Pump Cooling System with Adjustable Thermal Gap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump cooling systems face challenges with calcification in cooling passages and overcooling issues due to constant water supply, especially in dry vacuum pumps with varying heat loads based on inlet pressure.
Innovation Solution
A pump cooling system with a cooling body and a control mechanism that interrupts heat conduction at predefined temperatures, allowing continuous cooling fluid flow without cooling the pump when not needed, using a pressure chamber and valving to manage the heat conducting path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the water supply to the cooling plates is kept on regardless of the heat output of the pump, then calcification in the cooling passages is minimized, but overcooling of the pump occurs when the heat output is low
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling plate is designed to be movable relative to the pump housing, allowing the heat conducting path length to dynamically adjust based on pump temperature. When the pump is hot, the cooling plate moves closer to increase heat conduction; when the pump is cool, it moves away to reduce heat conduction and prevent overcooling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of heat conducting path length to control the degree of cooling. By varying the distance between the cooling plate and pump housing, the system adjusts thermal conductivity to match the pump's varying heat output, preventing both calcification and overcooling.
2Temperature
If a long heat-path to the cooling plates is provided to reduce overcooling, then pump temperature control is improved, but the system becomes ineffective when the quantity of heat to be removed is constant or high
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable heat conducting path allows the system to optimize cooling capacity dynamically. When high cooling power is needed, the path is shortened; when temperature control is needed, the path is lengthened. This resolves the contradiction between adequate cooling power and precise temperature control.
3Reliability
If the cooling water flow is turned off during hot operation to prevent calcification, then calcification is reduced, but the pump overheats and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the cooling function into two independent controls: water flow control and heat conduction control. This allows continuous water flow to prevent calcification while using the adjustable heat conducting path to control the actual cooling effect, preventing overheating.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable heat conducting path acts as an intermediary between the cooling water and the pump housing. It modulates the thermal energy transfer, allowing the system to maintain continuous water flow for calcification prevention while controlling the cooling effect to prevent overheating.
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
Prevents calcification and overcooling by maintaining cooling fluid flow while avoiding unnecessary cooling, enabling operation at desired temperatures and reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling body to be fitted to a pump housing to receive heat from said pump housing via a heat conducting path between said cooling body and pump housing
Implementation Method 2
said cooling body having a passage through which, in use, a cooling fluid is passed to conduct heat away from the cooling body
Implementation Method 3
said cooling control mechanism configured to provide a gap in said heat conducting path at pump operating temperatures below a predefined temperature whereby heat conduction from said pump housing to said cooling body is interruptible
Data Source
AI summary
A pump cooling system may include a cooling body configured to be fitted to a pump housing to receive heat from the pump housing via a heat conducting path between the cooling body and pump housing. The cooling body may have a passage through which, in use, a cooling fluid is passed to conduct heat away from the cooling body. The pump cooling system includes a cooling control mechanism configured to provide a gap in the heat conducting path at pump operating temperatures below a predefined temperature so heat conduction from the pump housing to the cooling body is interrupted.