Multiphase pump resistant to gas locking

Abstract

This invention provides a multiphase flow pump with anti-gas-clogging capability, belonging to the field of pumping device technology. Its purpose is to solve the technical problem that when a multiphase flow pump operates at high gas content, gas easily accumulates at the center of the impeller, forming gas blockage, leading to a sharp decline in pump performance or even failure. The multiphase flow pump includes: a pump body containing an impeller; a duct with its suction end near the impeller's flow-facing surface and its other end connected to a flexible regulating pipe section with an opening in the downstream direction; a regulating pipe connected to the pump body's outlet and containing the flexible pipe section; an regulating component acting on the middle of the flexible pipe section to adjust its cross-section; and a pressure-tapping pipe, one end located at the suction end and the other end connected to the regulating component. It utilizes the pressure change at the impeller center to drive the regulating component to change the cross-section of the flexible pipe section, forming an adaptive Venturi suction pressure differential and actively removing accumulated gas. This multiphase flow pump utilizes the pump's own fluid kinetic energy to construct an adaptive suction pressure differential, possessing the advantage of actively eliminating gas blockage and maintaining high-efficiency operation without the need for external energy.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of multiphase flow pump technology, and more specifically to a multiphase flow pump resistant to airlock. Background Technology

[0002] Multiphase flow pumps are key equipment used to transport two-phase (gas and liquid) or multiphase (gas, liquid, and solid) media. They are widely used in offshore oil extraction, onshore marginal oilfield mixed transportation, chemical reactor circulation, environmental wastewater treatment, and mine slurry transportation. Compared with ordinary single-phase centrifugal pumps, one of the most prominent challenges faced by multiphase flow pumps during operation is the "airlock" problem. Airlock refers to the phenomenon where, when the gas content in the transported medium exceeds a certain critical value, the gas, due to its much lower density than the liquid, undergoes significant radial separation under the centrifugal force field generated by the high-speed rotation of the impeller. The lighter gaseous components are continuously driven to the low-pressure area near the impeller hub and gradually accumulate, eventually forming a stable gas mass or gas pocket. This gas mass occupies the effective flow area of ​​the impeller channel, blocking the continuous intake of liquid, causing a sharp drop in pump head and efficiency, and in severe cases, even causing the pump to completely lose its transport capacity.

[0003] To address the aforementioned gas blockage problem, the industry has proposed several technical approaches. One approach involves installing a separate gas-liquid separator at the pump inlet. This separator utilizes principles such as gravity settling, cyclone separation, or baffle collision to pre-separate and discharge the gas before supplying it to the main pump as a rich liquid medium. While this approach effectively reduces the gas content entering the main pump, the separation equipment is bulky and expensive, and requires additional venting or reinjection systems. This significantly increases the complexity and footprint of the entire pumping system, limiting its application in space-constrained environments such as subsea platforms or downhole operations.

[0004] Another approach focuses on the pump's structure, modifying the geometry of the impeller and guide vanes to delay gas blockage. For example, reflux holes or balancing slots can be added to the blades, utilizing the static pressure difference between the impeller outlet and inlet to guide some of the high-pressure liquid back to the low-pressure area at the blade inlet, thus impacting and breaking up accumulated bubbles. Alternatively, short diversion blades or T-shaped blades can be added to the impeller flow channel to cut large bubbles and enhance local mixing of the gas and liquid phases. However, such passive structural improvements have limited adaptability to different gas content levels; when the inlet gas content exceeds a certain threshold, gas blockage remains difficult to avoid. Furthermore, some solutions involve evacuation channels on the pump body to remove accumulated gas, but these evacuation structures often rely on external vacuum sources or require the gas to be drawn to a lower pressure environment, leaving room for optimization in terms of evacuation power sources and system integration. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the technical problem that gas tends to accumulate at the center of the impeller and form airlocks when a multiphase flow pump operates at high gas content, leading to a sharp decline in pump performance or even failure, this invention provides an anti-airlock multiphase flow pump that utilizes the pump's own fluid kinetic energy to create an adaptive suction pressure difference. This pump has the advantage of actively eliminating airlocks and maintaining high-efficiency operation without the need for external energy.

