Equivalent Circuit Modeling for a Valveless Piezoelectric Pump

Various kinds of the models had been proposed to explain the relationship between the performance and the structural parameters of valveless piezoelectric pumps, so as to evaluate the functional performance such devices. Among the models, the equivalent circuit model, which converts the multi-field problem of a valveless piezoelectric pump system into a simple circuit problem, is the most simple and clear one. Therefore, the proposed structure and working principle of the valveless piezoelectric pump with multistage Y-shape treelike bifurcate tubes are analyzed; then, the equivalent circuit model of the valveless piezoelectric pump is established based on the working principles of this pump and liquid-electric analogy theory. Finally, an experimental study of the pump is carried out, with a comparative analysis of the experimental results and the simulation results of the generated equivalent circuit. The experimental results show that with a driving voltage of 100 V and frequency of 6 Hz, the maximum flow rate of the valveless piezoelectric pump is 1.16 mL/min. Meanwhile, the output current of equivalent circuit also reaches its peak at the frequency of 6 Hz, therefore, indicating a good predictive ability of this model in calculating the maximum output flow rate and best working frequency of valveless piezoelectric pumps.