High Pressure Plunger Pumps and Use of High Pressure Plunger Pumps

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve housing (4) having at least one plunger assembly (3) having an actuating chamber (31) and a plunger (32) arranged for axial reciprocation within the actuating chamber (31), and at least one first control valve (5) and at least one second control valve (6) connected to a valve housing (4) having at least one high pressure line (41) and at least one low pressure line (42), the high pressure line (41) being sealably connected to the actuating chamber (31) via the first control valve (5) and the low pressure line (42) being sealably connected to the actuating chamber (31) via the second control valve (6). the valve housing (4) has a high-pressure connection (43) opening into a high-pressure line (41), at least one first control valve (5) and at least one second control valve (6) are drivable via a control unit (7) such that a fluid in a high-pressure state supplied via the high-pressure connection (43) of the valve housing (4) is supplied to the working chamber (31) and can be discharged via a low-pressure connection (61) of the at least one suction valve (6) after driving the plunger (32), and the at least one plunger (32) is connected to a generator (11) via a drive shaft.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a high pressure plunger pump according to the preamble of claim 1 and to the use of such a high pressure plunger pump. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, from DE 10 2016 124 422 A1 a typical high-pressure plunger pump is known.

[0003] Typical high-pressure plunger pumps are used to generate working pressures that reach 4000 bar. For this, they are equipped with one or more reciprocable plungers, each of which draws a given amount of fluid into the working chamber of the plunger pump via a control valve designed as a suction valve and expels it under high pressure through an outlet valve. The plungers are driven by a drive shaft, which may be driven by a drive device, for example an electric motor. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Such high pressure plunger pumps have proven to be reliable in practice.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to adapt the generic high-pressure plunger pump to further fields of application. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This object is achieved by a high-pressure plunger pump with the features of claim 1.

[0007] A high pressure plunger pump according to the present invention comprises at least one plunger arrangement having an actuation chamber and a plunger configured to reciprocate axially within the actuation chamber.

[0008] The high pressure plunger pump also includes at least one first control valve and at least one second control valve, the two control valves being connected to a valve housing having at least one high pressure line and at least one low pressure line.

[0009] The high pressure line is sealably connected to the working chamber via a first control valve. The low pressure line is sealably connected to the working chamber via a second control valve. The valve housing has a high pressure connection that opens into the high pressure line.

[0010] The at least one first control valve and the at least one second control valve are drivable via a control unit such that a fluid in a high pressure state supplied via a high pressure connection of the valve housing can be supplied to the working chamber with the first control valve open and discharged via a low pressure connection of the at least one second control valve after driving of the plunger, and the at least one plunger is connected to a generator via a drive shaft.

[0011] The high pressure plunger pump according to the invention allows the high pressure plunger pump to be used for energy recovery due to the design of the control valves as control valves that can be individually controlled via a control unit.

[0012] Alternatively or in addition to supplying fluid at a high pressure, control of the control valve of the present invention may be utilized to substantially reverse the operating mode of the high pressure plunger pump, in which case fluid at a high pressure may be supplied via a high pressure line to an actuating chamber of the high pressure plunger pump, thereby driving at least one plunger, which is connected via a drive shaft to a generator, via which at least a portion of the expansion energy generated during the depressurization process may be recovered.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least three, in particular five, plunger devices are provided, each having at least one plunger, each plunger corresponding to (or assigned to) a first control valve and a second control valve.

[0015] The arrangement of at least three plunger devices with individually controllable control valves allows for simple and reliable operation of a high-pressure plunger pump for driving an electrical generator.

[0016] According to another embodiment, the at least one first control valve and the at least one second control valve are operable by the controller as both an inlet valve and an outlet valve. The generator is preferably also operable as a motor.

[0017] This allows the high-pressure plunger pump to be used, for example, in a pressure regulation system, where the high-pressure plunger pump generates and supplies the required working pressure for the working fluid to a processing assembly, and then absorbs excess pressure from the processing assembly and converts the expansion energy into electrical energy instead of discharging the unused expansion energy to the outside via the exhaust valve.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment, the control valve can be pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically actuated.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit is connected to one or more sensors, each of which provides data on one or more operating parameters of the high pressure plunger pump, in particular the rotational position of the drive shaft, the fluid pressure in the high pressure line and / or the low pressure line.

