Develop and test a micropump based on acoustic impedance miss match

• Main Author: Luo, Shiqi
• Other Authors: Huang Xiaoyang
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering; DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75448
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This project based on study on valveless pumps which operate based on the principle of mismatch in an acoustic impedance mechanism. After search and study of literatures about the mismatch in an acoustic impedance mechanism then practice an experimental model of valveless pump by improved and tested of the micro-pump. The project was mainly tracing on the closed loop model to examine the characteristics and figure out the flow rate of the system associate with the various other parameters. The model design comprises of two flexible tubes and rigid acrylic tubes to form 2-dimensional closed loop system and 3-dimensional closed loop system which the elastic tube connected both ends to a rigid tube respectively. Then a cyclic compression was applied periodically at asymmetric locations of the one of the elastic tube to allow valveless pumping to occur and to generate the net flow inside the closed loop system. The testing parameters of the actuation point of the one of the elastic tube, the frequency and the current output were used to determine the characteristic of a valveless pump for the model. The measurement on the direction of flow and the velocity flow rate inside the closed loop model based on the distance that was travelled by the microfiber indicator at one minute of cyclic compression applied on the one of the elastic tube. The results obtained from the experiment of the closed loop model showed that it was partially true from the research found in the literature review. As part of the overall experiments obtained an opposite fluid flow of flowing from the shorter part of the elastic tube to the longer part of the elastic tube when compression was applied on the asymmetry positions. Velocity was increasing as actuation point moved toward the rigid tube. The peak velocity occurs at same frequency with different actuation point compression. Highest velocity is mostly obtained around 15Hz and 20Hz. After reach the critical current output, the velocity will not increase accompany with increasing current output. And different shape of closed loop model will not effect in the flow rate when it’s at resonance frequency. The project shows space for improvement in the research. All these aspects may gain further knowledge on the working principle of a valveless pump.