Submersible Pump Air Lock Prevention via Slit and Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submersible centrifugal pumps often experience air lock issues due to trapped air, leading to inefficient operation and requiring complex and costly solutions to resolve.
Innovation Solution
A submersible pump with an impeller housing featuring a slit for air escape and a control circuit that cycles the pump on and off to expel trapped air through the slit, ensuring the pump operates effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centrifugal pump is turned on prior to being submerged, then the pump can start operation, but air becomes trapped inside the housing causing air lock and preventing proper pumping operation
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is equipped with a pre-submersion requirement and an air release mechanism that activates before normal operation begins. The housing is designed to be filled with liquid first, then air is actively released through the air release hole, ensuring the pump starts in an air-free state rather than attempting to remove air during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
An air release hole is provided in the pump housing that allows trapped air to be extracted and removed from the system. This dedicated air extraction path separates the air removal function from the liquid pumping function, enabling air to be actively vented while liquid is pumped through the impeller.
2Reliability
If existing air lock prevention techniques are implemented, then air lock can be prevented, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing itself is designed with an integrated air release hole that leverages the natural buoyancy of air and the pumping action of the impeller to automatically expel air. The system uses its own operational mechanics (impeller rotation creating pressure differential) to drive air removal without requiring external air ejectors, valves, or complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A simple air release hole is provided at a specific location in the pump housing where air naturally accumulates. This localized feature addresses the air lock problem at the specific point where it occurs most frequently, rather than implementing a complex system-wide solution. The hole is positioned to take advantage of air's tendency to rise and accumulate at the highest point of the housing.
3Reliability
If the pump housing is sealed completely, then liquid containment is improved, but air becomes trapped and causes air lock
Solution Approach 1:
The pump housing is segmented into two functional zones: a liquid containment zone with sealed walls for pumping, and an air release zone through the air release hole. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain liquid tightness for pumping efficiency while providing a dedicated path for air to escape, separating the conflicting requirements of liquid containment and air release.
Solution Approach 2:
The air release hole acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the sealed liquid containment requirement and the air removal need. It provides a controlled interface where air can selectively pass through while liquid is contained and pumped, resolving the conflict between sealing integrity and air venting.
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 solution provides a cost-effective and efficient method to prevent air lock in centrifugal pumps by allowing trapped air to escape, ensuring the pump can function properly by filling with liquid and overcoming back pressure.
Implementation Method 1
cycle the pump on and off for a predetermined number of cycles so that the trapped air will float to the top and be expelled out the slit
Implementation Method 2
the impellers cannot create enough pressure to overcome the back pressure from the outlet hose
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Apparatus, including a pumping system, is provided featuring a pump and a control circuit. The pump has an impeller housing configured with a slit at the top for trapped air to leave the impeller housing once the pump has been submerged. The control circuit is configured to cycle the pump on and off for a predetermined number of cycles so that the trapped air will float to the top and be expelled out the slit when the pump is cycled off. The control circuit is configured to leave the pump on after the predetermined number of cycles.