Electro-Mechanical Pump Actuation for Low-Ripple Fluid Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Crankshaft-driven fluid pumps deliver fluid inconsistently due to sinusoidal crankshaft speed, leading to ripple effects and limited control over dynamic changes in operating conditions, making it difficult to maintain consistent flow rate and pressure in large-scale fluid systems.
Innovation Solution
A multi-channel electro-mechanical actuation system with individually controlled electro-mechanical actuators and a control system that adjusts the speed and phase of each actuator to match target output, allowing for granular control and minimizing ripple effects by dynamically responding to operating conditions, including deactivation or degradation of actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a crankshaft is used to drive multiple pump pistons, then the pump system can deliver high flow rate and high pressure, but the sinusoidal speed variation of the crankshaft causes ripple effects and inconsistent fluid delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into multiple independently controlled pump channels, each with its own actuator. This segmentation allows individual control of each piston's speed and phase, enabling compensation of ripple effects through coordinated operation of multiple channels while maintaining high flow rate capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the speed and phase of each electro-mechanical actuator based on real-time operating conditions and detected ripple effects. This dynamic control allows the system to maintain consistent fluid delivery by compensating for sinusoidal speed variations through active phase and speed modulation of individual actuators.
2Stress or pressure
If all pump pistons are linked to crankshaft rotation, then the system can operate at high pressure, but the system cannot independently control individual pistons to compensate for ripple effects or dynamic changes
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanically coupled crankshaft system is replaced with segmented electro-mechanical actuators, where each actuator independently drives its own piston. This segmentation provides both the high pressure capability through coordinated multi-channel operation and the independent control flexibility to adjust each piston's speed and phase according to specific operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system detects operating conditions and ripple effects from each pump channel and uses this feedback to independently adjust the speed and phase of individual electro-mechanical actuators. This feedback mechanism enables adaptive control that maintains output pressure while compensating for dynamic changes and minimizing ripple effects.
3Stability of the object's composition
If electro-mechanical actuators are individually controlled, then ripple effects can be minimized and fluid delivery can be stabilized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pump channels share common control system architecture and electro-mechanical actuator designs, allowing the system to achieve complex coordinated control through standardized components. The control system manages multiple channels using unified algorithms for ripple detection and compensation, reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-channel configuration.
4Productivity
If the system operates at high flow rate, then productivity is high, but the ripple effects disrupt fluid delivery to the fluid user
Solution Approach 1:
The high flow rate is achieved through parallel operation of multiple pump channels, each contributing to the total flow. The segmentation of flow delivery across multiple independently controlled channels allows ripple effects from individual channels to be averaged out and compensated, enabling high productivity with smooth, consistent fluid delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system detects ripple effects generated by individual pump channels and uses this information to adjust the speed and phase of corresponding actuators. By converting the harmful ripple effects into control signals, the system minimizes disruptions while maintaining high flow rate operation, turning the problem of ripple detection into a benefit for fluid delivery stability.
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 system provides a consistent and stable fluid delivery with a high turn-down ratio, minimizing ripple and maintaining output even under varying conditions, such as reduced flow demands or actuator degradation, ensuring efficient operation across different operating states.
Implementation Method 1
Each electro-mechanical actuator is operatively coupled to a corresponding piston and is configured to reciprocate the piston within the cylinder
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for a piston-driven fluid pump, including a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators, and a control system electrically connected to the actuators. Each actuator is configured to operatively couple with a piston of the fluid pump. The control system is configured to determine a target output of fluid to be pumped by the fluid pump, individually control a speed and a phase at which each actuator actuates the piston, such that the cylinders collectively pump fluid at an actual output that corresponds to the target output, and in response to detecting an operating condition, individually adjust the speed and/or the phase at which one or more of the actuators actuates the piston based on the operating condition to thereby cause the actual output of the fluid pump to correspond to an updated target output.