Motionless Molten Salt Pump Using Venturi Pressure Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumps for high-temperature molten salts, such as centrifugal and magnetohydrodynamic pumps, face issues with corrosion, operational instability, and structural weaknesses, particularly in molten salt reactors, leading to performance degradation and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A motionless, corrosion-resistant pump design utilizing a pair of gas ejectors and an argon pneumatic system to generate continuous pressure variation through the venturi effect, eliminating electrical components and moving parts, and employing closed-loop gas flow circuits for stable flow management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional centrifugal pumps are used for high-temperature molten salt flow, then pumping function is achieved, but corrosion and wear lead to performance degradation and reliability issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the impeller and other moving parts that directly contact molten salt from the pumping system. Instead of using a conventional centrifugal pump with rotating components, the invention employs a motionless pump body with externally controlled flow regulation, eliminating the sources of corrosion and wear within the molten salt environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotating impeller system with a non-mechanical flow control mechanism. Flow regulation is achieved through externally actuated devices such as diaphragms or valves that do not require direct mechanical contact with the molten salt, thereby eliminating mechanical wear and corrosion issues.
2Temperature
If magnetohydrodynamic pumps are used for high-temperature molten salt flow, then high-temperature tolerance and compactness are improved, but electrical and magnetic fields accelerate corrosion on electrode walls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes electrical components such as motors, sensors, and solenoids from proximity to the molten salt fluid. The motionless pump design achieves flow control through purely mechanical or pneumatic means located outside the molten salt environment, eliminating the corrosive effects of electrical and magnetic fields on electrode walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary fluid or mechanism (such as a pneumatic diaphragm or external actuation system) that transmits control forces to the pump body without requiring direct electrical or magnetic field interaction with the molten salt. This intermediary isolates the molten salt from corrosive electrical and magnetic fields while maintaining pump functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If new corrosion-resistant alloys are used in pumps, then corrosion resistance is improved, but licensing and commercialization take extended time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for specialized corrosion-resistant alloys by eliminating direct contact between pump components and molten salt. The motionless pump design with externally controlled flow regulation allows the use of conventional, readily available materials that have already been licensed and approved, avoiding the lengthy certification process for new alloys.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conventional materials with established licensing and commercial availability rather than requiring expensive, newly developed corrosion-resistant alloys. The motionless pump design allows the use of standard engineering materials that can be quickly deployed without extended testing and certification periods.
4Productivity
If centrifugal pumps are used for molten salt flow, then pumping function is achieved, but operational stability issues arise from impeller corrosion and hydraulic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the impeller and other rotating components that are subject to corrosion and hydraulic instability. The motionless pump design maintains flow drive capability through externally controlled mechanisms that do not require rotating parts within the molten salt, thereby ensuring operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical impeller system with a non-mechanical or externally actuated flow control system. This substitution eliminates the instability caused by impeller corrosion and hydraulic loads while maintaining the ability to drive molten salt flow effectively.
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
Enhances reliability, safety, and efficiency by preventing corrosion and wear, ensuring stable flow rates, and reducing maintenance costs, while being suitable for high-temperature molten salt applications.
Implementation Method 1
generate continuous pressure variation through the venturi effect
Data Source
AI summary
A motionless pumping design that reduces operation and maintenance costs, and enhances reliability in three aspects of pneumatics system configuration. A motionless and corrosion-resistant pump which uses the continuous generation of pressure variation push/pull force by relying on the venturi effect induced by a pair of gas ejectors together with an argon pneumatic sub-system.