Design optimization by numerical characterization of fluid flow through the valveless diffuser micropumps

Abstract

Valveless piezoelectric micropumps are in wide practical use due to their ability to conduct particles with absence of interior moving mechanical parts. In this paper, an extended numerical study on fluid flow through micropump chamber and diffuser valves is conducted to find out the optimum working conditions of micropump. In order to obtain maximum generality of the reported results, an analytical study along with a dimensional analysis is presented primarily, to investigate the main dimensionless groups of parameters affecting the micropump net flux. Consequently, the parameters appeared in the main dimensionless groups have been changed in order to understand how the pump rectification efficiency and optimum diffuser angle depend on these parameters. A set of characteristic curves are constructed which show these dependencies. The application of these curves would have far reaching implications for valveless micropumps design and selection purposes. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.