Analysis of flow characteristics in thermal-bubble actuated diffuser-nozzle valveless micropump
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Abstract:
Based on the different flow resistance characteristic of diffuser/nozzle at the bubble growth and condensation stage, the flow characteristics of thermal-bubble actuated valveless micropump under different ratio of heating, driving frequency and diverging angle and different heating power are numerically investigated. Evaporation and condensation processes are accomplished by Volume of Fluid (VOF) multiphase flow model and User Defined Functions (UDF) interface. The results reveal that with the same ratio of heating time, the volume flow rate increases at first and then decreases with the increasing driving frequency. The micropump has a maximum flow rate of 5.87 μL/min when the driving pulse is 250 Hz at 10% heating ratio. The volume flow rate increases at first then decreases with the enlarging diverging angle when keeping the aspect ratio constant, and it will reach the maximum when the diverging angle is 14°, and it has a higher pressure difference between the diffuser and the nozzle. The average velocity at the diffuser neck is always greater than the nozzle during the entire driving period, the pumping flow rate presents a trend of increasing at first and then flatting with the increasing heating power.
