Bellows Pump Pressure Feedback for Pulsation and Cavitation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bellows pumps face issues with pulsation, water hammer, and cavitation due to changes in bellows hardness caused by temperature or fluid flow rate, requiring manual adjustment of air pressure to maintain optimal expansion times.
Innovation Solution
A bellows pump device with a control unit that automatically adjusts fluid pressure based on detection of bellows states, performing pressure increase or decrease to maintain optimal expansion times, using detection units and fluid pressure adjustment units to stabilize bellows operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual reset of air pressure is performed each time bellows hardness changes, then expansion time can be maintained at appropriate value, but operation complexity and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects bellows expansion state and adjusts air pressure without manual intervention. The control unit monitors whether the other bellows has expanded to the predetermined state before the current bellows contracts, and automatically increases air pressure when expansion is insufficient, making the system self-regulating and eliminating manual reset requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses detection signals from detection units to monitor bellows expansion state and feedback-adjusts air pressure accordingly. When the detection signal shows the other bellows has not expanded sufficiently, the control unit increases air pressure to correct the expansion time, creating a closed-loop control system
2Stability of the object's composition
If bellows becomes harder, then discharge pressure stability improves, but expansion time increases causing pulsation deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the air pressure parameter dynamically based on detected bellows hardness. When the other bellows becomes harder and expansion time increases, the control unit increases air pressure to compensate, maintaining appropriate expansion time while allowing the bellows to remain harder for stable discharge pressure
3Speed
If bellows becomes softer, then expansion speed increases, but negative pressure and water hammer may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit monitors bellows expansion state through detection signals and adjusts air pressure accordingly. When the other bellows becomes softer and expands too quickly, the control unit decreases air pressure to prevent excessive expansion speed, thereby avoiding negative pressure, water hammer, and cavitation
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
Automated pressure adjustment stabilizes bellows expansion times, reducing pulsation and preventing water hammer and cavitation, ensuring consistent fluid discharge.
Implementation Method 1
configured to cause the respective bellows to expand to a predetermined expanded state by supplying a pressurized fluid to the suction-side fluid chambers
Implementation Method 2
configured to cause the respective bellows to contract to a predetermined contracted state by supplying the pressurized fluid to the discharge-side fluid chambers
Implementation Method 3
a pair of detection units configured to detect expanded/contracted states of the respective bellows
Implementation Method 4
a pair of fluid pressure adjustment units configured to adjust fluid pressures of the pressurized fluid to be supplied to the suction-side fluid chambers
Data Source
AI summary
A control unit 6 of a bellows pump device 1 determines whether or not a second bellows 14 (first bellows 13) is in a predetermined expanded state when the first bellows 13 (second bellows 14) contracts to a mid-contraction state, on the basis of respective detection signals of a first detection unit 29 and a second detection unit 31, and when a determination result of the determination is negative, the control unit 6 performs next pressure increase control of controlling a second electropneumatic regulator 52 (first electropneumatic regulator 51) such that an air pressure of a pressurized air to be supplied to a second suction-side air chamber 26B (first suction-side air chamber 26A) of a second driving unit 28 (first driving unit 27) at next expansion of the second bellows 14 (first bellows 13) is increased.