Marine Ballast Pump Recirculation Air Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ballast systems in marine structures face issues with air entrainment during water pumping, which affects pump performance and requires precise control of water flow rates during emptying operations, especially when mixed with air, leading to suboptimal operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a recirculation conduit assembly with a cyclone separator or ejector to recirculate water from the high side to the low side, disintegrating and compressing air bubbles, and a second inlet conduit assembly to manage auxiliary systems, ensuring optimal pump operation by maintaining near-optimal flow and pressure conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a ballast tank is filled with water through a water filling assembly, then the ballast tank can be filled efficiently, but air may be entrained in the water filling assembly and pump assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballast tank filling efficiencyVSAvoidair entrainment in pump assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional assemblies: a water filling assembly for efficient filling, a pump assembly for water transfer, and a recirculation assembly with air separation capability. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function while managing air entrainment separately.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The recirculation conduit assembly acts as an intermediary between the pump assembly and ballast tank, providing a pathway for water recirculation that separates air from water before it enters the pump, thus protecting the pump from air damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the ballast tank is emptied at high flow rate, then the emptying operation is faster, but the pump operates away from optimal conditions and more air enters the pump

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveballast tank emptying speedVSAvoidpump operating reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation conduit assembly enables continuous water circulation from the ballast tank back to the pump inlet, maintaining continuous pump operation at optimal flow rates even during tank emptying, thereby preventing air entrainment and ensuring reliable pump performance throughout the emptying process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operating parameters by introducing recirculated water to maintain optimal flow rate and pressure conditions at the pump inlet, allowing the pump to operate reliably while the ballast tank is being emptied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the water flow rate is reduced when the ballast tank is almost empty, then air entry to the pump is minimized, but the pump operates suboptimally

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair entry to pumpVSAvoidpump operating efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The recirculation conduit assembly maintains continuous water flow to the pump inlet by recirculating water from the ballast tank, ensuring the pump operates continuously at optimal efficiency even when the ballast tank is nearly empty and natural inflow is insufficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This solution reduces the adverse effects of air on the pump, maintains optimal operating conditions by increasing water flow, and allows for efficient emptying of ballast tanks while minimizing air entry, thus enhancing the reliability and efficiency of ballast systems.

Implementation Method 1

a recirculation conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid transport from the high side to the low side during at least a part of the first operating condition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRecirculation:

Implementation Method 2

The implementation of a recirculation conduit assembly with a cyclone separator or ejector to recirculate water from the high side to the low side, disintegrating and compressing air bubbles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCyclone separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 3

The implementation of a recirculation conduit assembly with a cyclone separator or ejector to recirculate water from the high side to the low side, disintegrating and compressing air bubbles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEjector effect: Injector

Data Source

PatentUS9150290B2Ballast system

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 GVA CONSULTANTS

AI summary

The present embodiments relate to ballast systems for marine structures. The ballast system comprises a ballast tank and a pump. The pump comprises a low side and a high side and the ballast system comprises a first inlet conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid communication between the ballast tank and the low side. The ballast system is adapted to provide a first operating condition in which first operating condition a fluid is pumped from the low side to the high side.