Immersed Pump Reservoir for Organic Rankine Cycle Leakage Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Organic Rankine cycle systems face leakage issues due to the low viscosity of working fluids, which requires precise and costly fluid-tight pumps to prevent environmental hazards and cavitation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pump within a reservoir that houses the condensed working fluid, eliminating the need for external pumps by ensuring the pump is completely immersed in the fluid, thus eliminating leakage and simplifying production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pump is used to transport condensed working fluid from the receiver, then the working fluid can be delivered to the heat exchanger, but leakage occurs due to low viscosity of the working fluid requiring precise and costly fluid-tight seals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by submerging the pump in the condensed working fluid within the receiver. The pump is positioned such that its intake port is below the fluid level, creating a flooded suction condition. This hydraulic arrangement eliminates the need for complex fluid-tight seals by allowing the pump to operate fully immersed in the working fluid, using the fluid itself to seal and lubricate moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump design allows the condensed working fluid to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the pumped medium, provides sealing for moving parts, lubricates mechanical components, and cools the pump motor. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms and reduces device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If precise fluid-tight pumps are used to prevent leakage, then environmental hazards and cavitation are prevented, but production costs increase due to complex sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By submerging the pump in the condensed working fluid, the invention creates a flooded suction system where the fluid pressure naturally seals gaps and prevents leakage. This hydraulic sealing mechanism replaces complex mechanical seals and gaskets, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining effective leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The low viscosity of the working fluid, which causes leakage problems in conventional pumps, is converted into a benefit by submerging the pump. The low viscosity fluid flows freely to provide adequate sealing pressure and lubrication, transforming the harmful low viscosity characteristic into a useful property that simplifies the pump design.
3Reliability
If the pump is placed outside the receiver, then the receiver can maintain fluid accumulation for cavitation prevention, but the pump requires complex sealing to prevent working fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the receiver and pump into a single integrated unit, with the pump housed inside the receiver's internal volume. This combination allows the pump to operate directly in the condensed working fluid while the receiver maintains fluid accumulation for cavitation prevention. The integration eliminates the need for external piping and complex sealing arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
By placing the pump inside the receiver, the system creates a flooded suction condition where the pump intake is always submerged in the condensed working fluid. This hydraulic arrangement ensures continuous liquid supply to the pump, preventing cavitation while eliminating the need for complex external sealing mechanisms.
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 ensures fluid-tightness at a lower cost and complexity, providing effective prevention of fluid leakage while utilizing the working fluid for cooling and thermal energy recovery, enhancing system efficiency and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
The motor is cooled by the condensed working fluid in which the pump is immersed
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the working fluid for cooling and thermal energy recovery
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Described herein is a reservoir (2; 2') for the reception of a condensed working fluid of an organic Rankine cycle system, the reservoir including an internal volume, an inlet port (2IN) for the intake of condensed working fluid into the internal volume, and an outlet port (20UT) for the condensed working fluid. The reservoir (2; 2') includes a pump (4) housed in said internal volume, said pump (4) having an intake port (4IN, I34, I36, I38, I22) for the withdrawal of said condensed working fluid from said internal volume and a delivery port (40UT, D34, D36, D38, D22) for the delivery of said working fluid through said outlet port (20UT) of the reservoir. Moreover described is an organic Rankine cycle system (1) including the reservoir (2; 2'; 2") referred to above.