Marine Water Pump Impeller Dry Run Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Starting a marine engine while out of water causes the impeller of the water pump to spin dry, leading to premature failure due to extended frictional forces, as it takes time for coolant in closed loop systems to reach operating temperature, and sea water impellers fail quickly under these conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a water pump with an impeller chamber, a reservoir, and a flow controller that allows controlled fluid communication between the reservoir and the impeller chamber, enabling the introduction of cooling liquid to prevent damage during dry operation by activating a valve upon engine start signal and water presence detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the engine is started while out of water, then rapid deployment and engine operation are enabled, but the impeller suffers from dry running friction and premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a reservoir that stores water beforehand and a flow controller that activates upon detecting engine start without water presence. This preliminary preparation allows water to be supplied to the impeller chamber before dry running damage occurs, enabling safe engine operation during out-of-water conditions while protecting the impeller from frictional damage
2Reliability
If a reservoir and flow controller are added to protect the impeller, then impeller reliability during dry operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is integrated with the pump housing, and the flow controller is incorporated into the existing pump structure. This merging approach allows the protection system to be added without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as components are combined rather than added as separate external assemblies
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
Enables safe operation of marine engines without damaging the impeller, allowing them to reach operating temperature before being placed in water, facilitating rapid deployment in time-sensitive applications by preventing impeller failure during extended dry running.
Implementation Method 1
fluid in the reservoir can be permitted to flow via a controllable flow path to an impeller chamber of the water pump fluidly connected to the reservoir. An impeller contained in the impeller chamber can be cooled and lubricated by the fluid entering the impeller chamber
Implementation Method 2
An impeller contained in the impeller chamber can be cooled and lubricated by the fluid entering the impeller chamber, and thus avoid damage from frictional forces
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates a water pump, a system for cooling internal combustion engine components including a water pump, and a method for operating an internal combustion engine including a water pump. The water pump, system and method provide protection of the pump impeller during dry pump operation, such as when a watercraft engine is started while the watercraft is out of water, by dispensing fluid from a reservoir to the pump's impeller chamber. The fluid enters the chamber via a controllable flow path and interacts with the impeller and chamber walls to cool and lubricate the impeller.