Impulse Pump Flywheel Energy Storage and Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water jet cutting systems are not adaptable for generating high-velocity, short-duration water jets, lacking efficient energy storage and rapid energy release mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
An impulse pump that stores energy in a flywheel as rotational kinetic energy, rapidly releases it through a planetary gear transmission, and converts this energy into linear motion to produce a high-velocity, short-duration water jet using a plunger and nozzle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a reciprocating piston pump is used to produce fluid flow at fixed flow rate and pressure, then steady high velocity water jet is achieved, but the system cannot provide short duration pulses of water
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static continuous pump operation to a dynamic pulsed operation using a flywheel that rotates to store and release energy on demand. The pump operates intermittently, drawing energy from the flywheel's rotational kinetic energy to generate short-duration high-velocity water jets while maintaining steady pressure during each pulse.
Solution Approach 2:
The flywheel pre-stores mechanical energy in the form of rotational kinetic energy before the water jet pulse is needed. This preliminary energy storage allows the system to rapidly deliver high power for short durations without requiring the pump to operate continuously, enabling adaptable pulsed operation.
2Power
If mechanical energy is stored and rapidly released to generate high-velocity short-duration water jets, then energy release rate is improved, but energy storage efficiency and conversion efficiency must be optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses hydraulic principles to efficiently transfer energy from the flywheel through the pump mechanism to the water jet. The hydraulic pump converts the flywheel's rotational kinetic energy into high-pressure water flow with minimal energy loss, optimizing the conversion efficiency while maintaining rapid energy release capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system optimizes energy conversion by changing operational parameters dynamically - the flywheel rotates at varying speeds to match energy demand, and the pump delivers water at high pressure for short durations. This parameter optimization minimizes energy losses while maximizing power output during the pulse.
3Weight of moving object
If a flywheel is used to store rotational kinetic energy and a planetary gear transmission is used for rapid release, then energy storage-to-system weight ratio is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear transmission acts as an intermediary mechanism between the flywheel and the pump, enabling efficient energy transfer and transformation. This gear system provides mechanical advantage and speed multiplication, allowing rapid energy release while maintaining a compact design that optimizes the energy storage-to-weight ratio.
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines multiple functions into integrated components - the flywheel serves both as a rotational mass for energy storage and as a driving element for the pump through the planetary gear mechanism. This merging of functions reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high energy storage density.
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 a high energy storage-to-system weight ratio and efficient energy conversion, enabling rapid energy release for high-velocity water jets, suitable for applications like underwater demolition.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention uses a low power motor to store rotational kinetic energy in a flywheel
Implementation Method 2
The energy release is achieved when the planetary gear carrier is decelerated using a caliper brake
Implementation Method 3
Through a cam roller contact point between the pusher shaft and the cam raceway on the plunger; the rotational motion of the pusher shaft is converted to a linear and translational motion of a plunger device
Implementation Method 4
The translational motion of the plunger rapidly empties a reservoir of the pump and creates a highly pressurized fluid path exiting a nozzle of the pump
Data Source
AI summary
An impulse pump is provided with a low power motor to store rotational kinetic energy in a flywheel. The stored kinetic energy is released using a planetary gear transmission that links the flywheel to a pusher shaft. The kinetic energy is released when the planetary gear carrier is decelerated using a caliper brake. The planetary gear carrier deceleration forces rotational acceleration of the pusher shaft and deceleration of the flywheel. Through a cam roller contact point between the pusher shaft and the cam raceway on the plunger; the rotational motion of the pusher shaft is converted to linear and translational motion of the plunger. The translational motion of the plunger allows impulse jet energy to be rapidly released from a nozzle of the pump.