A collapsing bubble-based micropump for viscous liquids

This study numerically investigates a micropump mechanism driven by the collapse of a bubble near a perforated rigid plate. During collapse, a liquid jet forms toward the plate, and part of the jet flow passes through a truncated cone hole, transporting liquid from one side to the other — offering a micropump with no moving parts and exceptionally rapid response time. Using the volume of fluid (VOF) method with a single-field Navier–Stokes formulation accounting for surface tension and viscosity, the study examines the effects of cone angle, standoff distance, plate thickness, and liquid viscosity on pumping performance. Results show that increasing any of these parameters reduces the net mass pumped through the hole.