, 2003, 536–541
Wang X Y, Ma Y T, Yan G Y, Feng Z H. A compact and high flow-rate piezoelectric micropump with a folded vibrator. Smart Materials and Structures, 2014, 23(11): 115005
Wang X Y, Ma Y T, Yan G Y, Huang D, Feng Z H. High flow-rate piezoelectric micropump with two fixed ends polydimethylsiloxane valves and compressible spaces. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2014, 218: 94–104
Mohith S, Karanth P N, Kulkarni S M. Performance analysis of valveless micropump with disposable chamber actuated through amplified piezo actuator (APA) for biomedical application. Mechatronics, 2020, 67: 102347
Mohith S, Muralidhara R, Karanth P N, Kulkarni S M, Upadhya A R. Development and assessment of large stroke piezo-hydraulic actuator for micro positioning applications. Precision Engineering, 2021, 67: 324–338
Mohith S, Karanth P N, Kulkarni S M. Analysis of annularly excited bossed diaphragm for performance enhancement of mechanical micropump. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2022, 335: 113381
Wu Y, Liu Y, Liu J F, Wang L, Jiao X Y, Yang Z G. An improved resonantly driven piezoelectric gas pump. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2013, 27(3): 793–798
Chen J, Huang D, Feng Z H. A U-shaped piezoelectric resonator for a compact and high-performance pump system. Smart Materials and Structures, 2015, 24(10): 105009
Wang J T, Zhao X L, Chen X F, Yang H R. A piezoelectric resonance pump based on a flexible support. Micromachines, 2019, 10(3): 169
Pan Q S, He L G, Huang F S, Wang X Y, Feng Z H. Piezoelectric micropump using dual-frequency drive. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2015, 229: 86–93
Sayar E, Farouk B. Dynamic analysis of bulk acoustic wave piezoelectric micropumps: effects of inlet-outlet port angles and overall pump size. In: Proceedings of the ASME 2013 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. Volume 10: Micro- and Nano-Systems Engineering and Packaging. San Diego: ASME, 2013, IMECE2013–66211, V010T11A027
Ma H K, Chen R H, Hsu Y H. Development of a piezoelectric-driven miniature pump for biomedical applications. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2015, 234: 23–33
Zhao D, He L P, Li W, Huang Y, Cheng G M. Experimental analysis of a valve-less piezoelectric micropump with crescent-shaped structure. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering, 2019, 29(10): 105004
Kaçar A, Özer M B, Taşcıoğlu Y. A novel artificial pancreas: energy efficient valveless piezoelectric actuated closed-loop insulin pump for T1DM. Applied Sciences, 2020, 10(15): 5294
Zhang B C, Huang Y, He L P, Xu Q W, Cheng G M. Research on double-outlet valveless piezoelectric pump with fluid guiding body. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical, 2020, 302: 111785
Eggers J, Villermaux E. Physics of liquid jets. Reports on Progress in Physics, 2008, 71(3): 036601
Acknowledgements
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. This work was financially supported by Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation, China (Grant No. 2019B1515120017), Regional Joint Youth Fund Project of Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research, China (Grant No. 2020A1515110619), and Guangzhou Science and Technology Plan Project, China (Grant No. 202002030356).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Credit author statement
Jianhui Zhang: methodology, formal analysis, project administration, resources, and funding acquisition. Xiaosheng Chen: formal analysis, validation, investigation, and writing (original draft, review and editing). Zhenlin Chen: software and formal analysis. Jietao Dai: software and visualization. Fan Zhang: writing (review and editing). Mingdong Ma: data curation. Yuxuan Huo: data curation. Zhenzhen Gui: conceptualization, formal analysis, project administration, resources, supervision, and funding acquisition.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhang, J., Chen, X., Chen, Z. et al. A valveless piezoelectric pump with novel flow path design of function of rectification to improve energy efficiency. Front. Mech. Eng. 17, 29 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-022-0685-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-022-0685-3