Piezoelectric Pump Non-Straight Slit Valve Backflow Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Piezoelectric pumps face challenges in preventing backflow and enhancing fluid transmission efficiency, as existing designs struggle to maintain unidirectional fluid flow without inducing backflow during the actuation of the piezoelectric vibrator.
Innovation Solution
The piezoelectric pump incorporates a vibrating piece with a central zone, peripheral zone, and a valve featuring non-straight through slits, along with a flow guiding member, which resonantly vibrates to increase amplitude and reduce flow resistance when the piezoelectric element is driven by a specific frequency, allowing fluid to flow in one direction while preventing backflow through the design of the slit and stopper configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the piezoelectric vibrator is actuated to pump fluid, then fluid transmission is achieved, but back flow occurs reducing transmission efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A valve with non-straight through slits is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump chamber and outlet. The valve acts as a mediator that allows fluid to pass during the pumping phase while blocking backflow during the return stroke, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving fluid transmission and preventing backflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is designed with non-straight through slits that dynamically open and close based on the vibration phase of the piezoelectric element. During forward vibration, the slits open to allow fluid flow; during backward vibration, the slits close to prevent backflow. This dynamic behavior enables the system to maintain high transmission efficiency while minimizing energy loss from backflow.
2Productivity
If the vibrating piece amplitude is increased to improve fluid flow, then transmission efficiency increases, but flow resistance also increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve slits are designed with curved (non-straight) geometry rather than linear paths. This curvature allows fluid to flow more smoothly through the valve during the pumping phase, reducing turbulence and flow resistance. The curved path accommodates the vibrating motion of the piezoelectric element while maintaining low resistance to forward flow.
3Ease of manufacture
If a valve with straight through slits is used, then manufacturing is simple, but flow resistance increases and transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve features non-straight (curved) through slits instead of straight lines. This curved geometry reduces flow resistance and improves transmission efficiency by allowing smoother fluid passage, while still being manufacturable using standard machining or molding processes.
4Productivity
If the piezoelectric vibrator operates at higher frequency to increase pumping speed, then productivity increases, but back flow increases reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The valve's non-straight through slits are designed to dynamically respond to the piezoelectric vibrator's operating frequency. The slit geometry and positioning are optimized to open during the forward stroke at the specific operating frequency while closing during the backward stroke, effectively preventing backflow even at higher pumping speeds.
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 enhances fluid transmission efficiency by increasing the vibrating amplitude of the piezoelectric pump components, reducing flow resistance when fluid enters, and temporarily closing the flow path to prevent backflow, resulting in a higher flow rate compared to conventional pumps.
Implementation Method 1
implement fluid transmission merely via the inverse piezoelectric effect of the piezoelectric ceramics which make the piezoelectric vibrator deforms so that the deformation of the piezoelectric vibrator causes the volume change of the pump chamber
Implementation Method 2
When the piezoelectric element is driven by a driving voltage at a specific frequency, the vibrating piece and the valve relatively resonantly vibrate, such that the central zone of the vibrating piece and a region of the valve corresponding to the central zone have a maximum amplitude
Data Source
AI summary
A piezoelectric pump includes a piezoelectric element, a vibrating piece, a valve and a flow guiding member. The vibrating piece has a central zone attached to the piezoelectric element, a peripheral zone, a first recess, a stopper and a position limiting wall both protruding from the first recess, and a through groove disposed between the central zone and the peripheral zone and connected through the first recess. The valve is attached to the peripheral zone and has a non-straight through slit. The flow guiding member is attached to the valve and has a second recess and a channel both recessed in the flow guiding member, and a through hole. The channel is connected through the second recess and the through hole. A projection of the second recess projected on the plane which the valve exists covers the non-straight through slit. An operating method of a piezoelectric pump is further provided.