[0020] Providing these operating parameters allows the controller to improve control of the control valve.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment, the control unit comprises at least one data interface for recording external operating parameter data, in particular of the processing assembly upstream of the high-pressure plunger pump.

[0022] Such external operating parameter data may be, for example, the system pressure of an upstream process.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the high pressure plunger pump, the high pressure plunger pump comprises a second plunger device having an actuation chamber and a plunger configured to reciprocate axially within the actuation chamber, and at least one pressure valve and at least one suction valve connected to a valve housing having at least one high pressure line and at least one low pressure line.

[0024] The high pressure line is sealably connected to the working chamber via a pressure valve, the low pressure line is sealably connected to the working chamber via an intake valve, and the at least one plunger is connected to a third drive shaft via the second drive shaft, and the third drive shaft is connected to the first drive shaft.

[0025] With a high pressure plunger pump of this design, the pressure of the working fluid can be increased in use by the second plunger device, whereby at least some or all of the energy for driving the plunger of the second plunger device is obtained from the expansion of high pressure working fluid introduced into the first plunger device, thereby driving the first drive shaft, and can be transmitted to the second drive shaft by connection via the third drive shaft.

[0026] In the use of the high pressure plunger pump according to the invention for pressure regulation in a fluid pressure processing assembly, the high pressure plunger pump is designed according to one of the preceding claims, and the high pressure plunger pump is connected to the processing assembly in such a way that in a pumping operation, the control valve is controlled via the controller such that at least one plunger is driven by a motor-driven drive shaft while the high pressure plunger pump supplies fluid to the processing assembly at a predetermined high pressure.

[0027] In motor operation of the high pressure plunger pump, fluid is supplied at a predetermined high pressure through a high pressure line and a control valve is controlled via a controller such that the drive shaft is driven by at least one plunger, while the drive shaft is connected to a generator to generate electricity.

[0028] In another use of the high pressure plunger pump for pressure control in a fluid pressure processing assembly, the high pressure plunger pump is designed as described above, and the high pressure plunger pump is connected to the processing assembly such that fluid is supplied to the high pressure plunger pump at a predetermined high pressure by the fluid pressure processing assembly via a high pressure line, and the control valve is controlled via the controller such that the drive shaft is driven by at least one plunger, while the drive shaft is connected to a generator to generate electricity.

[0029] Such a use may for example be provided as a replacement for a pressure relief valve, where the excess pressure in such a pressure relief valve is not utilized but is released to the outside, whereas the use of a high pressure plunger pump means that this excess pressure is utilized for energy recovery via the high pressure plunger pump. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric view of an energy recovery device including a high pressure plunger pump. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a plunger device provided with a valve housing having individually controllable control valves. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the plunger device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic isometric view of a high pressure plunger pump according to an alternative design embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a plunger device of the high-pressure plunger pump shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Preferred exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] In the following description with reference to the figures, the terms top, bottom, left, right, front, rear, etc. refer solely to exemplary views and positions of the high pressure plunger pumps, plungers, working chambers, valve housings, control valves, generators, etc., designated in each figure. These terms should not be construed as limiting, i.e., these references may vary due to alternative operating positions, mirror symmetrical designs, etc.

[0033] In FIG. 1, reference number 1 is used to indicate an energy recovery device according to one embodiment.

[0034] The central component of this energy recovery device 1 is a high-pressure plunger pump 2, which is connected to a generator 11 via a first drive shaft, preferably via a clutch 12. A frame 13 of the energy recovery device 1 has the function of fixing the high-pressure plunger pump 2, the clutch 12, and the generator 11.

[0035] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the high pressure plunger pump 2 includes five plunger devices 3, each having an actuating chamber 31 and a plunger 32 configured to reciprocate axially within the actuating chamber 31, as illustrated in cross-sectional view in FIG.

[0036] Basically, a high-pressure plunger pump 2 with only one such plunger arrangement 3 is also conceivable.

