Multiport Swashplate Pump Flow Paths for Cavitation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional swashplate pumps face issues with unbalanced forces, cavitation, hydraulic lock, and inefficient fluid flow, which lead to increased maintenance costs and reduced efficiency, particularly in applications like downhole oil and gas exploration.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a multiport pump system with a valve plate having multiple ports, including an equilibrator port connected to a fluid reservoir, ensuring balanced fluid volume and flow by adjusting fluid volume within the pump, reducing cavitation and hydraulic lock, and maintaining constant fluid flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional swashplate pump designs are used, then the pump structure is simple and well-established, but unbalanced forces cause cavitation, hydraulic lock, and increased maintenance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into multiple independent working chambers (first working chamber and second working chamber) with separate fluid pathways. Each chamber has its own inlet port, outlet port, and valve plate configuration, allowing independent operation and balancing of fluid forces to prevent cavitation and hydraulic lock
Solution Approach 2:
The valve plates are designed with asymmetric port configurations - the first valve plate has a first inlet port and first outlet port positioned differently than the second valve plate's second inlet port and second outlet port. This asymmetric arrangement creates balanced unbalanced forces that counteract each other, preventing cavitation and hydraulic lock while maintaining simple established pump structure
2Reliability
If multiport valve plates with multiple ports are implemented, then balanced fluid volume and flow are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve plates serve multiple functions simultaneously: they direct fluid flow through multiple ports, balance fluid volumes between chambers, control inlet and outlet flow paths, and maintain constant fluid volume within the pump. The first valve plate and second valve plate each handle multiple flow control tasks, reducing the need for additional separate components
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple flow control functions are merged into the valve plate structure itself. The inlet ports, outlet ports, and fluid balancing pathways are integrated directly into the valve plate design rather than being separate components. The first valve plate and second valve plate are positioned adjacent to each other and work together as a unified flow control system
Data Source
AI summary
Multiport pumps and associated pumping systems are described that provide a selective hydraulic or electrically powered pump/pump system. The pumps provide movement within a device or larger system. Movement can cause compression/expansion of a fluid and provide fluid movement within the same device or system. In this instance, the volume of fluid and the fluid flow path within, from, and to the pump(s) is kept constant to reduce or eliminate cavitation, seizure, and/or hydraulic lock. Use of at least one reservoir comprising; a compensator tank, a port allowing for operation at ambient pressure, and a pressure measuring device measuring pressure allowing for unbalanced flow to and from the multiport pumps along with thermal expansion or compression is detailed. In addition, use of a multiport swashplate pumps and associated valve plates that incorporate the features and functions of several valves not heretofore provided within the pump itself is also described.