Piezoelectric Pump Inlet Port Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumps face challenges in maintaining high discharge performance due to increased viscosity loss at the inlet port, which is exacerbated by either small or large inlet port diameters, leading to suboptimal discharge pressure and flow rate.
Innovation Solution
The pump design incorporates a pressure chamber with both first and second inlet ports at the outer peripheral portion and a center outlet port, allowing fluid to be drawn in and discharged efficiently, reducing flow path resistance and viscosity loss without increasing inlet port size, by optimizing the dimensions and resonant frequency to achieve quasi-ideal pressure oscillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the diameter of the inlet port is increased, then the flow path resistance is reduced and viscosity loss is decreased, but it becomes difficult to open the inlet port only at a node of pressure oscillation, causing pressure oscillation to deviate from the ideal state
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet port is divided into multiple inlet ports (first inlet port and second inlet port) positioned at different locations. The first inlet port is opened at the node of pressure oscillation to maintain ideal pressure oscillation, while the second inlet port is opened at a position other than the node to provide additional flow capacity and reduce viscosity loss. This segmentation allows each inlet port to serve a specific function, resolving the contradiction between reducing viscosity loss and maintaining pressure oscillation performance.
2Reliability
If the diameter of the inlet port is decreased, then the inlet port can be opened at a node of pressure oscillation for ideal pressure oscillation, but the flow path resistance increases and viscosity loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet port is divided into multiple inlet ports (first inlet port and second inlet port) positioned at different locations. The first inlet port is opened at the node of pressure oscillation to maintain ideal pressure oscillation, while the second inlet port is opened at a position other than the node to provide additional flow capacity and reduce viscosity loss. This segmentation allows each inlet port to serve a specific function, resolving the contradiction between reducing viscosity loss and maintaining pressure oscillation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple inlet ports are combined to work together in the same pressure chamber. The first inlet port and second inlet port both allow fluid to enter the pressure chamber, with their combined flow capacity reducing the overall flow path resistance and viscosity loss while maintaining the beneficial pressure oscillation characteristics provided by the first inlet port at the node.
3Device complexity
If a single inlet port is used, then the structure is simple, but the total flow rate is limited and viscosity loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet port is divided into multiple inlet ports (first inlet port and second inlet port) positioned at different locations. The first inlet port is opened at the node of pressure oscillation to maintain ideal pressure oscillation, while the second inlet port is opened at a position other than the node to provide additional flow capacity and reduce viscosity loss. This segmentation allows each inlet port to serve a specific function, resolving the contradiction between reducing viscosity loss and maintaining pressure oscillation performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple inlet ports are combined to work together in the same pressure chamber. The first inlet port and second inlet port both allow fluid to enter the pressure chamber, with their combined flow capacity reducing the overall flow path resistance and viscosity loss while maintaining the beneficial pressure oscillation characteristics provided by the first inlet port at the node.
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 discharge performance and reduces audible noise by maintaining high resonant frequency without compromising discharge pressure and flow rate, while minimizing the size of the diaphragm and piezoelectric element.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric element that causes the diaphragm to vibrate
Implementation Method 2
a pressure chamber that generates pressure oscillation occurring from the center of the pressure chamber to an outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber when viewed in plan view in a thickness direction
Data Source
AI summary
A pump includes a pressure chamber that generates pressure oscillation occurring from the center of the pressure chamber to an outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber when viewed in plan view in a thickness direction. The pump includes a vibrating plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in the thickness direction and that is displaced in the thickness direction and a top plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in a direction opposite to the direction in which the vibrating plate portion faces the pressure chamber. The vibrating plate portion has a first inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber. The top plate portion has an outlet port that is open at a center portion of the pressure chamber and a second inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber.