According to examples of the disclosure there is provided a heat-driven pumping system and a method of pumping. The heat-driven pumping system comprises a closed circuit for a first liquid. The closed circuit comprises a vaporization portion. The vaporization portion is configured to receive heat from an external source. The vaporization portion is configured to cause vaporization of first liquid within the vaporization portion. Vaporization of first liquid within the vaporization portion thereby increases an amount of gas in the closed circuit. The closed circuit is sealed such that the increase in the amount of gas increases a pressure exerted on the first liquid. The heat-driven pumping system comprises a transfer means. The transfer means is configured to convert the pressure exerted on the first liquid into a pumping force. The pumping force is transferred to a pumping vessel for pumping a second liquid.

The invention relates to a system and an implementation method for pumping a fluid, the system comprising: a pump comprising a flexible membrane which has two opposing surfaces, the membrane comprising a spatially rotating permanent magnetization structure, a rigid support means to which at least a portion of the lower surface of the membrane is attached, a source of a magnetic field which is capable of generating a magnetic drive field at the location of the membrane, the magnetic drive field having a substantially homogeneous orientation.

A fluid pump for pumping a fluid from an inlet toward an outlet comprises a pump body, a pump diaphragm, and a valve seat. The pump body has a first opening and a second opening. The pump diaphragm is attached to the pump body and forms a pump chamber between the pump body and the pump diaphragm. The pump chamber is fluidly connected to the inlet by the first opening and to the outlet by the second opening. The valve seat is disposed inside the pump chamber and around the second opening. The valve seat protrudes with an undeformed height from the second opening into the pump chamber in a direction toward the pump diaphragm. The valve seat has an elastic body and a gasket with a sealing surface. The pump diaphragm is deflectable and is adapted to open and close a fluidic pathway of the outlet by moving into and out of contact with the valve seat.

A pump includes a pressure chamber that generates pressure oscillation occurring from the center of the pressure chamber to an outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber when viewed in plan view in a thickness direction. The pump includes a vibrating plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in the thickness direction and that is displaced in the thickness direction and a top plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in a direction opposite to the direction in which the vibrating plate portion faces the pressure chamber. The vibrating plate portion has a first inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber. The top plate portion has an outlet port that is open at a center portion of the pressure chamber and a second inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber.

Disclosed is a valve-less micro pump configuration that includes plural micro pump elements, each including a pump body having a compartmentalized pump chamber, with plural unobstructed inlet ports and outlet ports and a plurality of membranes disposed in the pump chamber to provide compartments. The membranes are anchored between opposing walls of the pump body and carry electrodes disposed on opposing surfaces of the membranes and walls of the pump body.

A pump device for a water-conducting domestic appliance, such as a washing machine or a dishwasher, has a pump chamber with at least two inlets, and has multiple actuators on or in the pump chamber for a liquid-pumping operation in at least one direction. At least one sensor is provided on or in the pump chamber for determining constituents and properties of the liquid in the pump chamber. A storage chamber is connected to an inlet of the pump chamber and contains additives or analytes for the liquid.

An apparatus body heat dissipation device includes an apparatus case, at least one plate body and at least one drive member. The apparatus case has at least one first opening and at least one second opening and a receiving space. The plate body is disposed in the receiving space. The drive member serves to drive the plate body to move within the receiving space to produce an air convection effect between the interior of the apparatus case and the ambient surrounding air of the apparatus case so that the air convection in the limited space of the apparatus body can be effectively enhanced to greatly enhance the heat dissipation efficiency.

A pump includes a pressure chamber that generates pressure oscillation occurring from the center of the pressure chamber to an outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber when viewed in plan view in a thickness direction. The pump includes a vibrating plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in the thickness direction and that is displaced in the thickness direction and a top plate portion that faces the pressure chamber in a direction opposite to the direction in which the vibrating plate portion faces the pressure chamber. The vibrating plate portion has a first inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber. The top plate portion has an outlet port that is open at a center portion of the pressure chamber and a second inlet port that is open at the outer peripheral portion of the pressure chamber.

A fluid control device includes a piezoelectric actuator and a deformable substrate. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element and a vibration plate. The piezoelectric element is attached on a first surface of the vibration plate and is subjected to deformation in response to an applied voltage. The vibration plate is subjected to a curvy vibration in response to the deformation of the piezoelectric element. A bulge is formed on a second surface of the vibration plate. The deformable substrate includes a flexible plate and a communication plate stacked on each other. A synchronously-deformed structure is defined by the flexible plate and the communication plate. The deformable substrate is bent in the direction away from the vibration plate. There is a specified depth maintained between the flexible plate and the bulge of the vibration plate. The flexible plate includes a movable part corresponding to the bulge of vibration plate.

An active cooling system includes at least one cooling element that has a vent therein. The active cooling element is in communication with a fluid. The cooling element(s) are actuated to vibrate to drive the fluid toward a heat-generating structure and to alternately open and close at least one virtual valve corresponding to the vent. The virtual valve is open for a low flow resistance and closed for a high flow resistance. The vent remains physically open when the virtual valve is closed.