Experiment on dual-chamber parallel piezoelectric stack pump for electrorheological fluids

In order to achieve the accurate delivery for electro rheological (ER) fluids, dual chamber parallel piezoelectric stack pump (PESP) is designed. Firstly, working principle of dual chamber parallel PESP is analyzed, and its output performance is discussed in different working modes. Next, based on the characteristic of piezoelectric stack that the output pressure is large but the volume change is little, a new passive check valve is designed. According to finite element analysis of flow field in chamber, asymmetric flow channel is adopted. Finally, the prototype pump is manufactured, and the output performance is tested in both synchronous mode and asynchronous mode. As is shown in the experimental result, comparing with single chamber pump, dual chamber parallel piezoelectric stack pump cannot improve output pressure, but it can raise the output flow rate. In synchronous mode, the output flow rate of dual chamber has been increased to twice as compared with single chamber, but pulsation is large, while in asynchronous mode the output flow rate of dual chamber has been increased to three times as compared with single chamber and pulsation is little.