Liquid Blade Gas Pump for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas pumps face challenges with wear, high power consumption, and manufacturing costs due to the need for tight clearances and mechanical parts, particularly in positive displacement pumps.
Innovation Solution
A positive displacement pump design utilizing a liquid blade formed by liquid output from openings between rotating elements, which drives gas through a defined path, eliminating the need for tight tolerances and mechanical wear by using a deformable liquid surface for sealing and compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tight non-contacting clearances are used to seal between moving and static parts, then leakage is minimized, but manufacturing costs increase and the pump becomes sensitive to locking or seizure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid seal (oil or other lubricating liquid) introduced into the clearance space between moving and static parts to prevent gas leakage. The liquid forms a sealing film that effectively blocks gas passage without requiring tight mechanical clearances, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and avoiding locking or seizure issues.
Solution Approach 2:
A liquid intermediary substance is introduced between the moving and static parts to serve as a seal. This liquid mediator prevents direct gas contact between clearance spaces and eliminates the need for precision-machined tight clearances, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and manufacturing ease.
2Reliability
If liquid seal is introduced between moving and static parts, then leakage is reduced, but the pump structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid seal system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it seals gas leakage between clearance spaces, lubricates moving parts to prevent wear, and can help cool the pump components. This multi-functionality offsets the added structural complexity by consolidating several protective functions into a single liquid medium.
3Reliability
If mechanical parts with tight clearances are used, then sealing is improved, but wear and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid seal creates a fluid film that eliminates dry friction between moving parts. By replacing mechanical contact with liquid-mediated sealing, the pump experiences significantly reduced friction losses, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining effective sealing.
4Productivity
If conventional positive displacement pump design is used, then gas pumping is achieved, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase due to multiple rotors and synchronization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex synchronization mechanisms (gears, timing belts, multiple shafts) from conventional positive displacement pumps. By using a single rotor with liquid-sealed clearances, the design achieves gas pumping functionality without the need for multiple rotors or complex timing mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and structural 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 power consumption, resistance to wear, and reduced manufacturing costs while efficiently pumping gas with minimal wear on surfaces, using a deformable liquid blade for sealing and volumetric compression.
Implementation Method 1
a stream of liquid to form a liquid surface or blade between the elements of the pump. Such a liquid blade is by its nature, deformable, low cost, and able to provide good sealing between surfaces
Implementation Method 2
A liquid blade is formed by a stream of liquid driven through one or more liquid openings... able to provide good sealing between surfaces of the trapped volume without the need for tight manufacturing tolerances
Implementation Method 3
said protrusion, pump housing element and further element forming a path from a gas inlet to a gas outlet... trapping and pumping or moving pockets of fluid between the scrolls
Data Source
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AI summary
A pump and method for pumping a gas are disclosed. The pump comprises: a pump housing element and a further element; one of the pump housing and the further element comprising a protrusion extending towards the other element, the other element comprising at least one liquid opening. The protrusion, pump housing and further element form a path from a gas inlet to a gas outlet. The pump housing and further element are mounted rotatably with respect to each other; and the at least one liquid opening is configured such that liquid output from the at least one liquid opening forms a liquid blade, the liquid blade being operable to drive gas along the path from the gas inlet to the gas outlet on rotation of one of the elements.