[0037] A first control valve 5 and a second control valve 6 are provided corresponding to each plunger device 3 and are connected to the valve housing 4 .

[0038] The valve housing 4 has high pressure lines 41 corresponding to each of the first control valves 5 and low pressure lines 42 corresponding to each of the second control valves 6 .

[0039] The high pressure line 41 and the low pressure line 42 are connected to the working chamber 31 of the plunger device 3 at the ends remote from the control valves 5 and 6, respectively.

[0040] The valve housing 4 also has a high pressure connection 43 which opens into the high pressure line 41 and is used to supply or discharge fluid under high pressure.

[0041] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each second control valve 6 is provided with a separate fluid connection 61.

[0042] The at least one first control valve 5 and the at least one second control valve 6 may be driven by the control unit 7 such that high pressure fluid supplied via the high pressure connection 43 of the valve housing 4 can be supplied to the working chamber 31 and discharged via the low pressure connection 61 of the at least one second control valve 6 after driving of the plunger 32.

[0043] At least one plunger 32 is connected to the generator 11 via the drive shaft 9 as described above.

[0044] The high pressure plunger pump 2 is also characterized in that the control valves 5, 6 can be operated by the control unit 7 as both inlet and outlet valves.

[0045] Therefore, the high-pressure plunger pump 2 can be used for both recovering energy and supplying high-pressure fluid.

[0046] The control valves 5, 6 are preferably pneumatically actuable, although it is also conceivable to actuate the control valves 5, 6 using electrical or hydraulic drives.

[0047] By providing the high pressure plunger pump 2 with control valves 5, 6 that can be controlled as both inlet and outlet valves, it becomes possible to utilize the high pressure plunger pump 2 for energy recovery.

[0048] This type of energy recovery is currently known, for example, for turbines used in hydroelectric or pumped storage power stations or for axial piston motors used in seawater reverse osmosis systems. These aforementioned applications are usually implemented in the pressure range up to 100 bar.

[0049] Such pump systems are not suitable for use at higher pressures above 200 bar.

[0050] To improve the operation of the control valves 5, 6, the control unit 7 is preferably connected to one or more sensors, each providing one or more operating parameters of the high pressure plunger pump 2, in particular the rotational position of the drive shaft 9, the fluid pressure in the high pressure line 41 and / or the low pressure line 42.

[0051] In another preferred embodiment, the control unit 7 has at least one data interface for recording external operating parameter data from a processing assembly upstream of the high pressure plunger pump 2.

[0052] If expansion of pressurized fluid is required in such a processing assembly, said pressurized fluid may be supplied to the high pressure plunger pump 2 via high pressure connection 43 .

[0053] A sensor in the upstream processing assembly sends a signal to the controller 7 which then opens the control valve 5 to allow fluid at high pressure to flow via the high pressure line 41 into the working chamber 31 of the plunger 32 where it pushes the plunger 32 from the compressed position to the expanded position.

[0054] At the same time, the first drive shaft connected to the generator 11 is rotated, so that the introduction of high pressure fluid into the working chamber 31 of the plunger arrangement 3 results in electricity generation in the generator and thus energy recovery.

[0055] By providing a sensor, for example on the first drive shaft, the control of the control valves 5, 6 by the control unit 7 is further improved.

[0056] Thus, in a high pressure plunger pump 2 having multiple plunger devices 3, the rotational position of the drive shaft 8 may be detected to determine which first control valve 5 to open first after an energy recovery signal is issued so as to accurately pressurize the plunger 32 of the device among the multiple plunger devices 3 that is in a drive position corresponding to the optimal compression position for pump operation.

[0057] Two applications for using such a high pressure plunger pump 2 will be described below.

[0058] In a first use of the high pressure plunger pump 2 for pressure regulation in a hydraulic processing assembly, the high pressure plunger pump is connected to the processing assembly such that in pumping mode, i.e. when the high pressure plunger pump 2 is used in a conventional manner, the high pressure plunger pump 2 supplies fluid to the processing assembly at a predetermined high pressure.

[0059] This is done by driving the plunger 32 with the generator 11. The generator 11 can also act as a motor, i.e. as an energy source for driving the plunger 32.

