Hermetic Pump for Natural Gas Odorant Metering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing odorant pumps in natural gas pipelines require frequent maintenance and are prone to leakage due to the interaction between odorants and pump materials, leading to inefficiencies and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A hermetically sealed pump design with a continuous ferromagnetic armature and electromagnets that minimize contact with the odorant, using a reluctance linear motor mechanism to ensure precise liquid handling and pressure control, and a magnetically switchable valve for accurate metering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional pump designs are used with direct contact between odorant and pump materials, then the pump can effectively deliver odorant, but the pump requires frequent maintenance and is prone to leakage due to material interaction with odorant
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electromagnet components from direct contact with the odorant by introducing a hermetically sealed pump chamber. The armature and electromagnets are positioned outside the sealed chamber, eliminating material interaction between odorant and electromagnetic components while maintaining pump functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed pump chamber acts as an intermediary barrier between the odorant and the electromagnet components. This sealed chamber allows the odorant to be pumped while preventing direct contact with the armature and electromagnets, thereby reducing maintenance requirements and preventing leakage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If hermetically sealed design is implemented to prevent leakage, then safety is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electromagnetic components from the odorant environment and places them outside the hermetically sealed pump chamber. This separation maintains safety by preventing leakage while avoiding the complexity of sealing electromagnetic components within the odorant chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical pumping mechanisms with a reluctance linear motor system. The hermetic seal is achieved through the magnetic circuit design where the armature forms part of the magnetic path, eliminating the need for additional mechanical sealing components and reducing overall structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If electromagnets are positioned to minimize contact with odorant, then maintenance is reduced, but precision in odorant metering may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback control through the magnetic circuit design where the armature position directly influences the magnetic flux path. The hermetic seal maintains precise metering by ensuring consistent magnetic coupling between the armature and electromagnets, while the sealed chamber prevents odorant interference with the electromagnetic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetically sealed pump chamber serves as an intermediary that transmits the magnetic field effects precisely to the odorant without allowing odorant contact with the electromagnets. This sealed interface maintains metering precision while protecting the electromagnetic components from degradation.
4Reliability
If continuous wall design is used for areas contacting liquid, then leakage is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pump chamber wall with the magnetic circuit components. The armature serves dual functions as both a magnetic component and a structural element forming part of the hermetic seal. This integration prevents leakage while avoiding the complexity of separate sealing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The armature serves multiple functions: it acts as a magnetic component for the linear motor, forms part of the hermetic seal structure, and provides mechanical support for the pump chamber. This multi-functionality achieves leakage prevention without increasing overall device 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 pump achieves low maintenance requirements, high precision in odorant metering, and enhanced safety by preventing odorant escape and ensuring reliable operation with reduced material interaction, while maintaining efficient pressure and flow control.
Implementation Method 1
The pump has a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet, arranged one behind the other with respect to the armature longitudinal axis. By energizing the electromagnets, the armature can be positioned along the armature longitudinal axis.
Implementation Method 2
The first magnetic field forming element is arranged to form a first magnetic field of the first electromagnet. The second magnetic field forming element is arranged to form a second magnetic field of the second electromagnet.
Implementation Method 3
The valve body is ferromagnetic. The position of the valve body can be changed by changing a magnetic field in which the valve is arranged.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump (18) for metering a liquid (12), comprising (a) a cylinder (20) having a cylinder interior (22), (b) an armature (26) running in the cylinder interior (22) and being at least partially ferromagnetic, (c) a first electromagnet (38) and a second electromagnet (40) forming a reluctance linear motor with the armature (26), by means of which the armature (26) is movable in the cylinder (20), (d) a pump chamber (48) which can be enlarged and reduced by actuating the armature (26), is connected to a feed line (50) for filling with the liquid (12) to be pumped, and has a discharge opening (60) for dispensing the pumped liquid (12), (e) wherein the feed line (50) has a valve (54) that is switchable, in particular magnetically, and wherein (f) the pump has a The position sensor (46) is for determining the position of the armature (26) relative to the cylinder (20) without contact.