[0006] The technical solution of this invention is: A multiphase flow pump with anti-gas lock includes: Pump body, which includes an impeller; The duct has an intake end at one end, which is close to and directly faces the frontal surface of the impeller. The regulating pipe is connected at one end to the outlet of the pump body, and the regulating pipe has at least one flexible section. An adjustment component is provided on the adjustment tube, the working end of the adjustment component is connected to the middle part of the flexible tube segment, and is used to adjust the cross-sectional area of ​​the flexible tube segment; The pressure tapping tube has one end located at the intake end and the other end connected to the adjustment assembly; The other end of the conduit is connected to the flexible tube segment, and the opening direction of this end of the conduit is set along the flow direction of the fluid inside the flexible tube segment.

[0007] Optionally, the adjustment component includes: A supporting structure is provided on the flexible pipe section; Multiple pressure plates are evenly distributed around the circumference of the flexible pipe section; Multiple adjusting cylinders are mounted on the support structure. The piston rod of each adjusting cylinder is connected to the pressure plate and is used to drive the pressure plate to press the flexible pipe section. An adjusting spring is provided between the pressure plate and the support structure, and the adjusting spring is used to reduce the extension amount of the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder; One end of the pressure tap is located on the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder, and the cylinder bodies of all the regulating cylinders are connected.

[0008] Optionally, the adjustment component further includes: The controller is a two-position three-way pilot slide valve, with its P port connected to the outlet of the pump body, its A port connected to the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder, and its T port connected to a low-pressure zone. A control cylinder, the cylinder body of which is connected to the end of the pressure tapping tube, and its piston which is inserted into the controller and connected to one end of the slide valve; A reset spring is located inside the controller and at the other end of the slide valve.

[0009] Optionally, when the pressure inside the pressure tapping tube is greater than the first threshold, the P port is connected to the A port, and the high-pressure fluid drives the regulating cylinder to expand the cross-section of the flexible tube section. When the pressure inside the pressure-sensing tube is lower than the second threshold, the T port is connected to the A port, and the adjusting spring drives the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder to contract, thereby reducing the cross-section of the flexible tube section.

[0010] Optionally, the T-port is connected to the water inlet of the pump body.

[0011] Optionally, the regulating pipe includes rigid pipe sections disposed at both ends of the flexible pipe section, and the two ends of the supporting structure are disposed on the two rigid pipe sections.

[0012] Optionally, the support structure includes: Two clamps are respectively fitted onto the two sections of the rigid pipe; Multiple support rods, which are L-shaped structures, with one end of each support rod fixed to the clamp; Multiple support plates are distributed around the circumference of the flexible pipe section, and the two ends of the support plates are respectively connected to the ends of the two support rods; The cylinder body of the regulating cylinder is fixedly mounted on the support plate.

[0013] Optionally, the pressure plate is provided with a guide rod, the piston of the adjusting cylinder is connected to the end of the guide rod, and the guide rod slides through the support plate.

[0014] Optionally, the side of the pressure plate that contacts the flexible pipe section has an arc-shaped surface structure.

[0015] Optionally, the suction end of the conduit has a flared structure, and the other end of the conduit has a beveled cut, the cut surface of which is parallel to the fluid flow direction within the flexible tube segment.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This technical solution places one end of the pressure tapping pipe at the intake end where gas tends to accumulate in the center of the impeller, and connects the other end to the regulating component. It uses the static pressure fluctuations caused by changes in the gas content in the central region of the impeller as a control signal to directly drive the regulating component to adjust the cross-sectional area of ​​the flexible section of the regulating pipe accordingly.

[0017] When the gas content increases and gas accumulates at the center of the impeller, causing the static pressure in that area to drop, the pressure tapping pipe transmits this low-pressure signal to the regulating component, triggering the pressure plate to squeeze the flexible tube section inward, reducing its cross-section. Based on the Venturi effect, a strong local low-pressure zone is formed inside the flexible tube section. This local low-pressure zone is connected to the gas accumulation zone at the center of the impeller through the duct, and a positive suction pressure difference is established between the two, so that the gas is actively drawn away.

