Mobile Fluid Pump Load Control via Turbine Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile fluid pumps face challenges in preventing cavitation without increasing energy consumption, especially when dealing with diverse fluid requirements and mechanical pollutants like sand and leaves, as traditional methods like closing valves lead to unnecessary energy dissipation as heat and turbulent flows.
Innovation Solution
A device with a conduit system featuring a controllable closing valve, a turbine-driven generator, and pressure sensors, coupled with a measurement and control circuit, adjusts fluid pressure to prevent cavitation while being robust against mechanical pollutants, using a frame with parallel tube profiles for mobility and housing for the conduit system and control components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closing valve is used to increase fluid pressure and prevent cavitation, then cavitation is prevented, but extra energy is consumed and dissipated as heat and turbulent flows
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the excess fluid energy that would otherwise be wasted as heat and turbulence into useful electrical energy. The turbine captures the kinetic energy from the fluid flow and converts it to mechanical rotation, which then generates electricity through the generator. This transforms the harmful energy dissipation into a beneficial energy recovery mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The turbine acts as an intermediary device between the fluid flow and the generator. It receives the kinetic energy from the fluid, converts it to rotational mechanical energy, and then transmits this energy to the generator for electrical conversion. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient energy transfer while preventing cavitation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a high capacity pump is used to meet diverse pumping requirements, then the pump can handle various fluid flow rates and conveying heights, but the risk of cavitation increases when operating conditions do not match the pump capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit continuously monitors the operating conditions of the pump and adjusts the closing valve position accordingly. By measuring parameters such as fluid pressure and flow rate, the control system provides feedback to optimize pump operation and prevent cavitation, enabling the high capacity pump to operate reliably across diverse conditions.
3Reliability
If the fluid pressure is increased using a closing valve, then cavitation is avoided, but the energy efficiency decreases due to unnecessary energy dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply dissipating excess fluid energy as heat and turbulence, the invention captures this energy through the turbine and converts it into useful electrical power. This approach maintains the necessary fluid pressure to prevent cavitation while simultaneously improving overall energy efficiency by recovering what would otherwise be wasted energy.
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 effectively prevents cavitation without additional energy loss, ensuring efficient operation across varying conditions and pollutant types, with generated electricity optionally stored or supplied to the grid, maintaining pump performance and reducing energy wastage.
Implementation Method 1
a turbine (7) is accommodated in the second conduit part (5)
Implementation Method 2
a generator (9) that is drivable by the turbine (7)
Implementation Method 3
a pressure sensor (8) is accommodated in one of the outlet conduit (2), the inlet conduit (3), the first conduit part (4) and the second conduit part (5)
Data Source
AI summary
A device is provided for controlling the load of a mobile fluid pump which at an exit side is coupled to an outlet conduit, including an assembly that is a mobile unit and that includes an inlet conduit that can be coupled to the outlet conduit, which inlet conduit branches into a first conduit part and a second conduit part. A controllable closing valve is accommodated in the first conduit part and a turbine is accommodated in the second conduit part. A pressure sensor is accommodated in the inlet conduit, the first conduit part or the second conduit part, further including a generator that is drivable by the turbine and a measurement and control circuit that can be coupled to the pressure sensor and the controllable closing valve.