The Multi Parallel Micro Pump consists of a stack of several micro pumps, which consists each of a piezo membrane and a valve to direct the flow. The prime functionality lies in the flexibility the current solution offers: if a higher flow is needed, more pumps can be added to be able to deliver that flow; which also helps in the robustness. For typical space applications expensive pumps are used, and due to redundancy reasons, added with a second back up. With for instance 20 micropumps placed in one stack, the loss of one single pump will not result in loss of functionality of the loop, but will lower the flow with 5%.
We currently have a full scale MPMP prototype which has demonstrated a mass flow of 500 mg/s which is sufficient to transport at least 20 watts of heat. The consortium aims to improve upon the design to transport at least 100 watts of heat away from a heat source, such as a CubeSat propulsion module, to a heat sink elsewhere in the satellite.
