Dynamic Characterization of a Valveless Micropump Considering Entrapped Gas Bubbles

2013 ◽  
Vol 135 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Songjing Li ◽  
Jixiao Liu ◽  
Dan Jiang

Unexpected gas bubbles in microfluidic devices always bring the problems of clogging, performance deterioration, and even device functional failure. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to study the characterization variation of a valveless micropump under different existence conditions of gas bubbles based on a theoretical modeling, numerical simulation, and experiment. In the theoretical model, we couple the vibration of piezoelectric diaphragm, the pressure drop of the nozzle/diffuser and the compressibility of working liquid when gas bubbles are entrapped. To validate the theoretical model, numerical simulation and experimental studies are carried out to investigate the variation of the pump chamber pressure influenced by the gas bubbles. Based on the numerical simulation and the experimental data, the outlet flow rates of the micropump with different size of trapped gas bubbles are calculated and compared, which suggests the influence of the gas bubbles on the dynamic characterization of the valveless micropump.

Author(s):  
Songjing Li ◽  
Jixiao Liu ◽  
Dan Jiang

The aim of this paper is to develop a theoretical model of a piezoelectric valve-less micropump for liquid delivery with entrapped gas bubbles and evaluate the influence of gas bubbles on the dynamic characteristics of the micropump by using this model. In the model, we consider the vibration of piezoelectric diaphragm, the pressure loss through the nozzle/diffuser and the compressibility of working liquids with entrapped gas bubbles. In order to validate the developed model and make it useful as a design and prediction tool, experimental studies are carried out to investigate the flow rate and dynamic pressure inside the pump chamber when gas bubbles are absent or present in the micropump. The presence of gas bubbles inside the pump chamber is also observed with a high-speed video camera. The outlet flow rate of the micropump with different size of trapped gas bubbles are calculated and compared.


Author(s):  
Hamid SadAbadi ◽  
Arvind Chandrasekaran ◽  
Muthukuraman Packirisamy ◽  
Rolf Wuthrich

In order to design the valveless micropump with a Piezo actuator, it is essential to understand the dynamic properties of the actuating system. Besides several other considerations in designing of microfluidic systems, the efficiency of valveless micropumps also strongly depends on parameters of the actuation system including the actuation frequency. Cleary, higher displacement of the diaphragm results in higher output flow rate of the pump. Thus, studying the dynamic behavior of the actuation system forms one of the important considerations for the design of micropumps. Three different models of the actuating system for the fabricated micropump system are proposed with different boundary conditions and are simulated by finite element method using ANSYS. Comparison of the experimental results and the simulation results of the natural frequencies of the system shows that the proposed simulation method can also be now used as a tool to optimize the design of the actuation system in terms of natural frequency of the system.


RBRH ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Guzzon Sanagiotto ◽  
Júlia Brusso Rossi ◽  
Luísa Lüdtke Lauffer ◽  
Juan Martín Bravo

ABSTRACT Vertical slot fishways allow energy dissipation as a function of the pool, longitudinal slope, baffle and vertical slot design. The mean and turbulent flow patterns in these structures must be compatible with the fish target. The design of these structures is commonly based on previous successful fishways as well as simplified theoretical equations and empirical relationships. To aid in the design of these structures, a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was used to simulate the flow, and experimental studies were used to validate the model. The mean velocities, pressures and parameters indicative of turbulence were analyzed. The maximum flow velocities were up to 32% higher than the values obtained using a simplified theoretical equation. The evaluation of the volumetric dissipated power indicated that the mean value for the pool was lower than 150 W/m3; however, analysis of the spatial distribution showed that in some areas, the values can exceed 1000 W/m3. The results indicate that the numerical simulation was able to adequately represent the flow considering the computational cost involved. Accordingly, it can be used as a complementary tool for the design of new fishways and for the analysis of modifications in existing ones.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
T KALAIARASI ◽  
M SENTHILKUMAR ◽  
S SHANMUGAN ◽  
T JARIN ◽  
V CHITHAMBARAM ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 680
Author(s):  
Hui Li ◽  
Yan Feng ◽  
Muk Chen Ong ◽  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Li Zhou

Selecting an optimal bow configuration is critical to the preliminary design of polar ships. This paper proposes an approach to determine the optimal bow of polar ships based on present numerical simulation and available published experimental studies. Unlike conventional methods, the present approach integrates both ice resistance and calm-water resistance with the navigating time. A numerical simulation method of an icebreaking vessel going straight ahead in level ice is developed using SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) numerical technique of LS-DYNA. The present numerical results for the ice resistance in level ice are in satisfactory agreement with the available published experimental data. The bow configurations with superior icebreaking capability are obtained by analyzing the sensitivities due to the buttock angle γ, the frame angle β and the waterline angle α. The calm-water resistance is calculated using FVM (finite volume method). Finally, an overall resistance index devised from the ship resistance in ice/water weighted by their corresponding weighted navigation time is proposed. The present approach can be used for evaluating the integrated resistance performance of the polar ships operating in both a water route and ice route.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2551
Author(s):  
Hyobum Lee ◽  
Hangseok Choi ◽  
Soon-Wook Choi ◽  
Soo-Ho Chang ◽  
Tae-Ho Kang ◽  
...  

This study demonstrates a three-dimensional numerical simulation of earth pressure balance (EPB) shield tunnelling using a coupled discrete element method (DEM) and a finite difference method (FDM). The analysis adopted the actual size of a spoke-type EPB shield tunnel boring machine (TBM) consisting of a cutter head with cutting tools, working chamber, screw conveyor, and shield. For the coupled model to reproduce the in situ ground condition, the ground formation was generated partially using the DEM (for the limited domain influenced by excavation), with the rest of the domain being composed of FDM grids. In the DEM domain, contact parameters of particles were calibrated via a series of large-scale triaxial test analyses. The model simulated tunnelling as the TBM operational conditions were controlled. The penetration rate and the rotational speed of the screw conveyor were automatically adjusted as the TBM advanced to prevent the generation of excessive or insufficient torque, thrust force, or chamber pressure. Accordingly, these parameters were maintained consistently around their set operational ranges during excavation. The simulation results show that the proposed numerical model based on DEM–FDM coupling could reasonably simulate EPB driving while considering the TBM operational conditions.


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