[0060] Through the low pressure connection 61 of the second control valve 6, which in this case functions as an inlet, the low pressure fluid is sucked into the working chamber 31 of the plunger device 3 by the movement of the plunger 32 from the compression position to the expansion position, and then is pushed back to the discharge position by the plunger 32 driven by the external motor 10, and flows into the processing assembly via the high pressure line 41 and the high pressure connection 43 to which the high pressure line 41 opens.

[0061] The sequence of opening and closing of the control valves 5, 6 is performed in this manner, so that in the pumping mode the first control valve is connected as an outlet valve and the second control valve 6 is connected as an inlet valve.

[0062] When pressure needs to be relieved from the hydraulic processing assembly, the control valves 5, 6 of the high pressure plunger pump 2 are switched to an energy recovery mode in which the high pressure plunger pump 2 acts, so to speak, as a motor.

[0063] During motor operation of such a high-pressure plunger pump 2, high-pressure fluid is supplied to the working chamber 31 of the plunger device 3 at a predetermined high pressure via the high-pressure connection 43 and the high-pressure line 41 with the first control valve 5 open.

[0064] This drives the plunger 32, which in turn transmits the driving motion to the first drive shaft 9, which is connected to the generator 11, thereby generating electricity.

[0065] In a second use of the high pressure plunger pump 2, it functions as an expansion valve, in particular as a pressure relief valve.

[0066] In this case, the high pressure plunger pump 2 does not function as a conventional pump.

[0067] Here, the high pressure plunger pump 2 is inserted as an expansion valve in the upstream processing assembly, so to speak, so that the high pressure to be discharged is supplied to the high pressure plunger pump 2 in the manner described above as the motor operation of the high pressure plunger pump 2, whereby energy recovery is achieved by generating electricity in the generator 11 via the plunger 32 and the drive shaft 9.

[0068] In addition to the above mentioned input parameters for controlling the control unit 7, it is also conceivable to record as a control parameter the system pressure of the upstream process or the inlet pressure at which the fluid enters the upstream process.

[0069] It is also conceivable to detect the speed of the drive shaft 9 and the flow rate of the fluid in the high pressure line 41 and the low pressure line 42 .

[0070] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, a high-pressure plunger pump according to another embodiment of the present invention includes, in addition to a first plunger device 3, a second plunger device 300 having an actuating chamber 310 and at least one plunger 320 configured to reciprocate axially within the actuating chamber 310.

[0071] Preferably, five plungers 320 are provided, as shown in FIGS.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 5, a pressure valve 500 and a suction valve 600 are provided corresponding to each plunger, and are connected to the valve housing 400 via a high pressure line 410 and a low pressure line 420 .

[0073] The high pressure line 410 is connected to the working chamber 310 via a pressure valve 500, and the low pressure line 420 is connected to the working chamber 310 via an intake valve 600 so that it can be closed.

[0074] At least one plunger 320 is connected via the second drive shaft to a third drive shaft 9 which is also connected to the first drive shaft.

[0075] The third drive shaft 9 is preferably configured as a pinion shaft. The first and second drive shafts are preferably configured as crankshafts.

[0076] In addition to arranging the first plunger device 3 and the second plunger device 300 in parallel as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for example, it is also possible to arrange the plunger devices 3, 300 in front and behind each other.

[0077] The second plunger arrangement 300 and corresponding valves are used here solely to increase the pressure of the working fluid, so that this region of the high pressure plunger pump acts as a pump, and high pressure working fluid is available at the high pressure connection 430 illustrated in Figure 4. The working fluid is supplied to the high pressure plunger pump via the low pressure connection 700.

