Smart-Material Multi-Valve Actuation for Low-Dead-Volume Fluid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multi-valve devices for precise fluid handling face challenges in miniaturization, contamination prevention, and efficiency, with rotary valves requiring high energy and having limited combinatorial flexibility, while individual valve systems have large dimensions and internal volumes with dead volumes.
Innovation Solution
An actuation unit with a housing that receives multiple actuator modules, each containing smart materials like shape memory alloys for precise control of valves, allowing for miniaturization, reduced energy consumption, and flexible channel combinations without dead volumes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If rotary valves are used for fluid handling, then the internal volume is minimized and dead volumes are avoided, but the device requires high energy consumption and has limited channel combinatorial flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary valve is divided into multiple independent valve units, each with its own actuator. This segmentation allows individual valves to be controlled separately, enabling flexible channel combinatorics while maintaining compact structure and low internal volume. The modular design reduces the energy required for actuation compared to a single large rotary mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Traditional mechanical rotary valve actuators are replaced with electronically controlled valve units. This substitution enables precise control with lower energy consumption and allows for programmable channel combinations, overcoming the limitations of fixed mechanical routing while maintaining the compact form factor.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual solenoid valves are used for fluid handling, then full combinatorial flexibility is achieved, but the device has large dimensions and large internal volume including dead volumes
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple valve units are merged into a single integrated rotary valve assembly with shared actuation mechanisms. This combining approach maintains full combinatorial flexibility by allowing independent control of each valve unit while significantly reducing the overall device dimensions and internal volume compared to using separate solenoid valves for each channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve units are arranged in a nested or compact configuration within the rotary assembly. This nesting strategy allows multiple channels to be controlled within a small footprint, achieving full combinatorial flexibility without the large dimensions associated with individual solenoid valves placed separately.
3Speed
If solenoid actuators are used for valve operation, then fast operation is achieved, but the device has large dimensions and dissipates excessive heat into the controlled fluids
Solution Approach 1:
Solenoid actuators are replaced with piezoelectric or shape memory alloy actuators that operate with minimal heat generation. These alternative actuation mechanisms maintain fast response times for valve operation while eliminating the excessive heat dissipation problem inherent in electromagnetic solenoids, thereby protecting temperature-sensitive fluids.
4Volume of stationary object
If pneumatic valves are used for fluid handling, then smaller internal volume is achieved, but additional pressure sources and pilot valves are required
Solution Approach 1:
The valve units are designed with integrated actuation mechanisms that do not require external pneumatic pressure sources or pilot valves. Each valve unit contains its own actuator that directly controls the valve opening, eliminating the need for complex pneumatic control systems while maintaining compact internal volume.
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 solution enables precise, efficient, and contamination-free handling of multiple fluids by allowing flexible valve combinations and miniaturization, reducing energy consumption and eliminating dead volumes, thus addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator module comprises at least one actuator made at least partially of a smart material, in particular made at least partially of a shape memory material, for example made at least partially of a shape memory alloy
Data Source
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AI summary
An actuation unit (120) for a multi valve device (100) is proposed, the multi valve device (100) comprising a fluidic unit (102) comprising at least one fluid channel (104) and a plurality of valves (110, 110'), wherein the valves (110, 110') are configured to selectively block or open the fluid channel (104). The actuation unit (120) comprises a housing (126) and at least one actuator module (128). The housing (126) is configured to receive a plurality of actuator modules (128). The at least one actuator module (128) is received within the housing (126). The actuator module (128) comprises at least one actuator (130, 130') made at least partially of a smart material and at least one valve actuation member (132, 132'). The actuator (130, 130') is configured to move at least one valve actuation member (132, 132') such that at least one of the valves (110, 110') selectively blocks or opens the fluid channel (104). The actuation unit (120) is connectable to the fluidic unit (102). Further, a multi valve device (100) and a fluid handling device (196) are proposed.