Liquid Ring Pump Cavitation Control via Air Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cavitation is a significant cause of wear and failure in liquid ring pumps, especially those operating at low-pressure/high-vacuum conditions, leading to noise and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
Introducing a controlled flow of air into the inlet manifold of the liquid ring pump, using sensors to measure pressure and temperature, and a controller to determine the vapor pressure of the operating liquid, thereby controlling a valve to manage the air flow and prevent cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid ring pump operates at low-pressure/high-vacuum conditions, then the pumping capability is improved, but cavitation occurs causing wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by introducing air into the chamber before the operating liquid reaches conditions that would cause cavitation. The controller detects parameters indicating approaching cavitation conditions and pre-introduces air to raise the pressure, preventing cavitation before it occurs. This proactive approach maintains reliable operation at low-pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
Air acts as an intermediary substance introduced into the chamber to prevent direct contact between the operating liquid and the low-pressure conditions that cause cavitation. The air raises the pressure in the chamber, serving as a buffer that eliminates the harmful cavitation effect while allowing the pump to maintain its vacuum capability.
2Reliability
If air is introduced into the inlet manifold to prevent cavitation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it monitors operating parameters, determines when cavitation conditions are approaching, controls the valve timing, and manages the air introduction process. By making the controller multi-functional, the patent avoids adding a dedicated control system, thereby reducing the increase in device complexity while maintaining reliable cavitation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from sensors monitoring pressure, temperature, and other parameters to automatically control the valve and air introduction timing. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the need for complex manual control systems or additional dedicated control hardware, achieving reliable cavitation prevention through intelligent use of existing controller capabilities.
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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates cavitation, enhancing the reliability and reducing noise in liquid ring pumps by adjusting the inlet pressure to avoid vapor pressure conditions that cause cavitation.
Implementation Method 1
a controller configured to determine a vapour pressure of the operating liquid using the measurement of the second parameter
Implementation Method 2
Cavitation tends to be a significant cause of wear and failure in certain liquid ring pumps, especially those operating at a low-pressure/high-vacuum condition
Data Source
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AI summary
A system comprising: a liquid ring pump (10) comprising: a chamber (102); a suction inlet; an exhaust outlet; and an operating liquid inlet; a gas line (36) coupled to the liquid ring pump (10); a valve (8) disposed on the gas line (36); a first sensor (81) configured to measure a first parameter of the inlet fluid; a second sensor (82) configured to measure a second parameter of either the operating liquid, the exhaust fluid, or a fluid within the chamber; and a controller (20) configured to: determine a vapour pressure of the operating liquid using the second parameter; and control operation of the valve (8) based on the first parameter and the vapour pressure.