KR100884764B1 - Micro valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microvalve which is provided with a plurality of beads in close contact with or separated from each other in accordance with the affinity with the fluid to the fluid passage to selectively open the fluid passage in accordance with the fluid temperature change.

To this end, the microvalve of the present invention is a microvalve for allowing or restricting the flow of a working fluid, the microvalve including a fluid supply portion to which a working fluid is supplied and a plurality of fluid supply portions formed at one side of the fluid supply portion so that the fluid from the fluid supply portion flows out. And a plurality of beads provided in close contact with the fluid passage inside the fluid supply and selectively opening the plurality of fluid passages, wherein the plurality of beads are any one of fluid temperature, salt concentration, and pH concentration. The affinity with the fluid is changed to selectively open each fluid passage through the property of being in close contact or separation with each other.

Microvalve, Bead, Fluid, Affinity, Hydrophilic, Hydrophobic

Description

Micro Valve {MICRO VALVE}

1 is a plan view of a microvalve according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. 1.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B 'of FIG.

Figure 4 is a photograph showing the characteristics of the beads in close contact or separation with each other in accordance with the change in affinity with the fluid with temperature changes.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views for explaining the action of the microvalve of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: fluid supply part

    11: Bead Guide

2: fluid passage

3: bead

4: fluid

The present invention relates to a microvalve, and more particularly to a microvalve having a plurality of beads closely contacted to or separated from each other according to an affinity with a fluid to selectively open the fluid passage according to a change in fluid temperature. It is about a valve.

Recent breakthroughs in micro-machining technology have enabled the development of multi-functional micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS).

These MEMS devices have many advantages in terms of size, cost and reliability and are being developed for a wide range of applications.

In particular, research into miniaturizing a fluid system and implementing it on a single chip is being conducted. In such a miniaturized fluid system, a microvalve for allowing or restricting a flow of a working fluid is used as a basic element.

Such micro valves include a passive valve that opens and closes due to a pressure difference, and a thermal valve that opens and closes the fluid passage while expanding the chamber by heating the chamber with a heater and contracting the chamber by natural cooling. It is developed and used in the form.

However, in the case of the passive valve, opening and closing by the pressure difference between both sides of the valve, it is difficult to control the opening and closing time of the valve and the micro flow rate of the working fluid.

In addition, the thermal valve has a disadvantage in that it is difficult to contract the chamber in a fluid system using a high temperature working fluid because the cooling of the chamber is dependent on natural cooling.

Accordingly, the development of a microvalve that operates sensitive to temperature is required.

An object of the present invention for improving the problems according to the prior art is provided with a plurality of beads in close contact with the fluid passage in close contact with or separated from the fluid by changing the affinity with the fluid in accordance with the temperature of the fluid, by changing the temperature of the fluid A microvalve is provided to selectively open the fluid passage.

The microvalve of the present invention for solving the above technical problem, in the microvalve for allowing or restricting the flow of the working fluid, the fluid supply portion to which the working fluid is supplied, and the fluid supply portion so that the fluid from the fluid supply flows out It comprises a plurality of fluid passages formed on one side and a plurality of beads provided in close contact with the fluid passages inside the fluid supply unit and selectively opening the plurality of fluid passages, wherein the plurality of beads are fluid temperature, salt concentration, The affinity with the fluid changes according to any one of the pH concentrations to selectively open each of the fluid passages through the property of being in close contact or separation from each other.

Here, the plurality of beads may be coated on the surface of the elastin-type polypeptide (Elastin-Like Polypeptide; ELP).

The invention will become more apparent through the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Hereinafter will be described in detail to enable those skilled in the art to easily understand and reproduce through embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a plan view of a microvalve according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B ′ of FIG. 1.

1 to 3, the present invention relates to a microvalve for allowing or restricting the flow of a working fluid, comprising a fluid supply 1, a plurality of fluid passages 2, and a plurality of beads 3. It is configured to include.

