Theoretical, Experimental and Numerical Investigation on Pressure Characteristics of a New Viscous Micropump Using Double-Circular Flows

In the present paper, a new viscous micropump using double-circular flows is proposed. Its pressure characteristics are investigated by using a theoretical analysis, a model experiment and a numerical simulation. In the theoretical analysis, the two-dimensional lubrication theory for a journal bearing with infinite length is adopted. In the model experiment, the low Reynolds number flow in practical micropumps is realized by using glycerin as working fluid, and a centimeter-scale (not micrometer-scale) model pump is examined. In the numerical simulation, the SIMPLE method is used to obtain steady-state solutions. With respect to the pressure characteristics, the theoretical results show good agreements with the experimental and the numerical ones quantitatively. The pressure at zero flow rate obtained is quite larger than that of an existing viscous micropump.