Cyclonic In-Line Pump With Helical Vanes for Pipe Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flow of flowable materials through conduits experiences issues such as uneven erosion, turbulence, head loss, and increased energy consumption due to laminar flow profiles, particularly in elbow fittings and long straight runs, leading to costly maintenance and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A rotary in-line pump induces a cyclonic flow profile by using a material pressurizer with helical vanes and a centralizer tube, transforming laminar flow into cyclonic flow, which centralizes material flow towards the conduit's center, reducing friction and wear, and enhancing flow efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional laminar flow is used in material flow conduits, then the flow is stable and predictable, but friction at the surface increases head loss and energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the flow regime from laminar to cyclonic by changing flow parameters (velocity distribution, rotational motion). The cyclonic flow profile creates a vortex pattern that reduces boundary layer friction while maintaining flow continuity, thereby reducing head loss without sacrificing flow stability
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional laminar flow is used in elbow fittings, then the flow direction changes smoothly, but uneven erosion occurs on the pipe wall
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces rotational motion and changes velocity distribution in elbow fittings to create cyclonic flow. This transforms the harmful impinging flow pattern into a controlled vortex that distributes material flow more uniformly across the pipe cross-section, reducing concentrated erosion on the outer wall while maintaining effective flow direction control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful centrifugal force that causes erosion in conventional elbow flow into a beneficial vortex pattern. The rotational motion that would normally throw abrasive material against the outer wall is harnessed to create a controlled cyclonic flow that actually protects the pipe wall by distributing flow more evenly and reducing direct impingement
3Productivity
If conventional pumping is used to increase flow velocity, then the flow rate increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the flow profile parameter from parabolic (laminar) to cyclonic (rotational). This parameter change reduces the velocity gradient at the pipe wall, thereby reducing frictional losses. The system achieves the same flow rate with lower energy input because the cyclonic flow pattern minimizes boundary layer drag while maintaining high velocity in the core flow region
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 cyclonic flow profile increases flow rate, reduces internal conduit wear, minimizes energy consumption, and maintains uniform flow distribution, addressing the drawbacks of laminar flow conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A rotary in-line pump induces a cyclonic flow profile by using a material pressurizer with helical vanes and a centralizer tube, transforming laminar flow into cyclonic flow
Implementation Method 2
conventional flow of flowable material within a flow passage of material flow conduit has a flow profile characterized by laminar flow effect
Implementation Method 3
Flowable material at the surface of the flow passage exhibits considerable friction and zero flow velocity, thereby reducing velocity of the flowable material even at a considerable distance from the surface
Implementation Method 4
Transport and pumping flowable material comprising abrasive contents, such as coal and sand slurries, wet sand, gravel and the like can cause especially high costs associated with component wear due to interaction between the flowable material and the surface defining the passage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed cyclonic flow-inducing pumps overcome drawbacks associated with known adverse flow conditions that arise from flow of certain types of materials through a material flow conduit. Such cyclonic flow-inducing pumps provide for flow of flowable material within a flow passage of a material flow conduit (e.g., a portion of a pipeline, tubing or the like) to have a cyclonic flow (i.e., vortex or swirling) profile. Advantageously, the cyclonic flow profile centralizes flow toward the central portion of the flow passage, thereby reducing magnitude of laminar flow. Such cyclonic flow profile provides a variety of other advantages as compared to a parabolic flow profile such as, for example, increased flow rate, reduce inner pipeline wear, more uniform inner pipe wear, reduction in energy consumption, reduced or eliminated adverse considerations such as slugging.