Here, the fluid supply part 1 is formed of a body such as a plate and is supplied with the working fluid 4 through the space part, and the plurality of fluid passages 2 are provided with a fluid supply part so that the fluid from the fluid supply part 1 flows out. It is formed on one side of 1).

In this case, the shape of the fluid supply unit 1 and the fluid passage 2 and the position of the fluid passage 2 are not limited thereto and may be modified through various embodiments.

In addition, the plurality of beads 3 are provided in close contact with the fluid passage 2 inside the fluid supply unit 1 to selectively open the plurality of fluid passages 2, and the beads 3 are disposed below the fluid passage 2. The bead guide 11 is formed in the fluid supply unit 1 so as not to deviate from.

Here, it is preferable that the plurality of beads 3 have a property that the affinity with the fluid changes according to the temperature applied to the fluid so as to be in close contact with or separated from each other.

In this case, the plurality of beads are preferably coated with an elastin-type polypeptide showing hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity according to the temperature change of water.

In the embodiment of the present invention, it is described that the affinity between the fluid and the fluid is changed according to the temperature of the fluid, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the affinity with the fluid varies according to the salt concentration or the pH concentration. You can use the principle.

Figure 4 is a photograph showing the characteristics of the beads are in close contact or separation with each other according to the change in affinity with the fluid with temperature changes.

Referring to FIG. 4, when the temperature of the fluid is lower than or equal to a certain temperature, the beads have a high affinity with the fluid and thus remain separated from each other. When the fluid is heated to make the temperature of the fluid higher than or equal to the predetermined temperature, the beads may be in contact with the fluid. The affinity is lowered to show a property of separating from the fluid close to the beads.

Thereafter, when the fluid is cooled again, the affinity between the beads and the fluid increases, so that the plurality of beads are separated from each other. When the fluid is heated again and the fluid is above a certain temperature, the plurality of beads closely adhere to each other.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating the action of the microvalve of the present invention, and are taken along line AA ′ of FIG. 1.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a microvalve showing the case where the temperature of the fluid is below a predetermined temperature, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the microvalve showing the case where the temperature of the fluid is above a certain temperature.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the temperature of the fluid is below a certain temperature, for example, when the temperature of the water is below a certain temperature, the plurality of beads 3 may be hydrophilic with water. Accordingly, each bead having a high affinity for water does not move in position and keeps the fluid passage 2 closed.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the temperature of the water exceeds a certain temperature, the plurality of beads 3 exhibit hydrophobicity with the water, and thus, each of the beads that are closing the fluid passage 2 by the repulsive force with the water is mutually oriented. Close contact.

As a result, the fluid passage is opened as the positional movement of the beads closing the fluid passage 2 occurs.

Thereafter, when the temperature of the water is lowered below a certain temperature, the plurality of beads show hydrophilicity with water, and each bead is separated again to find its original position, thereby closing the fluid passage 2 as shown in FIG. 4.

An object of the present invention for improving the problems according to the prior art is provided with a plurality of beads in close contact with the fluid passage in close contact with or separated from the fluid by changing the affinity with the fluid in accordance with the temperature of the fluid, by changing the temperature of the fluid By selectively opening the fluid passage, there is an advantage that the valve opening and closing control and the fine flow rate control is easy by opening and closing the valve through the temperature control of the fluid.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many different and obvious modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the invention from this description. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be construed by the claims described to include many such variations.

Claims (3)

A microvalve for allowing or restricting the flow of a working fluid, A fluid supply part 1 to which a working fluid is supplied, A plurality of fluid passages (2) formed at one side of the fluid supply portion so that fluid from the fluid supply portion flows out; It comprises a plurality of beads (3) provided in close contact with the fluid passages inside the fluid supply and selectively open the plurality of fluid passages, The plurality of beads (3) is a microvalve, characterized in that selectively opening the defrost fluid passage through the characteristic that the affinity with the fluid changes depending on any one of the fluid temperature or salt concentration or pH concentration to be in close contact or separation. delete The method of claim 1, The plurality of beads (3) is a microvalve characterized in that the surface is coated with an elastin-type polypeptide.

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