Air Chamber Hydraulic Shock Absorber for Borehole Pump Rods
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating borehole pumps face challenges in efficiently delivering water without causing buckling or jamming of pump rods due to restricted speed and the incompressibility of water, which leads to high forces and wear on equipment, especially when connected to long pipelines.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an air chamber above the reciprocating pump, concentrically mounted about the pump rod and riser pipe, to act as a hydraulic shock absorber, reducing the shock load on the pump and pipeline by allowing air to compress and expand in response to water flow, thereby smoothing the flow and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump stroke is increased to obtain larger output, then the pumping speed can be increased, but the pump rods may buckle and jam against the sides of the rising main due to insufficient time to fall back under gravity
Solution Approach 1:
An air chamber is introduced as an intermediary component between the reciprocating pump and the delivery pipeline. The air chamber absorbs hydraulic shocks and cushions the water column, preventing rod buckling and jamming while allowing higher pumping speeds and outputs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes pneumatic principles by employing an air-filled chamber to manage hydraulic pressure fluctuations. The compressible air acts as a shock absorber, smoothing out pressure variations caused by reciprocating motion and enabling more aggressive pumping cycles without compromising rod integrity.
2Device complexity
If reciprocating pumps are directly connected to long pipelines, then the pump structure is simplified, but very large forces are created because water is incompressible and tries to follow the piston motion rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber serves as a mediator between the pump and pipeline, absorbing the shock forces generated by rapid piston motion. This allows direct connection to long pipelines while preventing the transmission of damaging forces, thus maintaining structural simplicity without compromising force management.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of compressibility by introducing an air-filled chamber. The compressible air contrasts with the incompressible water, creating a buffer that absorbs pressure shocks and reduces peak forces on the pipeline and pump components.
3Productivity
If the pump delivers into a pipeline discharging at significantly higher level, then the delivery capability is improved, but it is not practical to have a riser open to the atmosphere at or near the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber acts as an intermediary that enables high-level discharge without requiring an impractical atmospheric riser. By absorbing pressure fluctuations and smoothing flow, the air chamber allows the system to achieve high delivery levels through the pipeline while maintaining practical installation conditions at the pump location.
4Productivity
If friction from water passage in smaller riser pipe is reduced, then flow efficiency is improved, but the stop/start motion of water causes rod breakage, strain and wear on pump components
Solution Approach 1:
The air chamber utilizes pneumatic cushioning to smooth the stop/start water motion caused by reciprocating pumping. The compressible air absorbs pressure shocks during acceleration and deceleration phases, reducing mechanical stress on pump components and rods while maintaining efficient flow through the riser pipe.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The air chamber effectively reduces the stop/start motion of water, minimizing rod breakage, wear on pump components, and preventing the pump casing from lifting, while maintaining efficient water delivery by absorbing peak forces and filling troughs in the flow.
Implementation Method 1
an air chamber provided immediately above the reciprocating pump and concentrically about the pump rod and riser pipe to provide hydraulic shock absorption between the reciprocating pump and a delivery pipeline
Implementation Method 2
allowing air to compress and expand in response to water flow, thereby smoothing the flow and minimizing wear
Implementation Method 3
an air chamber serves to smooth the flow by absorbing 'peaks' in a reciprocating output and then filling the 'troughs' that follow the peaks
Data Source
AI summary
A borehole pump assembly operable in association with for a borehole with a well casing therein, the borehole pump assembly including an elongate pump rod operably connected to a reciprocating drive and mounting a reciprocating pump at the lower end within the well casing and an air chamber provided immediately above the reciprocating pump and concentrically about the pump rod to provide hydraulic shock absorption between the reciprocating pump and a delivery pipeline.