Multi-chamber Impeller Pump for High Flow Rate and Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flexible impeller pumps face limitations in achieving higher flow rates and pressure capabilities due to their design, which restricts the efficiency of fluid propulsion and pressure differential between outlets and inlets.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber impeller pump design featuring a hub with radially extending blades, circumferentially spaced cams with engagement edges and arcuate cam surfaces, and evacuation ports that form unit chambers as the impeller rotates, allowing for increased fluid displacement and pressure by minimizing backward flexing of impeller vanes and reducing unnecessary angular travel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fluid is propelled a significant distance through the pump, then flow rate increases, but efficiency per revolution decreases due to reduced pressure differential
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into multiple chambers (at least two chambers) within the impeller, allowing fluid to be propelled through shorter distances in each chamber rather than one long path. This segmentation increases the number of fluid units processed per revolution while maintaining efficient propulsion distance, thereby improving both flow rate and efficiency per revolution
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-chamber radial flow path to a multi-chamber configuration that utilizes circumferential spacing of chambers around the impeller hub. This dimensional arrangement allows parallel processing of multiple fluid units simultaneously, increasing overall flow rate while each fluid unit travels an optimized distance appropriate for maintaining pressure differential efficiency
2Device complexity
If minimal distance is provided between inlets and outlets, then device complexity reduces, but pressure capabilities decrease due to reduced resistance to backward flexing
Solution Approach 1:
The pump chamber is segmented into multiple discrete chambers arranged circumferentially around the hub. Each chamber provides an optimized flow path length that balances structural simplicity with sufficient distance to generate required pressure differential, avoiding the need for excessively long single-chamber paths while maintaining pressure capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-chamber configuration creates periodic action as each chamber sequentially processes fluid units. This periodic arrangement allows the impeller to maintain pressure differential across multiple chambers simultaneously, achieving high pressure capabilities without requiring excessive distance in any single chamber, thus balancing complexity and pressure requirements
3Device complexity
If single-chamber design is used, then device complexity is reduced, but flow rate is limited due to restricted fluid propulsion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller is divided into multiple chambers (at least two) arranged circumferentially around the hub, with each chamber capable of independently processing fluid units. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple fluid units per revolution, significantly increasing flow rate while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular chamber design
Solution Approach 2:
Each chamber in the multi-chamber configuration performs the same fluid propulsion function, making them universally interchangeable units. This multi-functional arrangement allows the pump to process multiple fluid units simultaneously through identical chamber designs, increasing flow rate without proportionally increasing complexity, as each chamber is a replicated functional unit
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 multi-chamber design enhances flow rates and pressure capabilities, reducing 'dead space' and allowing operation even when air is present, while maintaining structural integrity and preventing backflow, thus improving the efficiency and versatility of fluid propulsion.
Implementation Method 1
the end of the leading blade contacts a respective lobe and displaces the leading blade to decrease the volume of the unit chamber and expel fluid from the unit chamber through a respective evacuation port
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-chamber impeller pump includes an impeller, circumferentially spaced cams defining an impeller chamber, and circumferentially spaced evacuation ports. Each cam includes an engagement edge, an arcuate cam surface sloping radially inward, and a lobe. Each evacuation port is proximal to an intersection of a respective arcuate cam surface and lobe. As the impeller rotates, a corresponding end of a leading blade contacts a respective engagement edge and then a corresponding end of a trailing blade contacts the respective engagement edge thereby forming a unit chamber between leading and trailing blades. As the impeller continues to rotate, the end of the leading blade contacts a respective lobe and displaces the leading blade to decrease the volume of the unit chamber and expel fluid from the unit chamber through a respective evacuation port. A method of using the multi-chamber impeller pump is also disclosed.