Optimal design of a high dynamic actuator for diaphragm pumps

Diaphragm pumps present interests in various applications (artificial hearts, high reliability pumps for nuclear industry...). Nevertheless, they require alternative movements which become difficult to realize for high frequencies with classic movement transformations systems (e.g. cam). These types of applications have specific characteristics: - the mass of the diaphragm is negligible in comparison with the mobile part of the actuator; - high dynamics linear actuators are required. Additional constraints are specific to our application: - low cost; - high temperature environment. The paper presents a variable reluctance structure and describes the model and the optimization process used. A special attention will be paid to the shape optimization authorizing an important gain on the total mass. Finite element simulations will validate the analytical optimization approach and the obtained results.