Piezoelectric Pump Valve Diaphragm Collision Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The valve diaphragm in existing fluid control apparatuses with piezoelectric pumps vibrates excessively, leading to repeated collisions with the valve top or bottom plates, causing damage and potential breakage.
Innovation Solution
A fluid control apparatus is configured with a drive control unit that adjusts the driving power-supply voltage or current based on the vibration state of the valve diaphragm and differential pressure, reducing collisions by optimizing the power-supply voltage or current in response to varying pressure conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the piezoelectric pump operates to pump fluid, then the valve diaphragm moves to enable fluid flow rectification, but the valve diaphragm vibrates and collides repeatedly with the valve top or bottom plates causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer chamber positioned between the valve diaphragm and the valve top plate. This buffer chamber provides a cushioning space that absorbs the impact energy when the valve diaphragm collides with the valve top plate during operation, thereby reducing mechanical damage and extending the service life of the valve diaphragm while maintaining the pump's fluid rectification function
2Power
If the driving power-supply voltage is increased to improve pumping performance, then the pump chamber volume fluctuation increases, but the valve diaphragm vibration and collision become more severe
Solution Approach 1:
The buffer chamber acts as an intermediary element between the valve diaphragm and the valve top plate. It mediates the collision by providing a compressible space that absorbs impact energy, allowing the system to operate at higher driving voltages for improved pumping performance without directly transmitting the full collision force to the valve diaphragm, thus reducing damage
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
This configuration reduces damage to the valve diaphragm, improves driving efficiency, and simplifies control by adjusting power-supply voltage or current in accordance with differential pressure and vibration states, thereby enhancing the operational stability of the piezoelectric pump.
Implementation Method 1
a pump chamber (117) whose volume fluctuates due to displacement of a piezoelectric element (11)
Implementation Method 2
when fluid (e.g., air) flows from the piezoelectric pump into the valve chamber, the valve diaphragm moves toward the top plate
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid control apparatus includes a piezoelectric pump, a pressure vessel, an input unit, a drive control unit, and a driving circuit. The piezoelectric pump has a pump chamber whose volume fluctuates due to displacement of a piezoelectric element, a valve chamber communicated with the pump chamber and has a valve diaphragm, a pump chamber opening that allows the pump chamber to be communicated with an outside of the pump chamber, and a valve chamber opening that allows the valve chamber communicate with an outside of the valve chamber. The pressure vessel is communicated with the valve chamber. The driving circuit drives the piezoelectric element upon application of a driving power-supply voltage from the drive control unit. The drive control unit adjusts the driving power-supply voltage or a driving current corresponding to the driving power-supply voltage in accordance with a vibration state of the valve diaphragm.