Centrifugal Pump Balancing Disc with Annular Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal pumps face issues with high power consumption and fluctuations due to mechanical contact and wear in disc-type balancing means, which are exacerbated by high flow velocities and pressure differences in the balancing cavity, leading to increased friction and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a balancing disc with a counter member featuring non-axial surfaces and annular grooves that increase the cross-sectional flow area, reducing flow velocity and pressure differences, and a throttling mechanism to control liquid flow, thereby minimizing power consumption fluctuations and preventing mechanical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If disc-type balancing means are used in centrifugal pumps, then axial force balancing capability is improved, but power consumption increases and fluctuations occur due to high flow velocities and pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing disc is segmented into multiple functional zones: an inner region with smaller radius that handles high-pressure flow, and an outer region with larger radius that handles lower-pressure flow. This segmentation allows each zone to operate at optimized flow velocities, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining axial force balancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the balancing disc are designed with different local properties - the inner region has a smaller radius to handle high-pressure conditions, while the outer region has a larger radius for lower-pressure conditions. This local differentiation optimizes flow velocity distribution across the disc surface, minimizing power consumption fluctuations.
2Quantity of substance
If high flow velocities are used in the balancing cavity, then liquid flow from pump stages to balancing cavity is improved, but mechanical contact and wear between balancing disc and counter member increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing disc is designed to dynamically adjust its position relative to the counter member based on operating conditions. The varying radial clearance between the balancing disc and counter member automatically adjusts flow resistance, preventing excessive flow velocities that would cause mechanical contact and wear, while still allowing sufficient liquid flow to balance axial forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates a protective mechanism where the balancing disc and counter member are arranged to prevent direct mechanical contact through proper clearance design. This beforehand cushioning prevents wear before it occurs by maintaining an optimal gap that allows liquid flow without causing the discs to contact under normal operating conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the balancing disc operates with varying radial clearance, then automatic adjustment of flow resistance is improved, but power consumption fluctuations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balancing disc is divided into inner and outer regions with different radii, where each segment handles different pressure zones. This segmentation stabilizes power consumption by ensuring that as the disc moves and clearance varies, different segments compensate for each other, reducing overall power fluctuations while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design utilizes changes in the operating parameters (radial clearance, flow velocity, pressure distribution) across different regions of the balancing disc. By carefully designing the inner and outer regions with different parameters, the system achieves automatic adjustment while minimizing power consumption fluctuations through parameter optimization.
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 configuration results in stable, low-power operation with reduced wear, allowing the balancing means to maintain functionality without the need for frequent replacement and minimizing friction and impact-related damage.
Implementation Method 1
pressure differences in the balancing cavity
Implementation Method 2
axial forces of the centrifugal pump
Implementation Method 3
an impeller, or a plurality of impellers, draws liquid axially in the pump and discharges the liquid radially from the pump
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to single- or multi-stage centrifugal pumps having novel disc- type means for balancing the axial forces of the pump. The disc-type balancing means are provided with at least one annular groove (54) in at least one of the non-axial counter surfaces (50) and (52) of the balancing disc (22) and the counter member (28).