Magnetic Pump Containment With Secondary Sealed Barrier
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic-drive centrifugal pumps are prone to leakage and degradation due to exposure to caustic fluids, excessive pressure, and mechanical wear, posing health and safety risks from hazardous fluids.
Innovation Solution
Implement a secondary containment system using non-metallic static barriers and magnetic couplings to create a sealed secondary containment area, eliminating the need for dynamic seals and providing additional protection against fluid leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a magnetic-drive centrifugal pump is used to pump hazardous fluids, then the pump can handle caustic and corrosive liquids, but the containment shell may leak or burst due to exposure to excessive heat, pressure, or chemical erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested containment structure where a secondary containment shell is placed inside the primary containment shell. The secondary containment area houses the drive shaft and magnetic assembly, while the primary containment shell contains the pumped fluid. This nested arrangement ensures that if the primary containment shell fails due to chemical erosion or pressure, the secondary containment shell provides an additional barrier preventing hazardous fluid leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a non-metallic barrier layer as an intermediary between the pumped fluid and the primary containment shell. This barrier layer, made of chemically resistant material, mediates the interaction between corrosive fluids and the containment shell, protecting the shell from chemical erosion while allowing the pump to handle hazardous fluids.
2Power
If dynamic seals are used in the pump, then the pump can transmit rotational energy, but the dynamic seals may wear and fail, causing fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces dynamic mechanical seals with a magnetic coupling system. The magnetic assembly on the drive shaft magnetically couples with a magnetic driver outside the containment shell, transmitting rotational energy through magnetic fields rather than mechanical contact. This substitution eliminates wear and failure associated with dynamic seals while maintaining power transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the containment shell itself as an intermediary medium to transmit magnetic coupling forces. The magnetic assembly inside the containment shell interacts magnetically with the magnetic driver outside, using the shell as a barrier that does not impede magnetic field penetration. This allows energy transmission without mechanical penetration through the containment barrier.
3Ease of operation
If radial bearings are used to support the drive shaft, then the drive shaft can rotate smoothly, but excessive bearing wear may lead to rubbing or scraping mechanical contact between the impeller and containment shell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional radial bearings with magnetic bearing support. The magnetic assembly provides magnetic levitation and positioning of the drive shaft, eliminating mechanical contact and wear between bearing components. This substitution maintains smooth drive shaft rotation while preventing excessive wear that would lead to impeller-containment shell contact.
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 secondary containment system effectively isolates the drive motor from hazardous fluids, reducing the risk of leaks and ensuring safe operation by detecting and containing any breaches within the sealed secondary containment area.
Implementation Method 1
The drive shaft is arranged to rotate with one magnetic assembly, which is magnetically coupled to another magnetic assembly. The magnetic assemblies cooperate to apply torque to the pump shaft or an impeller
Implementation Method 2
a non-metallic first static barrier providing a static seal between the housing cavity of the pump and the secondary containment area; a non-metallic second static barrier providing a static seal between the secondary containment area and a surrounding environment
Data Source
AI summary
Intermediate drives may provide containment for fluid handling devices, such as pumps. Such intermediate drivees may one or more utilize magnetic drives to provide static barriers for mechanical devices. A fluid handling assembly may include a fluid handling device comprising a housing, a housing cavity, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. An intermediate drive may be positioned and configured to transmit energy from a motor to the fluid handling device while providing a secondary containment area that is separate from the primary containment area provided by the fluid handling device.