Pump unit and hydraulic system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump units with integrated valves face efficiency losses due to the need for a drive element in the flow, which increases resistance and requires significant forces to maintain valve positions.
Innovation Solution
A centrifugal pump unit with an electric drive motor that can rotate in two directions, featuring a valve actuated by the impeller-generated flow, where the valve element is held in position by hydraulic pressure, reducing the need for external drive forces and minimizing flow resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a drive element is placed in the flow to actuate the valve element, then the valve can be switched between inlet channels, but the flow resistance increases and efficiency losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The drive element is extracted from the flow path and placed in the peripheral area of the impeller where it can be acted upon by the generated flow without being in the direct flow path. This removes the source of flow resistance and efficiency losses while maintaining the valve switching capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A coupling mechanism serves as an intermediary to transmit the movement from the drive element to the valve element. This allows the drive element to be positioned away from the flow path while still effectively actuating the valve, mediating between the flow generation and valve control functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the drive element is acted upon by flow to move the valve element, then valve switching is achieved, but large forces are required to maintain valve positions
Solution Approach 1:
The valve element is designed to be self-retaining through its geometric configuration and the hydraulic pressure differential. Once switched to a position, the valve element automatically maintains that position without requiring continuous force from the drive element, as the pressure differential and geometry work together to hold it in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive element is extracted from the high-force requirement zone by positioning it in the peripheral area where flow forces are available but less intense, reducing the force transmission requirements while maintaining switching capability through the coupling mechanism.
3Reliability
If the valve element is moved against the flow direction to close an inlet channel, then sealing is achieved, but actuation forces increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the valve element against the flow to achieve sealing, the design allows the valve element to move in the direction of flow or perpendicular to it. The sealing is achieved through the geometric configuration of the valve element and inlet channel arrangement, where the valve body itself creates the seal rather than requiring forceful movement against flow pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve geometry and hydraulic pressure differential work together to maintain sealing automatically once the valve element reaches its positioned state. The system uses its own operating conditions (flow direction and pressure differential) to maintain the sealed state without requiring additional actuation force.
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 solution reduces efficiency losses by allowing the valve to be self-retained by hydraulic pressure, lowering the forces required to maintain valve positions and minimizing flow resistance, thus enhancing the pump unit's efficiency and operational effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller (18) which is connected to an electric drive motor (20) which can be driven in two directions of rotation and can therefore rotate the impeller (18) in two directions of rotation
Implementation Method 2
the valve element is arranged in such a way that it can be held automatically in at least one of the two switch positions by the hydraulic pressure generated by the pump unit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump unit with at least one impeller (18), which is connected to an electric drive motor (20) that can be driven in two directions of rotation (A, B) for its rotation, and at least one valve (10) located in an inlet of the pump unit, which has a valve element (48) that can be moved between at least two switch positions and is connected for its movement to a drive element (34, 60) acted upon by the flow generated by the impeller (18), the valve element (48) being in at least a first of the two switching positions closes an inlet channel (44, 46) of the pump unit (12) and is arranged in such a way that the direction of movement in this first switching position corresponds to the direction of flow (S1, S2) through this inlet channel (44, 46), and a hydraulic system with two circuits and such a pump unit, the valve serving as a switching valve between the two circuits.