Pump casing for a centrifugal pump and centrifugal pump
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal pumps face sealing issues due to pressure and temperature-induced deformations, leading to opening or enlargement of sealing gaps between housing parts, which compromises the sealing function, especially in high-pressure and high-temperature applications like ebullator pumps.
Innovation Solution
A pump casing design with a first housing part having an annular protrusion and a second housing part with an annular recess, where the protrusion engages with the recess to prevent or reduce the opening of the sealing gap, ensuring reliable sealing even under pressure and temperature-induced deformations, and providing outside centering and even loading of the radial sealing element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If radial sealing arrangement is used with housing parts firmly secured by bolts and nuts, then the pump can operate under high pressure, but the sealing gap opens or enlarges due to pressure-induced deformation of the weaker housing part
Solution Approach 1:
The annular protrusion and recess are designed to preemptively counteract the opening tendency of the sealing gap caused by pressure-induced deformation. The protrusion fits into the recess to mechanically prevent the sealing gap from opening, addressing the deformation issue before it compromises the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The annular protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the two housing parts. It provides a mechanical interface that accommodates differential deformation while maintaining sealing gap closure, mediating between the weaker and stronger housing parts under pressure.
2Strength
If the housing parts are firmly secured to each other, then structural integrity is maintained, but the sealing element is subjected to uneven loading and may extrude or deform
Solution Approach 1:
The annular protrusion creates a localized stress distribution pattern that concentrates support at the sealing interface. This local structural feature ensures uniform loading on the sealing element precisely where needed, while the rest of the housing parts maintain their overall structural integrity through the bolt connections.
3Reliability
If the sealing gap is kept small for effective sealing, then sealing performance improves, but the sealing element is more susceptible to deformation and extrusion under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The annular protrusion and recess arrangement provides a pre-configured mechanical constraint that cushions the sealing element against pressure-induced deformation. This protective structure is built in advance to absorb and distribute the high pressure forces, preventing them from directly deforming or extruding the sealing element.
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 design effectively prevents the opening of sealing gaps and ensures a reliable sealing function in high-pressure and high-temperature conditions, maintaining the integrity of the sealing element and preventing bending or tilting, thus ensuring proper sealing performance.
Implementation Method 1
pressure and temperature-induced deformations
Implementation Method 2
pressure and temperature-induced deformations
Data Source
AI summary
A pump casing for a centrifugal pump has a first housing part, a second housing part sealingly attached to the first housing part, a plurality of securing elements for linking the first and the second housing part, and a radial sealing element for sealing between the first and the second housing parts, the first housing part has a first axial end surface, and the second housing part has a second axial end surface, the first and second axial end surfaces facing each other, and the first axial end surface includes an annular protrusion extending in the axial direction and the second axial end surface includes an annular recess configured for engaging with the annular protrusion, the annular protrusion arranged radially inwardly with respect to the securing elements.