[0018] Furthermore, when the gas content increases and gas blockage becomes more severe, the impeller center pressure decreases, triggering further contraction of the throat section. This intensifies the Venturi effect, increasing the suction pressure differential and creating a positive feedback mechanism where more severe gas blockage results in stronger suction, ensuring the strongest gas extraction capacity when most needed. Conversely, when operating conditions return to normal, the system automatically reduces suction intensity to avoid unnecessary energy loss. This characteristic allows the system to adapt to a wide range of gas content variations, exhibiting outstanding adaptability and operational stability in situations such as oilfield mixed transportation and chemical reactions where inlet gas content fluctuates drastically.

[0019] Once the gas is removed and the gas content returns to normal, the static pressure at the center of the impeller rises, the regulating component reverses its action to restore the cross-section of the flexible pipe section to its original size, the suction effect weakens or stops, and the pump automatically returns to a high-efficiency operating state.

[0020] The entire detection, judgment and execution process is spontaneously driven by the fluid pressure changes of the pump system itself, without the need for any external power supply, sensors, controllers or human intervention. It has extremely high operational reliability and intrinsic safety, and is especially suitable for harsh working conditions such as remote oil and gas fields, subsea wellheads, chemical explosion-proof areas where power supply is difficult or there are strict restrictions on electrical equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0021] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a magnified schematic diagram of a portion of the impeller. Figure 3 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the regulating tube.

[0023] Figure label: 10. Catheter; 20. Regulating pipe; 21. Flexible pipe section; 22. Rigid pipe section; 30. Adjustment component; 31. Support structure; 32. Pressure plate; 33. Adjustment cylinder; 34. Adjustment spring; 35. Controller; 36. Control cylinder; 37. Guide rod; 311. Clamp; 312. Support rod; 313. Support plate; 40. Pressure tapping pipe; 50. Impeller. Detailed Implementation

[0024] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0025] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples; such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed. In addition, examples of various specific processes and materials are provided, but those skilled in the art will recognize the application of other processes and / or the use of other materials.

[0026] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] See Figure 1This embodiment discloses an anti-gas-clogging multiphase flow pump, including a pump body (not shown in the figure), a conduit 10, a regulating pipe 20, a regulating assembly 30, and a pressure-tapping pipe 40. The pump body includes an impeller 50, which transfers mechanical energy to the multiphase mixed medium flowing through its flow channel during rotation, thereby pressurizing and transporting the fluid. One end of the conduit 10 is a suction end, which is close to and directly faces the upstream surface of the impeller 50, so that when the impeller 50 rotates, it can directly face and capture the low-density gas phase components that accumulate in the central hub region of the impeller 50 due to centrifugal force. One end of the regulating pipe 20 is connected to the outlet of the pump body to receive the mainstream fluid discharged after pressurization by the pump body. The regulating pipe 20 has at least one flexible section that can undergo controllable elastic deformation under external radial force, thereby changing the geometry of its internal flow cross-section. An adjustment component 30 is mounted on the adjustment pipe 20. The active end of the adjustment component 30 contacts the central region of the flexible pipe section and is used to apply or release radial extrusion pressure to the flexible pipe section to actively adjust its cross-sectional area, thereby changing the fluid velocity and pressure distribution flowing through it. One end of the pressure-sensing pipe 40 is located at the intake end of the conduit 10 and is used to sense the static pressure fluctuations generated in the central hub region of the impeller 50 due to changes in the degree of gas accumulation. The other end of the pressure-sensing pipe 40 is connected to the adjustment component 30, transmitting the aforementioned static pressure fluctuations as a control signal to the adjustment component 30. The other end of the conduit 10 is connected to the flexible pipe section, and the opening direction of this end of the conduit 10 is set to be arranged along the flow direction of the fluid inside the flexible pipe section, so that the fluid at the outlet of the conduit 10 can be ejected in the direction of the mainstream flow in the main pipe.

