Optimal design and operation on convergent-divergent nozzle type no-moving-part valves (NMPV) in microchannel

The no-moving-part valve (NMPV) pump design has been proven to be a better micro pump design for its easier fabrication, cost-effective and no destroying flow particle. Previous literatures often used a diffuser design with a divergent angle for NMPV studies. Different from previous studies, we apply a convergent-divergent (C-D) nozzle with convergent half angle θ1 and divergent half angle θ2 for NMPV design in this study. By using the dipole value (D_i^P) of current C-D nozzle type NMPV as an objective function in "Design of Experiments" (DOE) and "Response Surface Modeling" (RSM) optimization methods, C-D nozzle type NMPV with convergent half angles near θ1 = 46° ∼54° and divergent half angles θ2 = 113° ∼116° has a maximum peak region for D _i^P value. It is found that the optimal design with the convergent half angle of θ1 = 60° and the divergent half angle of θ2 = 110°. The operational Reynolds numbers raging from 20 to 30 are suggested for the optimal design and operation condition for the current C-D nozzle type NMPV. It is also verified that the C-D nozzle type NMPV pump design has a better performance than the typical diffuser type NMPV pump design. These findings would be useful to the design and operation for C-D nozzle type NMPV micropump.