No-Moving-Parts Jet Pump for Radioactive Sludge Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sludge removal technologies face challenges in balancing the speed of jet pumps with the rate of sludge removal, particularly in hostile environments like radioactive sludge, and mechanical pumps degrade quickly.
Innovation Solution
A pump design with a housing featuring a narrowing inlet, constant throat, and expanding outlet, combined with a pumping nozzle, allowing for powerful suction and fitting through narrow pipes, and lacking moving parts, suitable for hostile environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical pump is used in radioactive sludge environment, then pumping capability is provided, but the pump degrades quickly and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pump with a jet pump system that uses fluid dynamics instead of mechanical moving parts. The jet pump uses a nozzle to create a vacuum effect and fluid pressure differentials to move sludge, eliminating mechanical components that would degrade in the radioactive environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses hydraulic principles by injecting water through a nozzle to create a jet pump effect. The water jet creates negative pressure to draw sludge into the collection chamber and positive pressure to discharge it, using fluid dynamics rather than mechanical pumping action.
2Productivity
If a jet pump is used to remove fluidized sludge, then pumping capability is achieved, but it is difficult to balance the pump speed with the sludge removal rate
Solution Approach 1:
The jet pump functions are integrated directly into the blade cutter housing. The nozzle is positioned to inject water into the collection chamber, combining the cutting, fluidization, and pumping functions in a single integrated system, eliminating the need for separate pump speed control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system is self-regulating where the water jet automatically creates the necessary vacuum and pressure differentials based on the sludge removal rate. The jet pump speed is determined by the water flow rate and system backpressure, eliminating the need for external speed control mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a pump with moving parts is used, then pumping function is provided, but the device complexity increases and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates all mechanical moving parts in the pump by using a jet pump design based on fluid dynamics. The nozzle has no moving components - it simply directs water flow to create vacuum and pressure differentials that move the sludge automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes all mechanical moving parts from the pump system. The jet pump consists only of stationary components (nozzle, housing, inlet/outlet ports) that use fluid flow to perform the pumping function, eliminating maintenance requirements for mechanical components.
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 provides efficient suction for fluidized sludge over significant vertical distances, is durable due to no moving parts, and can be used in narrow pipes, effectively handling radioactive sludge.
Implementation Method 1
a pumping nozzle positioned within the housing and oriented to direct fluid along the housing towards the rear end
Implementation Method 2
the housing comprises: an inlet portion that decreases in cross-section from a front end to a rear end; optionally a throat portion having a constant cross-sectional area positioned immediately adjacent the rear end of the inlet portion; and an outlet portion that increases in cross-section from a front end to a rear end
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A pump (1) for sludge removal apparatus, a method of operating the pump, and a sludge removal apparatus including the pump are provided. The pump (1) comprises a pump housing having a pumping inlet (3) at a front end and a pumping outlet (4) at a rear end defining a rearwards direction; and a pumping nozzle (10) positioned within the housing and oriented to direct fluid along the housing towards the rear end (4). The housing comprises an inlet portion (7) that decreases in cross-section from a front end to a rear end optionally a throat portion (8) having a constant cross-sectional area positioned immediately adjacent the rear end of the inlet portion (8) and an outlet portion (9) that increases in cross-section from a front end to a rear end with the front end positioned immediately adjacent the throat portion (8) if present, or immediately adjacent the rear end of the inlet portion (7) if a throat portion (8) is not present; wherein the pumping nozzle (10) is positioned within the housing in front of the inlet portion (7) of the pump housing. The pump (1) can be positioned adjacent a rear end of a sludge removal apparatus and act to pump sludge away from the sludge removal apparatus.