[0029] In this embodiment, when the multiphase flow pump operates under high gas content conditions, a large amount of gas accumulates in the central hub region of the impeller 50, forming a local low-pressure zone. This low-pressure signal is transmitted to the regulating component 30 through the pressure tap 40, triggering the regulating component 30 to apply radial extrusion force to the flexible section of the regulating pipe 20, reducing its cross-sectional area. According to the Venturi effect and Bernoulli's principle, when the mainstream flow in the flexible section passes through this reduced cross-section, the flow velocity increases sharply, and the static pressure energy decreases accordingly, thus forming a local low-pressure zone inside the flexible section. Since one end of the conduit 10 opens into the gas accumulation zone in the center of the impeller 50, and the other end opens into this local low-pressure zone, a positive suction pressure difference is established between them. Driven by this pressure difference, the gas accumulated in the center of the impeller 50 is actively drawn into the conduit 10 and discharged downstream along with the mainstream flow. After the gas is effectively extracted, the gas content in the central area of ​​the impeller 50 decreases and the static pressure rises. This pressure change is fed back to the regulating component 30 through the pressure tapping pipe 40, which reduces or relieves the compression on the flexible pipe section, the cross-sectional area is restored and expanded, the flow resistance is reduced to the minimum, and the pump returns to a high-efficiency operating state.

[0030] In this technical solution, the system is driven entirely by the spontaneous changes in the fluid dynamics state within the pump system, without the need for any external energy source, sensor, or electronic controller 35 intervention, thus achieving passive adaptive adjustment.

[0031] In one specific embodiment: See Figure 3 The adjusting assembly 30 specifically includes a support structure 31, pressure plates 32, adjusting cylinders 33, and adjusting springs 34. The support structure 31 is fixedly mounted on the flexible pipe section, providing a stable installation foundation and load-bearing support for the entire adjusting assembly 30. Multiple pressure plates 32 are evenly distributed around the circumference of the flexible pipe section. The side of each pressure plate 32 facing the flexible pipe section is constructed to match the shape of the outer wall of that section, ensuring good surface contact with the outer wall of the flexible pipe section when pressure is applied. Multiple adjusting cylinders 33 are fixedly mounted on the support structure 31 and are correspondingly arranged with the multiple pressure plates 32. The piston rod of each adjusting cylinder 33 is connected to the corresponding pressure plate 32, driving the pressure plate 32 to reciprocate radially along the flexible pipe section to achieve compression or relaxation of the flexible pipe section. The adjusting spring 34 is located between the pressure plate 32 and the support structure 31, with one end abutting against the side of the pressure plate 32 away from the flexible pipe section, and the other end abutting against the support structure 31. The adjusting spring 34 always applies an elastic thrust pointing towards the axis of the flexible pipe section to the pressure plate 32, thereby driving the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder 33 to tend to contract, that is, to provide a pre-tightening force to the pressure plate 32 to press the flexible pipe section.

[0032] One end of the pressure tapping pipe 40 is located on the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder 33, and the cylinder bodies of all the regulating cylinders 33 are interconnected through pipelines to form a common pressure chamber. When the pressure tapping pipe 40 introduces the pressure signal of the central region of the impeller 50 into this common pressure chamber, the pressure will simultaneously act on the back of the pistons of all the regulating cylinders 33. When the pressure at the center of the impeller 50 decreases due to gas accumulation, the pressure in the common pressure chamber decreases accordingly. At this time, the fluid pressure acting on the back of the piston is insufficient to overcome the elastic thrust of the regulating spring 34. The regulating spring 34 pushes the pressure plate 32 and the piston rod to move in the axial direction, and the pressure plate 32 squeezes the flexible tube section inward, reducing its cross-sectional area. When the gas is extracted and the pressure at the center of the impeller 50 rises again, the pressure signal transmitted by the pressure tapping pipe 40 increases, the fluid pressure in the common pressure chamber rises, and acts on the back of the piston, generating a thrust that overcomes the elastic force of the regulating spring 34, pushing the piston rod outward, and thus causing the pressure plate 32 to relax its squeezing of the flexible tube section, allowing its cross-sectional area to expand and recover.

