The fixed-geometry valve micropump is a seemingly simple device in which the interaction between mechanical, electrical, and fluidic components produces a maximum output near resonance. This type of pump offers advantages such as scalability, durability, and ease of fabrication in a variety of materials. Our past work focused on the development of a linear dynamic model for pump design based on maximizing resonance, while little has been done to improve valve shape. Here we present a method for optimizing valve shape using two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics in conjunction with an optimization procedure. A Tesla-type valve was optimized using a set of six independent, non-dimensional geometric design variables. The result was a 25% higher ratio of reverse to forward flow resistance (diodicity) averaged over the Reynolds number range compared to calculated values for an empirically designed, commonly used Tesla-type valve shape. The optimized shape was realized with no increase in forward flow resistance. A linear dynamic model, modified to include a number of effects that limit pump performance such as cavitation, was used to design pumps based on the new valve. Prototype plastic pumps were fabricated and tested. Steady-flow tests verified the predicted improvement in diodicity. More importantly, the modest increase in diodicity resulted in measured block-load pressure and no-load flow three times higher compared to an identical pump with non-optimized valves. The large performance increase observed demonstrated the importance of valve shape optimization in the overall design process for fixed-valve micropumps.
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e-mail: forster@u.washington.edu
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March 2005
Technical Papers
Improvements in Fixed-Valve Micropump Performance Through Shape Optimization of Valves
Adrian R. Gamboa,
Adrian R. Gamboa
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600
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Christopher J. Morris,
Christopher J. Morris
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600
Search for other works by this author on:
Fred K. Forster
Fred K. Forster
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
e-mail: forster@u.washington.edu
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600
Search for other works by this author on:
Adrian R. Gamboa
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600
Christopher J. Morris
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600
Fred K. Forster
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Campus Box 352600,
University of Washington
, Seattle, Washington 98195-2600e-mail: forster@u.washington.edu
J. Fluids Eng. Mar 2005, 127(2): 339-346 (8 pages)
Published Online: December 5, 2004
Article history
Received:
November 3, 2002
Revised:
December 5, 2004
Citation
Gamboa, A. R., Morris, C. J., and Forster, F. K. (December 5, 2004). "Improvements in Fixed-Valve Micropump Performance Through Shape Optimization of Valves." ASME. J. Fluids Eng. March 2005; 127(2): 339–346. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.1891151
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