Modular Fluid Pump Outlet Orientation for Application Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fluid pumps for fuel cell systems are typically adapted to specific applications, requiring costly and elaborate conversions when switching to different applications, as they are not easily adaptable due to their fixed designs.
Innovation Solution
The fluid pump design allows for the impeller unit and its housing to be replaced, with the electric motor remaining unchanged, enabling the fluid outlet to be positioned in multiple angles, thus allowing for easy adaptation to various applications without needing to replace the motor or fastening unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the fluid pump is designed with a fixed configuration for a specific application, then the motor and fastening unit can be optimized for that application, but the pump requires costly and elaborate conversions when switching to different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid pump is divided into a fixed motor unit and a replaceable impeller unit. The impeller unit can be exchanged depending on the application requirements, allowing optimization for specific applications while maintaining adaptability. The motor housing and fastening unit remain fixed and unchanged across different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor unit is designed as a universal base that can work with multiple different impeller units. The motor housing, fastening unit, and coupling are designed to accommodate various impeller configurations, enabling a single motor unit to serve multiple applications by simply changing the impeller unit.
2Manufacturing precision
If the fluid pump is designed with fixed inlet/outlet positions, then the internal flow paths can be optimized, but the pump cannot be easily adapted to different system configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet and outlet connections are integrated into the replaceable impeller unit rather than the fixed motor housing. This allows the impeller unit to be designed with optimized internal flow paths while enabling the entire unit to be rotated or replaced to achieve different inlet/outlet orientations for different system configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller unit is designed to be rotatable or replaceable on the motor shaft, allowing dynamic adjustment of the inlet/outlet positions. This enables the pump to adapt to different system configurations by rotating the impeller unit to the appropriate angular position or replacing it with one oriented for the required configuration.
3Reliability
If the entire fluid pump is replaced to adapt to a different application, then all components can be optimized for the new application, but the cost and effort of conversion increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is segmented into a permanent motor unit and a replaceable impeller unit. When adapting to a new application, only the impeller unit needs to be replaced rather than the entire pump, significantly reducing conversion cost and effort while still achieving optimization for the new application.
Solution Approach 2:
The impeller unit is designed as a consumable or application-specific component that can be discarded or replaced, while the expensive motor unit is recovered and reused. This allows optimization for different applications through inexpensive impeller replacements rather than replacing the entire expensive pump system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the impeller unit is designed to be replaceable, then adaptability to different applications improves, but the connection between impeller and motor may become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the impeller unit and motor is integrated into a unified connection structure that combines mechanical coupling, sealing, and positioning functions. This merging of functions into a single integrated interface simplifies the overall connection design while enabling easy replacement and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection interface between the impeller unit and motor is designed as a universal coupling that can accommodate different impeller types while maintaining a standardized connection mechanism. This universal interface reduces the complexity of the connection structure by using a single design for multiple applications rather than requiring different connection mechanisms for each impeller type.
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
This design enables cost-effective and efficient adaptation of the fluid pump to different applications by allowing the impeller unit to be easily swapped and positioned, maintaining the motor's integrity and reducing the need for extensive modifications.
Implementation Method 1
an impeller (4) that is rotatable about an axis of rotation (RA) in a direction of rotation (RR)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid pump (1). The fluid pump (1) includes an impeller unit (2) having an impeller (4) and an impeller housing (3) and to an electric motor (6) having a motor housing (10). On the impeller housing (3), a fluid inlet (5a) and a fluid outlet (5b) are formed. The impeller housing (3) is firmly connected to the motor housing (10) by means of a fastening unit (30).It is substantial that the fluid outlet (5b) with respect to the motor housing (10) can be arranged in one of at least two possible positions (P1.1, P2.1), wherein the possible positions (P1.1, P2.1) differ from one another by an angle of rotation (DW).