[0033] In this embodiment, the direct confrontation and balance between hydrostatic pressure and the elastic force of the adjusting spring 34 achieves stepless and continuous adjustment of the cross-sectional area of ​​the flexible pipe section, with direct response and no lag. Furthermore, the interconnected cylinder bodies of all adjusting cylinders 33 form a common pressure chamber, ensuring that the driving force borne by each pressure plate 32 is theoretically equal, which is beneficial for achieving synchronous compression and avoiding irregular deformation of the flexible pipe section due to uneven force. Secondly, the entire adjustment process requires no external power or control, relying entirely on the pressure fluctuations of the pump system itself as the driving force. The structure is compact, and the maintenance cost is extremely low, making it particularly suitable for remote, unattended, or explosion-proof applications in oil and gas fields.

[0034] In another specific embodiment: The regulating assembly 30 further includes a controller 35, a control cylinder 36, and a reset spring (not shown in the figure) to form a pilot-operated hydraulic amplification circuit to solve the problem of insufficient driving force when the center pressure signal of the impeller 50 is weak and the load on the actuator is large.

[0035] The controller 35 is specifically a two-position three-way pilot spool valve. The controller 35 has three fluid interfaces: P port, A port, and T port. The P port is connected to the pump outlet via a high-pressure lead pipe to introduce high-pressure fluid from the pump outlet as a power source; the A port is connected to the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder 33 to supply high-pressure fluid to or discharge fluid from the regulating cylinder 33; and the T port is connected to a low-pressure zone to release fluid back to the low-pressure side to complete the working cycle. The cylinder body of the control cylinder 36 is connected to the end of the pressure-sensing pipe 40, and a piston is installed inside. This piston is mechanically connected to one end of the spool valve core of the controller 35, allowing the displacement of the control cylinder 36 piston under the pressure signal from the pressure-sensing pipe 40 to directly drive the spool valve core to produce a corresponding displacement. A return spring is located inside the controller 35 and abuts against the other end of the spool valve core. Its elastic force is opposite to the thrust direction of the control cylinder 36 piston, and it is used to push the spool valve core to reset when the pressure signal from the pressure-sensing pipe 40 weakens.

[0036] The working logic of this embodiment is as follows: When the pump operates under low gas content conditions, the static pressure in the central area of ​​the impeller 50 is high, that is, the pressure in the pressure tapping pipe 40 is greater than the preset first threshold. The higher signal pressure acts on the piston of the control cylinder 36, generating a thrust sufficient to overcome the elastic force of the return spring. This thrust pushes the spool valve to the first working position. In this working position, the P port and A port of the controller 35 are connected, while the T port is closed. At this time, the high-pressure fluid from the pump outlet enters the cylinder of the regulating cylinder 33 through the P port and A port. The high-pressure fluid acts on the back of the piston of the regulating cylinder 33, generating a strong thrust sufficient to overcome the elastic force of the regulating spring 34, pushing the piston rod outward, and then relaxing the compression of the flexible pipe section through the pressure plate 32, expanding its cross-sectional area to the normal state, minimizing the mainstream flow resistance, and enabling the pump to operate efficiently.

[0037] When the pump operates under high gas content conditions, a large amount of gas accumulates in the central region of the impeller 50, causing a significant drop in static pressure in this region. Specifically, when the pressure in the pressure tap 40 falls below the preset second threshold, the fluid thrust on the piston of the control cylinder 36 is insufficient to resist the elastic force of the return spring. Driven by the return spring, the spool valve is pushed to the second working position. In this position, ports A and T of the controller 35 are connected, while port P is closed. At this time, the high-pressure fluid in the regulating cylinder 33 is released to the low-pressure area through ports A and T, causing a rapid drop in cylinder pressure. The elastic thrust of the regulating spring 34 regains dominance, pushing the piston rod to contract, which in turn squeezes the flexible tube section inward through the pressure plate 32, significantly reducing its cross-sectional area. This creates a strong Venturi effect within the flexible tube section, achieving a powerful suction of the gas accumulated in the center of the impeller 50.

