Bidirectional electrohydrodynamic pump with high symmetrical performance and its application to a tube actuator

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. Vol. 332; p. 113168
• Main Authors: Mao, Zebing, Iizuka, Takeshi, Maeda, Shingo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 01.12.2021; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Actuators; Bidirectional; Copper; Copper electrodes; Electrohydrodynamic pump; Electrohydrodynamics; Fluid dynamics; Heat transfer; HFE 7300; Pressure; Pumps; Symmetrical performance; Electrohydrodynamic pump; Symmetrical performance; Bidirectional; HFE 7300; Copper electrodes
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2021.113168

•A twistable and bendable bidirectional electrohydrodynamic pump was proposed using the digital fabrication method.•An EHD pump with a simple interdigital structure was designed to reduce the pressure difference in two directions.•The bidirectional performance of the electrohydrodynamic pump was characterized and compared with the normal one. (a) Schematic of flexible EHD pump. (b) Pump with straight state. (c)(d) Pump with flexible state. [Display omitted] The previously reported electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pumps can generate bidirectional flow with asymmetrical performance in two directions. This configuration causes difficulty to control the system that the EHD pump and soft actuators are integrated. This paper proposes a new design with a simple structure to reduce the pressure difference in the two directions of the EHD pump. The EHD pump in this work consists of a flexible cover and base, copper electrodes, and soft fluidic channels, which indicates the flexible properties. We investigate the pressure performance of this proposed EHD pump. Besides, the structure of the EHD pump is optimized in terms of the reduction of pressure difference. Finally, we apply this new pump to drive the soft tube actuator.