Cavitation Flow Adjuster for Liquid Pump Erosion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure liquid pumps experience cavitation erosion due to collapsing cavitation bubbles, which can undermine pump performance and lead to serious issues like particle contamination in fuel injectors, especially when output is controlled by throttling the inlet valve.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cavitation flow adjuster into the inlet check valve to influence the collapse location of cavitation bubbles away from wetted surfaces by shaping and sizing the adjuster to form specific flow patterns in the inlet port passage, reducing static pressure and encouraging bubble collapse elsewhere.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the inlet throttle valve reduces the flow area to control pump output, then the pump output is controlled effectively, but cavitation bubbles are generated and cause erosion damage to the pump components
Solution Approach 1:
A cavitation flow adjuster is introduced as an intermediary component between the inlet throttle valve and the plunger cavity. This adjuster modifies the flow pattern and redirects cavitation bubble collapse away from critical pump components, thereby mediating between the need for output control and the prevention of erosion damage
Solution Approach 2:
The cavitation flow adjuster creates localized flow conditions within the plunger cavity that differ from the general flow pattern. By shaping the local flow structure, the adjuster directs cavitation bubbles to collapse in specific safe zones rather than uniformly across all surfaces, protecting critical areas while maintaining overall pump function
2Productivity
If cavitation bubbles collapse adjacent to pump surfaces, then the pump can operate with reduced output, but cavitation erosion occurs at undesirable locations undermining pump performance
Solution Approach 1:
The cavitation flow adjuster serves as a mediator that decouples the relationship between reduced output and erosion damage. It allows the pump to operate at reduced output while simultaneously protecting reliability by redirecting cavitation collapse to non-critical areas
3Ease of operation
If cavitation bubbles collapse adjacent to pump surfaces, then the pump operates as designed, but eroded particles contaminate fuel injectors causing serious problems
Solution Approach 1:
The cavitation flow adjuster acts as an intermediary that prevents harmful particle generation while maintaining normal pump operation. By controlling where cavitation bubbles collapse, it eliminates the source of eroded particles before they can contaminate the fuel system
Solution Approach 2:
The cavitation flow adjuster takes preliminary action to prevent erosion damage before it occurs. By shaping the flow pattern in advance, it stops cavitation bubbles from collapsing against surfaces that would generate contaminating particles, thereby preventing fuel injector contamination proactively
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
Effectively reduces cavitation erosion by directing bubble collapse away from critical surfaces, thereby enhancing pump performance and preventing damage to the pump and downstream components.
Implementation Method 1
cavitation bubbles are generated when the output of the pump is controlled to be less than the volume displaced with each reciprocation of the pump plunger
Implementation Method 2
A flow pattern through an inlet port passage is formed by locating a cavitation flow adjuster in the inlet port passage
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid pump includes an electronically controlled throttle inlet valve to control pump output. With each reciprocation cycle, a plunger displaces a fixed volume of fluid. When less than this fixed volume is desired as the output from the pump, the electronically controlled throttle inlet valve throttles flow past a passive inlet check valve to reduce output. As a consequence, cavitation bubbles are generated during the intake stroke. Cavitation damage to surfaces that define the inlet port passage are avoided by a specifically shaped and sized cavitation flow adjuster extending from the valve member of the passive inlet check valve. By positioning the cavitation flow adjuster in the inlet port passage, a flow pattern is formed in a way to encourage cavitation bubble collapse away from surfaces that could result in unacceptable cavitation damage to the pump.