[0038] Furthermore, this embodiment utilizes the pressure gradient between two types of low-pressure zones to achieve adaptive suction. When the gas content increases, the static pressure in the central region of impeller 50 decreases due to gas accumulation. Simultaneously, this pressure drop signal triggers the regulating component 30 through the pressure tap 40 to apply pressure to the flexible pipe section, resulting in a stronger local low-pressure zone within the flexible pipe section due to the Venturi effect. Since the pressure drop caused by the Venturi effect is significantly greater than the pressure drop caused by gas accumulation in the center of impeller 50, a positive suction pressure differential can always be maintained between the central region of impeller 50 and the throat of the flexible pipe section. Gas is forcibly drawn from the relatively high-pressure center of impeller 50 to the relatively low-pressure throat and discharged with the mainstream. This ensures that the suction effect automatically increases under gas blockage conditions and automatically weakens or stops under normal conditions, achieving passive adaptive regulation based entirely on fluid dynamics principles.

[0039] In this embodiment, the energy driving the main actuator (regulating cylinder 33) comes from the high-pressure fluid at the pump outlet, while the weak pressure signal at the center of the impeller 50 is only used to drive a small control cylinder 36 to switch the working position of the pilot slide valve. This significantly reduces the requirements for the signal source's driving capability, enabling the system to operate reliably even under conditions of high-lift pumps or high frictional resistance in the regulating mechanism. Furthermore, by appropriately selecting the area of ​​the control cylinder 36, the stiffness of the return spring, and the stroke and cover form of the slide valve core, the first and second thresholds can be precisely set, achieving graded or on / off responses to airlock conditions. Simultaneously, this embodiment features a purely mechanical structure, without introducing any electronic components; all control and execution are accomplished by fluid pressure and mechanical springs, maintaining high reliability and intrinsic safety of the system in harsh industrial environments.

[0040] In another specific embodiment: To further optimize system integration and simplify piping layout, the T-port on controller 35 is configured to connect directly to the pump body's inlet. Since the pump body's inlet area is under relatively low static pressure during normal operation, using it as a low-pressure venting zone is a convenient and effective choice. Simultaneously, there is no need to direct the vented fluid to an external tank or the environment, forming a completely closed internal circulation hydraulic circuit, avoiding the risk of media leakage and environmental pollution. Furthermore, it shortens the length of the venting pipeline, reduces pressure loss along the flow path, facilitates the rapid reset of the piston in regulating cylinder 33, and improves the system's response speed.

[0041] In another specific embodiment: The regulating pipe 20 further includes rigid pipe sections 22 located at both ends of the flexible pipe section. These rigid pipe sections 22 are made of a material with sufficient rigidity, such as metal or rigid engineering plastic, for reliable connection to the pump outlet and downstream pipeline, and for withstanding the installation stress and internal fluid pressure of the piping system. The two ends of the support structure 31 are fixed to the two rigid pipe sections 22, respectively, rather than acting directly on the flexible pipe section itself.

[0042] By directly transmitting the reaction force generated by the support structure 31 and the adjustment component 30 during the adjustment process to the rigid pipe section 22, the pulling and twisting at the connection points at both ends of the flexible pipe section are avoided, thus protecting the sealing integrity and fatigue life of the flexible pipe section. At the same time, a stable installation reference is provided for the support structure 31, ensuring the positional accuracy and motion guidance accuracy of moving parts such as the pressure plate 32 and the adjustment cylinder 33, thereby guaranteeing the consistency and repeatability of the extrusion action on the flexible pipe section.

