Flow Booster Cell Rotor Assembly for Fluid Pressure Boosting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluid transportation systems often face challenges in maintaining sufficient pressure to move fluids, especially in low-pressure or viscous fluid systems, and require direct electrical power, which may not be feasible in all environments.
Innovation Solution
A Flow Booster Cell system utilizing a rotor assembly with concentric arrays of blades, activated by a motive fluid, which induces movement in a static fluid without direct electrical power, allowing for the boosting of fluid pressure and reducing backpressure by mixing lighter and heavier fluids.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If a traditional electric motor pump is used to boost fluid pressure, then sufficient pressure can be maintained to move fluids, but direct electrical power is required which may not be feasible in all environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrical motor pump system with a fluid-actuated mechanical system. A motive fluid (second fluid) flows through an internal hollow shaft and acts on turbine blades to rotate a rotor assembly, which drives pump impellers to boost the drawn fluid. This substitution eliminates the need for electrical power while maintaining pressure boosting capability, enabling deployment in environments without electrical infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by employing a motive fluid (liquid or gas) to transmit energy mechanically. The motive fluid flows through concentric hollow shafts and acts on turbine blades, converting fluid pressure into rotational mechanical energy that drives the pump impellers. This hydraulic approach allows pressure boosting without electrical power, suitable for offshore, underground, and remote locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fluid-actuated rotor system is used to avoid electrical power, then environmental adaptability improves, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested concentric structure where an internal hollow shaft is positioned within an external hollow shaft. The rotor assembly with turbine blades is contained within the internal shaft, and the pump impellers are arranged within the external shaft. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional components to occupy the same spatial envelope, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining the fluid-actuated mechanism for environmental adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly serves multiple functions: the turbine blades convert motive fluid energy into rotation, while the same rotation drives the pump impellers to boost drawn fluid. The concentric hollow shafts serve both as fluid conduits and as structural supports for the blade arrays. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device while maintaining adaptability to various environments.
3Stress or pressure
If multiple concentric blade arrays are used to increase boosting capacity, then fluid pressure capability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the turbine and pump functions into a single integrated rotor assembly. The internal array of turbine blades and external array of pump impeller blades are combined in one rotating component structure, sharing the same rotational motion. This merging allows multiple blade arrays to work in unison, increasing pressure capability while avoiding the complexity of separate turbine and pump mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: an internal region with turbine blades for energy extraction from the motive fluid, and an external region with pump impeller blades for delivering energy to the drawn fluid. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining a unified rotating structure, increasing pressure capability without proportionally increasing overall complexity.
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 system effectively boosts fluid pressure and reduces backpressure, enabling efficient fluid transportation in various environments without the need for direct electrical power, suitable for onshore, offshore, and underground applications.
Implementation Method 1
The internal array of blades, hereinafter also referred interchangeably as turbine, works as a turbine
Implementation Method 2
The movement of the first fluid is induced by the rotation of the pump impeller
Implementation Method 3
The movement of the first fluid is induced by the rotation of the pump impeller. The resulting movement of the first fluid is axial or parallel to the body of the artifact
Data Source
AI summary
The object of this invention is to create the elements necessary to supply lifting energy in flowlines or recipients containing motionless fluids. The invention provides a motive force through hollow shafts or hollow stators inside a streamlined housing having a rotor comprised of two concentric and coplanar arrays of external and internal blades working together as pump and turbine on the same plane. To operate, the artifact requires a source of fluid supply acting as motive fluid to boost a static or relative slow-motion fluid. The motive fluid travels from an internal hollow shaft toward an external hollow shaft, or from a scroll case throughout hollow stators to an internal array of blades to induce movement on the rotor. The present invention is designed to be used in different locations for different applications in different positions, to support the transportation of fluids. It operates with any fluid supply such as gas or liquid or a mix of both. The artifact does not require direct sources of electrical power.