Theoretical analysis and experimental varification on valve-less piezoelectric pump with zigzag chamber bottom

Abstract

A novel valve-less piezoelectric pump with zigzag chamber bottom (ZCB) is presented. The chamber bottom of the pump is designed as a waves shape. The ZCB and the opposite piezoelectric vibrator constitute a series of zigzag ducts in the chamber. Different flow resistances are produced between the suction stroke and the discharge stroke of the pump. The different flow resistances will generate net flow when the pump works. The presented pump is successful to minimize the valve-less piezoelectric pump by eliminating the regular diffuse/nozzle elements outside the chamber. The theory on the pump working is analyzed. The flow field in chamber is simulated for an intuition. Finally, to verify the theory, a group of tests are performed, in which one angle is fixed at the valve of 90 degree, and another angle varies from 20 degree to 60 degree. The errors between tests and theoretical calculations are no more than 14.8%.