[0043] In another specific embodiment: The support structure 31 specifically includes clamps 311, support rods 312, and support plates 313. Two clamps 311 are respectively fitted and fastened to the outer circumferential surfaces of the two rigid pipe sections 22, serving as the root fixing points of the entire support structure 31. The support rods 312 have an L-shaped structure, with one end fixedly connected to the clamps 311, and the other end extending towards the middle region of the flexible pipe section in a direction parallel to the axis of the adjusting pipe 20. Multiple support rods 312 are fixed on each clamp 311, and all support rods 312 are evenly distributed along the circumference. Multiple support plates 313 are distributed around one side of the outer circumference of the flexible pipe section, and the two ends of each support plate 313 are respectively fixedly connected to the ends of the two support rods 312 from the clamps 311 on the two rigid pipe sections 22, thereby building a stable cage-like frame around the flexible pipe section that does not contact the outer wall of the flexible pipe section. The cylinder body of the adjusting cylinder 33 is fixedly installed on the surface of the support plate 313 facing away from the flexible pipe section.

[0044] This embodiment constructs a rigid load-bearing frame independent of the flexible pipe segment. All adjustment reactions are transmitted to the rigid pipe segment 22 through the support rod 312 and clamp 311. The flexible pipe segment only bears the uniform radial compressive force and is not subjected to any axial tensile or torsional moment, which greatly improves the stress state of the flexible pipe segment. Furthermore, the design of the L-shaped support rod 312 effectively avoids the deformation space of the flexible pipe segment during radial contraction and expansion, thus preventing structural interference.

[0045] In another specific embodiment: A guide rod 37 is fixedly mounted on the pressure plate 32, extending vertically outward from the side of the pressure plate 32 away from the flexible tube section. The piston rod end of the adjusting cylinder 33 is connected to the end of the guide rod 37 via a connecting plate. Specifically, the piston rod end of the adjusting cylinder 33 is fixed to one end of the connecting plate, and the end of the guide rod 37 is fixed to the other end of the connecting plate, with the guide rod 37 and the adjusting cylinder 33 located on the same side of the connecting plate. Furthermore, the rod body of the guide rod 37 slides through a pre-machined guide hole in the support plate 313, forming a radial linear motion pair.

[0046] In this embodiment, the precise fit between the guide rod 37 and the guide hole on the support plate 313 provides accurate guidance for the radial movement of the pressure plate 32, ensuring that the pressure plate 32 always maintains a positive alignment with the outer wall of the flexible tube section during movement, and preventing the pressure plate 32 from deflecting or jamming due to slight misalignment of the piston rod. Furthermore, the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder 33 is primarily responsible for transmitting axial driving force, while radial positioning and anti-torsional torque are borne by the guide rod 37 and the guide hole.

[0047] In another specific embodiment: The side of the pressure plate 32 that contacts the flexible pipe section is constructed as an arc-shaped surface structure. The radius of curvature of the arc-shaped surface matches the outer diameter of the flexible pipe section in its natural state, or matches the outer contour of the flexible pipe section when it is compressed to the target minimum cross section.

[0048] In this embodiment, the arc-shaped surface structure increases the effective contact area between the pressure plate 32 and the outer wall of the flexible pipe section, distributing the compressive force evenly on the surface of the flexible pipe section. This avoids stress concentration caused by local point or line contact, effectively preventing the flexible pipe section from being crushed, torn, or permanently deformed. Simultaneously, when multiple pressure plates 32 move synchronously towards their limit positions under the drive of the adjusting component 30, the arc-shaped surfaces of all pressure plates 32 together form an approximately complete cylindrical surface. This cylindrical surface uniformly compresses the flexible pipe section to a preset minimum diameter and forms a smooth, rounded Venturi throat flow channel within it. This minimizes flow resistance and energy loss caused by irregular cross-sectional shapes, ensuring the stability and efficiency of the Venturi effect.

[0049] In another specific embodiment: See Figure 3 The intake end of the conduit 10 is constructed as a flared structure, meaning that its opening area gradually increases in the direction away from the conduit 10. The other end of the conduit 10, that is, the end connected to the flexible tube segment, has an opening constructed as a slanted cut shape, the cross-section of which is parallel or approximately parallel to the flow direction of the mainstream fluid in the flexible tube segment.

