Getting Started

TTP Ventus offers a Disc Pump Evaluation Kit (see our products page) containing everything that you need to get up and running. The Evaluation Kit is suitable for laboratory testing, proof-of-concept and product prototyping, and enables control of the pump output in a variety of ways to suit your application. These are configurable using a PC application provided with the Evaluation Kit.

Constant Power Control
Disc Pump is driven at constant electrical power. This setting is recommended for general use.

Constant Pressure Control
With its onboard pressure sensor connected to the pneumatic system, the drive PCB adjusts the Disc Pump™ power to maintain a target pressure set-point. In most applications, pressure can be held with a precision better than ±0.1 mbar without the need for dampers, baffles or accumulators. Note that in pressure control mode the maximum power is limited by the PCB, meaning that only target pressures within the normal operating range can be achieved.

Analogue Power Control
Disc Pump™ power is controlled via a 0-3 VDC analogue input to the drive PCB, which maps to 0 - 100% power output. This mode is useful where the pump is being used as part of a closed-loop control system -- for example, where integrated with your own development platform.

Software Control
As an alternative to using the PC application software provided with the Evaluation Kit, you can connect to the drive PCB using a serial link and send commands directly to the drive PCB from your own software.

For help setting up and running your Evaluation Kit please see our video guide below and the electronic copy of the manual supplied with the kit. For any unanswered questions, please contact us at support@ttpventus.com.

Disc Pump Evaluation Kit: How To video

See more videos from TTP Ventus on Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/ttpventus

Downloads

Microfluidics
Application note covering pressure-driven flow, aspiration and dispense, and liquid-in-liquid droplet generation.

AN002: Microfluidics Application Note

Evaluation PCB Communications Guide
Technical guide covering the serial communications protocol that you can use to control the Evaluation Kit PCB from your own software.

TG002: Serial Communications Guide

Mechanical STEP file
Download a mechanical STEP file of our BL Series pumps (DP-S2-003 and DP-P2-004), for integration with your CAD package of choice.

Download STEP file

Disc Pump™ Materials List
A list of all materials used in Disc Pump is available upon request.

Request a copy of the Disc Pump™ Materials List

Disc Pump™ Drive Guide
Technical guide covering the basics of the lock-in circuit, including recommended drive waveforms, drive algorithms, and a reference circuit. We are also able to provide reference firmware.

Request a copy of AN001: Disc Pump™ Drive Guide

Evaluation Kit Manual and Software
The manual and application software for the Evaluation Kit are provided with the kit on a USB stick. Please contact us if you need a replacement copy.

Request a copy of the Manual and Software

FAQs

How can I drive Disc Pump™?
Disc Pump™ should be driven at its resonant frequency by a frequency-tracking circuit. The drive PCB provided with our Evaluation Kits uses a simple microprocessor to achieve this; other approaches are also possible. Note that PWM drives of the type commonly used to drive DC motors are not suitable for driving Disc Pump™.

Can I integrate Disc Pump™ drive circuit into my own PCB?
Yes. The recommended drive circuit will occupy a small area of your product PCB. Our Disc Pump™ Drive Guide (see Downloads section above) provides you with a reference circuit and guidance notes, and we are also able to provide reference firmware. Given the need to produce a custom board, this step typically follows a successful feasibility demonstration using our Evaluation Kit PCB.

How should I mount Disc Pump™?
Disc Pump™ can be mounted in any orientation. We recommend a ‘soft’ mounting for Disc Pump™. One way to achieve this is to plug the pump’s inlet and outlet ports into a compliant manifold block, providing both pneumatic connection and mechanical mounting. The pump can also be mounted using features provided on the pump body.

Should I use a filter with Disc Pump™?
We recommend the use of a filter with a pore size of 1.2μm or less in order to prevent the ingress of particulates that might otherwise limit the lifetime of the pump.

What do you mean by "SDC" and "PDC" Disc Pumps?
Disc Pump™ has two pumping chambers or cavities. An SDC ("Series Double Cavity") Disc Pump™ has these chambers arranged in series, so that the outlet from the first cavity feeds into the inlet to the second, allowing higher pressures to be generated. A PDC ("Parallel Double Cavity") has the inlets in common, and the outlets in common, allowing higher flows to be generated.

Can I convert an SDC Disc Pump™ to a PDC Disc Pump™?
The valves in SDC and PDC Disc Pumps are assembled differently to ensure that there is no net pressure difference between the two cavities in operation. We therefore recommend that you run them only in their intended configuration.

What is the working temperature range of Disc Pump™?
Our BL Series pumps are specified for a range of 5 - 40ºC. Our upcoming XP Series offers a wider termpature range of -25 to +55ºC. Disc Pump can be run outside this range (helped by its lack of sliding / rotating parts); please contact us if you would like to discuss further.

What is the working humidity range of Disc Pump™?
Disc Pumps have been tested from 5 – 95% humidity (non-condensing).

Can I drive a Disc Pump™ to its stall pressure?
Yes, the pump can be driven to its stall pressure ( i.e. maximum pressure or vacuum at zero flow) without damage. This is also known as "dead heading".

Will the pump restart against any pressure head?
Yes, the pump can restarted normally against any pressure head.

Can I connect multiple Disc Pumps in series or parallel?
Yes, pumps can connected in series (to generate more pressure) or parallel (to generate more flow) in the normal way.

Can Disc Pump™ be used to pump gasses other than air?
Yes, so long as the speed of sound in the gas (or gas mixture) is similar to that in air. Disc Pump’s performance depends on the speed of sound in the gas mixture being pumped and it has been designed to work optimally with air. Mixtures of gasses with a similar speed of sound can also be pumped, however the pump will not work well with e.g. pure helium.

Can Disc Pump™ be used to pump liquid?
Disc Pump™ operates directly on gas only, but can be used to pump or dispense liquid by applying gas pressure (sometimes called “pressure-driven flow” or “air over liquid"). Please download our microfluidics application note (see Downloads section above) for more information.

Is Disc Pump™ waterproof?
No. Disc Pump™ is not suitable to be washed, and if liquid is ingested into the pump it will stop working.

Is Disc Pump™ ROHS compliant?
Yes. Note that Disc Pump’s piezoelectric actuator contains lead titanium zirconium oxide (CAS number 12626-81-2), which is permitted under ROHS. As Disc Pump™ is a component, compliance with other directives (such as WEEE and the Machinery Directive) is the responsibility of the manufacturer of the end product.