Balanced Piston Pump with Stepped Piston for Deep-Sea Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pumps used in underwater vehicles, particularly at deep sea depths, face challenges in efficiently operating under high ambient pressures due to their harsh environment, requiring improved reliability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A balanced piston pump design with a stepped piston configuration, where one end of the piston is exposed to a smaller surface area than the other, mitigating the effect of ambient pressure forces, allowing operation at any depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional piston pump is used in deep sea vehicles, then the pump can operate at depth, but the ambient pressure causes inefficient operation and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the counterweight principle by exposing both ends of the piston to ambient pressure through pressure equalization chambers. The larger end area of the piston is exposed to ambient pressure on the drive side, creating a balancing force that counteracts the compressive effect of ambient pressure on the pump mechanism, allowing reliable operation at depth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the piston by creating a pressure differential across the piston ends. By exposing the piston ends to different ambient pressure forces through differential area design, the operating parameters of the piston are modified to compensate for deep sea pressure conditions.
2Productivity
If a balanced piston pump design is implemented, then the pump can operate efficiently at varying depths, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pressure equalization function with the piston structure itself. The piston ends are directly exposed to ambient pressure through integrated pressure equalization chambers, eliminating the need for separate complex pressure balancing mechanisms while maintaining pump efficiency at varying depths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotential conditions by exposing both piston ends to ambient pressure, equalizing the pressure potential across the piston. This allows the piston to operate efficiently without suffering from pressure differentials that would reduce productivity in conventional designs.
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 balanced piston pump effectively operates at varying depths by balancing ambient pressure forces, ensuring efficient fluid expulsion and intake, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of underwater vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the first outer end surface and the second outer end surface of the piston are exposed to an ambient pressure; and wherein a surface area of the first outer end surface is smaller than a surface area of the second outer end surface such that an ambient pressure force on the second end is greater than an ambient pressure force on the first end
Data Source
AI summary
A balanced piston pump (300) for use in subsea vehicles, for example in a variably buoyancy engine, includes an inlet (321), an outlet (325) and at least one fluid path between the inlet and the outlet. A piston arrangement in the fluid path includes a stepped piston (330) having a large end (333) and a small end (331). The step (336) of the piston cooperates with the body (310) of the pump to form a piston chamber (320). The ends (332, 334) of the piston are each exposed to ambient pressure. The force required to drive the pump is dependent on the difference in cross sectional areas of the ends of the pistons.