A numerical feasibility study on using piezoelectric pumps as dosing pumps by implementing fluid-structure interaction

In this paper, the performance of a piezoelectric pump is numerically simulated by considering the main equations of fluid flow, elastic diaphragm and electric field. The simulation is conducted using the two-way fluid-structure interaction approach, as the fluid and structure affect each other in performance of piezoelectric pumps. The simulation results are compared with experimental results and the maximum error in steady analysis is obtained 9.66% and in un steady analysis is 8.95%. Due to the good time response and the possibility of flow control by piezoelectric pumps, the feasibility of using piezoelectric pumps as dosing pumps is investigated. The simulation results showed that the designed piezoelectric pump could be used as a dosing pump; so that if the pilot gas pressure reducing station operates at its maximum capacity (10,000 cubic meters per hour), the proposed pump will inject the required odorant at a voltage of 200 volts and a frequency of 0.167 Hz. The proposed odorizer system, in addition to the possibility of precise control of the amount of injected odor, has a lower initial cost and operation cost than the present bypass system at the station.