Inertial effects on flow rate spectrum of diffuser micropumps.

This study develops a diffuser micropump and characterizes its output flow rates, such as the parabola shape on the frequency domain and the affecting factors. First, an equivalent circuit using electronic-hydraulic analogies was constructed. Flow rate analysis results were then compared to experimental results to verify the applicability of the circuit simulation. The operational frequency was 800 Hz for both cases and maximum flow rates were 0.078 and 0.075 mul/s for simulation and experimental results, respectively. Maximum flow rate difference between simulation and experiment was 3.7%. The circuit was then utilized to analyze inertial effects of transferred fluid and system components on output flow rates. This work also explained why the flow rate spectrum has a parabolic shape. Analysis results demonstrated that without inertial effects, micropump flow rates are linearly proportional to operational frequency; otherwise flow rate spectrum has parabolic shape. The natural frequency of the actuator-membrane structure was identified using the finite element method to verify whether this parameter affects flow rate characteristics. Experimental and simulation results demonstrated that the frequency of the maximum pumping flow rate was 800 Hz and the first mode natural frequency of actuator-membrane structure was 91.4 kHz, suggesting that the structure natural frequencies of the actuator-membrane structure do not play any role in micropump operations.

Applying Taguchi methods for solvent-assisted PMMA bonding technique for static and dynamic micro-TAS devices.

This work examines numerous significant process parameters in the solvent-assistant Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bonding scheme and presents two Micro-total-analysis System (micro-TAS) devices generated by adopting the optimal bonding parameters. The process parameters considered were heating temperature, applied loading, duration and solution. The effects of selected process parameters on bonding dimensions loss and strength, and subsequent optimal setting of the parameters were accomplished using Taguchi's scheme. Additionally, two micro-TAS devices were realized using a static paraffin microvalve and a dynamic diffuser micropump. The PMMA chips were carved using a CO2 laser that patterned device microchannels and microchambers. The operation principles, fabrication processes and experimental performance of the devices are discussed. This bonding technique has numerous benefits, including high bonding strength (240 kgf/cm2) and low dimension loss (2-6%). For comparison, this work also demonstrates that the normal stress of this technology is 2-15 times greater than that of other bonding technologies, including hot embossing, anodic bonding, direct bonding and thermal fusion bonding.

A stand-alone peristaltic micropump based on piezoelectric actuation.

Despite significant efforts to develop micropumps, cumbersome driving equipment means that the design of portable micropumps remains a challenge. This study presents a stand-alone micropump system, which includes a peristaltic micropump based on piezoelectric actuation and a driving circuit. This battery-based driving circuit comprises a 12 V battery, an ATmega 8535 microprocessor, a 12 V-to-180 V DC to DC converter using transformerless technology, three differential amplifiers, an IC 7805, a phase controller, an A/D converter, a keyboard and an LCD module. The system can produce step-function signals with voltages of up to 228 V(pp) and frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 100 kHz, as the inputs for the pump. It is portable and programmable with the package size of 22 x 12.8 x 9 cm. Additionally, this proposed system is used to design the driving signals of the pump which are 3-, 4, and 6-phase actuation sequences. This work performs the circuit testing and fluid pumping, and demonstrates the effects of actuation sequences on pump performance in terms of the dynamic behavior of the diaphragm, flow rates, back pressure and power consumption of the system. The experimental results show that the pump excited by the 6-phase sequence results in better performance compared with the 3- and 4-phase sequences, and produces a maximum flow rate of 36.8 microl/min and a maximum back pressure of 520 Pa with deionized water at 100 V (pp) and 700 Hz.