[0078] Some or all of the energy required to operate this region is supplied via a connection of three drive shafts via another region of a high pressure plunger pump having a first plunger arrangement and corresponding control valves. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 1: Energy recovery system 2: High pressure plunger pump 3: Plunger device 31: Working chamber 32: Plunger 4: Valve housing 41: High voltage line 42: Low pressure line 43: High voltage connection 5: First control valve 6: Second control valve 61: Entrance / Exit 7: Control unit 8: Plunger housing 9: 3rd drive shaft 11: Generator / Motor 12:Connection part 13: Frame 300: Plunger device 310: Working chamber 320: Plunger 400: Valve housing 410: High voltage line 420: Low pressure line 430: High voltage connection 500: Pressure valve 600: Suction valve 700: Low voltage connection

Claims

1. At least one plunger device (3) having an actuation chamber (31) and a plunger (32) configured to reciprocate axially within said actuation chamber (31); at least one first control valve (5) and at least one second control valve (6) connected to a valve housing (4) having at least one high pressure line (41) and at least one low pressure line (42); Equipped with the high pressure line (41) is connected to the working chamber (31) via the first control valve (5) in a sealable manner; the low pressure line (42) is connected in a sealable manner to the working chamber (31) via the second control valve (6); The valve housing (4) has a high pressure connection (43) opening into the high pressure line (41), the at least one first control valve (5) and the at least one second control valve (6) can be driven via a control unit (7) such that a fluid in a high pressure state supplied via the high pressure connection (43) of the valve housing (4) can be supplied to the working chamber (31) when the first control valve (5) is open and can be discharged via a low pressure connection (61) of the at least one second control valve (6) after the plunger (32) is driven; The at least one plunger (32) of the high pressure plunger pump (2) is connected to an electric generator (11) via a first drive shaft.

2. at least three, preferably five, of said plunger devices (3), each having one plunger (32); 2. The high pressure plunger pump (2) according to claim 1, wherein each of the plungers corresponds to a first control valve (5) and a second control valve (6).

3. 3. The high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control valves (5, 6) are operable in an adjustable manner as both inlet and outlet valves by the control unit (7).

4. 4. The high pressure plunger pump according to claim 3, wherein the generator (11) is also operable as a motor.

5. 3. The high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control valve (5, 6) can be actuated pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically.

6. The control unit (7) is connected to one or more sensors, 3. The high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the one or more sensors provides one or more operating parameter data of the high pressure plunger pump, in particular the rotational position of the first drive shaft, the fluid pressure in the high pressure line (41) and / or the low pressure line (42).

7. 7. High pressure plunger pump according to claim 6, characterized in that the control unit (7) comprises at least one data interface for recording external operating parameter data, in particular of a processing assembly upstream of the high pressure plunger pump.

8. a second plunger device (300) having an actuation chamber (310) and a plunger (320) configured to reciprocate axially within the actuation chamber (310); at least one pressure valve (500) and at least one intake valve (600) connected to a valve housing (400) having at least one high pressure line (410) and at least one low pressure line (420); Further equipped with the high pressure line (410) is connected in a sealable manner to the working chamber (310) via the pressure valve (500); the low pressure line (420) is sealably connected to the working chamber (310) via the intake valve (600); The at least one plunger (320) is connected to a third drive shaft (9) via a second drive shaft; 3. The high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the third drive shaft (9) is connected to the first drive shaft.

9. Use of the high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2 for pressure regulation in a fluid pressure processing assembly, comprising: The high pressure plunger pump is adapted to pump the processing assembly In a pumping operation, the control valves (5, 6) are controlled via the controller (7) such that the at least one plunger (32) is driven by a motor-driven drive shaft while the high pressure plunger pump supplies fluid to the processing assembly at a predetermined high pressure; In motoring the high pressure plunger pump, the fluid is supplied at the predetermined high pressure through the high pressure line (41) and the control valves (5, 6) are controlled through the control unit (7) such that the drive shaft (9) is driven by the at least one plunger (32), while the drive shaft is connected to the generator (11) to generate electricity. Use a high pressure plunger pump connected as follows:

10. Use of the high pressure plunger pump according to claim 1 or 2 for pressure control in a fluid pressure processing assembly, comprising: The high pressure plunger pump is adapted to pump the processing assembly the high pressure plunger pump is supplied with fluid at a predetermined high pressure by the fluid pressure processing assembly via the high pressure line (41) and the control valves (5, 6) are controlled via the control unit (7) so that the drive shaft (9) is driven by the at least one plunger (32), while the drive shaft is connected to a generator (11) to generate electricity. Use a high pressure plunger pump connected as follows:

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