Piezoelectric Micro-Pump with Conductive Locking for Backflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing micro-pump structures suffer from significant backflow issues and require high-cost micro-actuators to achieve sufficient pressure for fluid transportation, which affects long-term performance and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A fluid transportation device is designed with a stacked structure comprising a valve main body, valve membrane, valve chamber base, actuator, and cover body, utilizing electrically conductive locking elements for improved assembly and conductivity, and a compressible chamber with valve plates to prevent backflow and enhance flow rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the compression ratio of the compression chamber is increased to generate sufficient pressure, then the flow rate of the liquid is improved, but the cost of the micro-actuator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into multiple functional modules: a pump body housing containing the compression chamber, a separate actuator assembly with piezoelectric elements, and a valve mechanism. This segmentation allows the compression chamber to be optimized for pressure generation while the actuator is optimized for cost-effective actuation, resolving the contradiction between achieving high flow rate and maintaining reasonable actuator cost
Solution Approach 2:
A valve mechanism acts as an intermediary between the compression chamber and the outlet, controlling fluid flow direction and preventing backflow. This intermediary component allows the system to maintain high compression ratios for sufficient pressure generation without requiring the micro-actuator to continuously work against backpressure, thereby improving flow rate efficiency while reducing actuator cost and complexity
2Device complexity
If no solid valve is used in the micro-pump structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but a large amount of backflow occurs
Solution Approach 1:
A valve mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the compression chamber and the outlet channel. This valve selectively opens to allow forward flow when compression pressure exceeds outlet pressure, and closes to prevent backflow when outlet pressure exceeds compression pressure. The valve resolves the contradiction by providing simple on/off control that eliminates backflow without requiring complex continuous regulation mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The valve mechanism changes its state (open/closed) based on pressure differential parameters across it. When the pressure difference favors forward flow, the valve opens; when backpressure exceeds compression pressure, the valve closes. This parameter-based control allows the system to maintain simplicity while effectively preventing backflow through automatic response to pressure conditions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device effectively prevents backflow and maintains high flow rates with reduced costs by using conductive locking elements for improved conductivity and structural integrity, ensuring efficient fluid transportation.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator is assembled by a vibration plate and a piezoelectric element, wherein the vibration plate has a first surface and an opposing second surface, the piezoelectric element is attached on the first surface of the vibration plate
Implementation Method 2
the liquid which has entered by the inlet channel 13 and has been stored in the compression chamber 111 is compressed by the compression chamber 111, forming an liquid flow flowing in the direction X through the outlet channel 16
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid transportation device for transportation fluid comprises a valve main body, a valve chamber base, a valve membrane, an actuator and a cover body, and locked and positioned by several locking elements, the electrically conductive locking elements are correspondingly penetrated through the penetration holes of the valve main body, the valve chamber base and the vibration plate of the valve membrane to lock with the corresponding screw holes, and a plurality of thread grooves respectively disposed on the vibration plate, the valve main body and the valve chamber base are corresponding to two thread grooves of the cover body, and an electrode lead of the piezoelectric element is embedded into the two thread grooves of the cover body and embedded into the thread grooves of the vibration plate, valve main body and the valve chamber base, so that the fluid transportation device is assembled.