[0050] In this embodiment, the flared structure at the intake end effectively reduces the local flow resistance when gas enters the conduit 10, and plays a certain role in converging and guiding the gas in the central region of the impeller 50, expanding the effective intake range and improving gas capture efficiency. Furthermore, when the conduit 10 is flat against the inner wall of the flexible pipe section, the beveled design at its outlet end utilizes the Bernoulli effect generated when the mainstream fluid passes over the bevel to actively form an auxiliary low-pressure zone at the bevel, thereby enhancing the gas suction capacity of the conduit 10. Simultaneously, the parallel arrangement of the beveled cut to the mainstream flow direction minimizes the disturbance and flow resistance caused by the outlet of the conduit 10 to the mainstream fluid, avoiding unnecessary pressure loss due to the conduit 10 extending into the pipe.

[0051] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of specific implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multiphase flow pump with anti-airlock properties, characterized in that, include: Pump body, which includes an impeller; The duct has an intake end at one end, which is close to and directly faces the frontal surface of the impeller. The regulating pipe is connected at one end to the outlet of the pump body, and the regulating pipe has at least one flexible section. An adjustment component is provided on the adjustment tube, the working end of the adjustment component is connected to the middle part of the flexible tube segment, and is used to adjust the cross-sectional area of ​​the flexible tube segment; The pressure tapping tube has one end located at the intake end and the other end connected to the adjustment assembly; The other end of the conduit is connected to the flexible tube segment, and the opening direction of this end of the conduit is set along the flow direction of the fluid inside the flexible tube segment.

2. The anti-airlock multiphase flow pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adjustment component includes: A supporting structure is provided on the flexible pipe section; Multiple pressure plates are evenly distributed around the circumference of the flexible pipe section; Multiple adjusting cylinders are mounted on the support structure. The piston rod of each adjusting cylinder is connected to the pressure plate and is used to drive the pressure plate to press the flexible pipe section. An adjusting spring is provided between the pressure plate and the support structure, and the adjusting spring is used to reduce the extension amount of the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder; One end of the pressure tap is located on the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder, and the cylinder bodies of all the regulating cylinders are connected.

3. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjustment component further includes: The controller is a two-position three-way pilot slide valve, with its P port connected to the outlet of the pump body, its A port connected to the cylinder body of the regulating cylinder, and its T port connected to a low-pressure zone. A control cylinder, the cylinder body of which is connected to the end of the pressure tapping tube, and its piston which is inserted into the controller and connected to one end of the slide valve; A reset spring is located inside the controller and at the other end of the slide valve.

4. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the pressure inside the pressure tapping tube is greater than the first threshold, the P port is connected to the A port, and the high-pressure fluid drives the regulating cylinder to expand the cross-section of the flexible tube section. When the pressure inside the pressure-sensing tube is lower than the second threshold, the T port is connected to the A port, and the adjusting spring drives the piston rod of the adjusting cylinder to contract, thereby reducing the cross-section of the flexible tube section.

5. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 3, characterized in that, The T-port is connected to the water inlet of the pump body.

6. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The regulating pipe includes rigid pipe sections at both ends of the flexible pipe section, and the two ends of the supporting structure are located on the two rigid pipe sections.

7. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 6, characterized in that, The support structure includes: Two clamps are respectively fitted onto the two sections of the rigid pipe; Multiple support rods, which are L-shaped structures, with one end of each support rod fixed to the clamp; Multiple support plates are distributed around the circumference of the flexible pipe section, and the two ends of the support plates are respectively connected to the ends of the two support rods; The cylinder body of the regulating cylinder is fixedly mounted on the support plate.

8. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pressure plate is provided with a guide rod, and the piston of the adjusting cylinder is connected to the end of the guide rod. The guide rod slides through the support plate.

9. The anti-gas-locking multiphase flow pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The side of the pressure plate that contacts the flexible pipe section has an arc-shaped structure.

10. The anti-gas-lock multiphase flow pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The suction end of the conduit has a flared structure, and the other end of the conduit has a beveled cut, the cut surface of which is parallel to the fluid flow direction in the flexible tube section.

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