Fluid transportation network and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid transportation systems face inefficiencies and high energy consumption due to central distribution pumps and lack of balanced fluid distribution across zones with varying designs and flow rates, leading to excessive energy consumption and pressure losses.
Innovation Solution
A fluid transportation network with parallel zones connected to a common supply line, utilizing zone-specific pumps and valves, where pumps control flow within their efficient operating range and zone valves manage flow outside this range, ensuring efficient operation and reduced energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If central distribution pumps are used to drive fluid through the system, then the main force to move fluid is provided, but excessive energy consumption and pressure losses occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the centralized pumping function into multiple distributed pumps, each serving specific zones. This segmentation allows each pump to operate efficiently at lower power levels rather than one large central pump operating at high power, reducing overall energy consumption and pressure losses.
Solution Approach 2:
Each zone is equipped with its own pump that provides locally optimized fluid distribution. This local quality approach ensures that pumping power is applied exactly where needed, eliminating unnecessary pressure drops and energy losses that occur in centralized systems transporting fluid through long pipelines.
2Ease of operation
If flow control valves are installed in zones with varying designs and flow rates to achieve balanced distribution, then fluid distribution is controlled, but pressure drops and power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the flow control function from traditional pressure-dependent valves and implements it through electronically controlled pumps. This allows precise flow regulation without creating additional pressure drops, as the pumps actively manage flow rates rather than passively restricting them.
Solution Approach 2:
Each zone pump is equipped with flow sensors and control systems that provide real-time feedback on actual flow rates. This feedback mechanism allows the pumps to automatically adjust their operation to maintain balanced distribution across zones with varying designs, eliminating the need for energy-lossy manual balancing valves.
3Loss of energy
If variable speed pumps are used in decentralized pumping schemes, then pumping power is reduced and energy consumption is lower, but complex control arrangements are required
Solution Approach 1:
Each zone pump is designed as a universal unit that combines variable speed control, flow sensing, and distribution functions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the decentralized architecture, as each pump unit is self-contained and can be controlled independently without complex inter-pump coordination.
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 achieves balanced fluid distribution and reduced energy consumption by optimizing pump and valve operation based on flow thresholds, enhancing efficiency and reducing energy waste.
Implementation Method 1
In fluid transportation systems, centrifugal pumps provide the main force to drive and move fluid through fluid transportation lines
Implementation Method 2
Different types of valves such as control valves and balancing valves are installed in the fluid transportation systems in order to set and control the flow of fluid, thereby creating pressure drops and power losses across the valves
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid transportation network (1) comprises a plurality of parallel zones (Z1, Z2, Z3), each associated with a pump (P1, P2, P3), configured to control a flow of fluid (Ф1, Ф2, Ф3) through the respective zone. At least one zone valve (V1, V2, V3, V12, V23) is arranged in one of the zones and configured to control the flow of fluid through the zone. A processing unit (R, R1, R2, R3) is configured to control at least one of the pumps and/or the zone valve to control the flow of fluid (Ф1, Ф2, Ф3) through the zones. A particular pump is used to control the flow of fluid through a particular zone or plurality of zones only when the particular pump is operating within its specified efficient operating range, where it is regulating a flow of fluid above a flow threshold value (Ф1T, Ф2T, Ф3T) of the particular pump.