Design of IPMC actuator-driven valve-less micropump and its flow rate estimation at low Reynolds numbers

This paper presents the design and flow rate predictions of an IPMC (ionic polymer–metal composite) actuator-driven valve-less micropump. It should be noted that IPMC is a promising material candidate for micropump applications since it can be operated with low input voltages and can produce large stroke volumes, while having controllable flow rates. The micropump manufacturing process with IPMC is also convenient; it is anticipated that the manufacturing cost of the IPMC micropump is competitive with other technologies. In order to design an effective IPMC diaphragm that functions as an actuating motor for a micropump, a finite element analysis (FEA) was utilized to optimize the electrode shape of the IPMC diaphragm and estimate its stroke volumes. In addition, the effect of the pump chamber pressure on the stroke volume was numerically investigated. Appropriate inlet and outlet nozzle/diffuser elements were also studied for the valve-less micropump. Based on the selected geometry of nozzle/diffuser elements and the estimated stroke volume of the IPMC diaphragm, the flow rate of the micropump was estimated at a low Reynolds number of about 50.