Fluid Pump Priming Conduit Inboard Impeller Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water pumps face inefficiencies when primed from the top of the suction tube, leading to extended priming times, increased wear, and corrosion due to water entering the priming system, as the water in the suction tube rotates and enters the priming port along with air, causing higher loads on components.
Innovation Solution
A fluid pump design featuring a pump priming conduit extending through the low pressure impeller radially inboard of the impeller seal, connecting to the pump priming system within the rear wear ring, allowing air extraction from an inboard position inside the rear wear ring, reducing water entry into the priming system and enhancing the priming process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the priming port is located at the top of the suction tube, then the priming position is close to the centre line of the pump and away from the pressure side of the impeller, but water in the suction tube rotates and enters the priming port along with air, causing extended priming time and increased water passage through the priming system
Solution Approach 1:
The priming port is repositioned from the conventional top-of-suction-tube location to an inboard position on the pressure side of the impeller, changing the spatial dimension of air extraction. This dimensional shift places the priming port within the centrifugal flow path where air is naturally drawn inboard by centrifugal force, separating air extraction from rotating water at the suction tube top.
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller itself acts as an intermediary mechanism that uses centrifugal force to separate air from water. By positioning the priming port on the pressure side of the impeller, the impeller's rotational field mediates the air extraction process, naturally drawing air inboard while leaving water to continue its outward centrifugal path.
2Reliability
If disrupter blades are provided within the suction tube to prevent water rotation, then water rotation is reduced, but the solution is not very effective and does not sufficiently reduce water entry into the priming system
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent water rotation within the suction tube using disrupter blades, the solution extracts the priming function from the rotating water environment entirely. The priming port is relocated to an inboard position where air is extracted directly from the pump casing, removing the priming operation from the problematic rotating water zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than attempting to stop water rotation to achieve effective priming, the invention inverts the approach by positioning the priming port where air extraction occurs despite water rotation. The priming function is achieved in the opposite location from conventional design, on the pressure side rather than at the suction tube top.
3Quantity of substance
If the priming port is located towards the top and rear of the low pressure impeller on the pressure side, then air extraction is improved, but the pump is not being primed from an area of suction pressure, resulting in relatively long hand over time
Solution Approach 1:
The priming port is positioned at a specific local region on the pressure side of the impeller, optimized for air extraction. This localized positioning exploits the specific flow conditions at that point, where centrifugal force naturally draws air inboard, creating optimal local quality for priming without compromising overall priming speed.
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
This configuration results in almost instantaneous priming, minimizing water entry into the priming system, reducing wear, and accelerating pressure generation with lower loading on priming components.
Implementation Method 1
the impeller seal means separating the inlet side of the impeller from its pressure side
Implementation Method 2
a pump priming conduit extending from the inlet, suction, side of the first impeller, through the impeller, and through the pump body to the pump priming system
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid pump comprising a pump body, a low pressure impeller, a high pressure impeller, impeller seal means separating the inlet side of the low pressure impeller from its pressure side, a pump priming system, and a pump priming conduit provided through the low pressure impeller radially inboard of the impeller seal means. The high pressure impeller is preferably provided within a cavity, defined by an impeller recess and a cover plate. A wear ring is preferably provided between the low pressure impeller and the inboard end of the cover plate. The pump priming conduit preferably comprises: first and second axial bores through the pump body; a radial bore and two axial holes through the cover plate; an axial hole through the rear wear ring; a cavity between the wear ring and the low pressure impeller; and axial holes through the low pressure impeller, connecting the cavity to the suction side of the low pressure impeller.