Truong T-Q, Nguyen N-T.
Nanyang Technological University, SG
Keywords: micropump, no-moving-parts valves, optimization, tesla valve, valveless
Tesla valve is a no-moving-parts valve. It has many advantages over conventional checkvalves in microscale. However, there has been very few literatures discussing its optimization. Systematic construction of the valve’s geometry has not been reported. This lack of information has hindered the application of Tesla valve. We present a comprehensive method to optimize the Tesla valve. Complete design optimization parameters of the valve are identified for the first time. A method to construct the geometry of the valve is also proposed. Design parameters are varied to form different valve’s configurations. Numerical software (ANSYS FLOTRAN) is used to construct steady flow 2-D models of different valves. The performance index is the diodicity, the ratio of pressure drop in reverse direction to that of forward direction. Diodicity is found to be inversely proportional to the radius of the curve section. Optimal configurations are flow-rate dependant. Three best valves, correspondent to three different flow rates, are identified.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 1, Technical Proceedings of the 2003 Nanotechnology Conference and Trade Show, Volume 1
Published: February 23, 2003
Pages: 178 - 181
Industry sectors: Medical & Biotech | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Micro & Bio Fluidics, Lab-on-Chip
ISBN: 0-9728422-0-9