Metering Pump Degassing via Impulse-Driven Bubble Accumulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas formation in the pumping chambers of dosing pumps, especially during dosing pauses, leads to increased pressure and suspension of the dosing process, as seen with outgassing substances like hydrogen peroxide, causing pressure equalization and improper fluid transfer.

Innovation Solution

A metering pump design with a displacement body that performs small suction and pressure strokes to detach and accumulate gas bubbles, using mechanical, hydraulic, or magnetic drives, and vibratory oscillations to ensure gas is released without fluid, allowing for controlled degassing and preventing pump failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pump operates during dosing pauses, then gas bubbles accumulate in the pumping chamber, but if the pump stops, then dosing process is suspended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing process continuityVSAvoidgas volume in pumping chamber
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical vibration through the displacement body to detach gas bubbles from the chamber walls and facilitate their removal. The vibration causes the gas bubbles to separate from surfaces where they would otherwise accumulate, enabling more effective degassing during pump operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by executing repeated cycles of partial suction and pressure strokes. This periodic operation allows the pump to periodically remove gas bubbles from the chamber while maintaining continuous operation, preventing gas accumulation without suspending the dosing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Loss of substance

If small partial strokes are executed to remove gas bubbles, then gas can be released without fluid loss, but pump productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefluid lossVSAvoiddosing output
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by executing only the necessary portion of the full pump stroke cycle. Instead of complete suction and pressure strokes, the pump performs partial strokes that are sufficient to remove gas bubbles but minimize fluid displacement. This allows gas removal while maintaining overall pump productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service degassing by automatically executing partial stroke sequences when gas accumulation is detected. The pump monitors its own gas content and initiates corrective action without external intervention, removing gas bubbles during normal operation to prevent dosing disruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If the pressure valve opens for pressure equalization, then gas can escape, but fluid is also discharged into the pressure line

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegas removalVSAvoidfluid discharge
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detaching gas bubbles from chamber walls before pressure equalization occurs. Through vibration and partial strokes, gas bubbles are freed and positioned for removal in advance, so that when the pressure valve opens, primarily gas is discharged rather than fluid.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts gas bubbles from the pumping chamber through targeted partial strokes and vibration. By selectively removing gas phases before full pressure equalization, the system separates gas removal from fluid discharge, allowing gas to be taken out through the pressure valve while minimizing fluid loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 method effectively reduces gas volume in the pumping chamber, ensuring accurate dosing by maintaining pressure balance and preventing fluid loss, thus improving pump starting behavior and operational reliability.

Implementation Method 1

The execution of the impulse is advantageously ensured that the proportion of gas in the delivery chamber of the metering pump does not exceed the level that leads to a pump failure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

which then preferably rise in the direction of the pressure valve, preferably in order to form a collecting gas bubble there on the conveying chamber side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Implementation Method 3

If the pressure in the pumping chamber now increases, the collected gas bubbles that are preferably present at the pressure valve escape from the pumping chamber into the pressure line in the form of outlet gas bubbles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2368041B1Metering pump with device for degassing the pumping chamber
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 GRUNDFOS MANAGEMENT AS
  • EP2368041B1 patent drawingFigure 1.1~1.4
  • EP2368041B1 patent drawingFigure 1.5~1.8
  • EP2368041B1 patent drawingFigure 2.1~2.4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for degassing a transport chamber (1) of a metering pump, comprising performing impulse generation, wherein gas bubbles arising from the gas-forming fluid and adhering to the inner surfaces in the transport chamber (1) are released from said surfaces, wherein the gas bubbles (4,4', 8,8') present in the transport chamber (1) accumulate, perform a motion (c) in the direction of the pressure valve (6), and form an accumulated gas bubble (7) on the transport chamber side of the pressure valve (6). An increase in pressure causes the accumulated gas bubble present at the pressure valve (6) to escape from the transport chamber (1) as discharge gas bubbles (7') into the pressure line. The invention further relates to a metering pump comprising a device present in the transport chamber for performing the impulse generation.