Reciprocating Pump Dampening Pressure Pulsations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating pumps used in large-scale applications, such as earth drilling and mining, face challenges with high output pressures and flow rates, handling abrasive liquids and solid particles, and experience undesirable pressure pulsations that lead to operational inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a housing with a pump chamber and an intermediate fluid chamber, a membrane, and accumulators connected via throttles to dampen pressure fluctuations, converting pulsation energy into heat and reducing vibrations and cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If reciprocating pumps are used to achieve high output pressures and flow rates, then pumping capability is improved, but pressure pulsations are generated causing operational inefficiencies and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate fluid chamber as a mediator between the pump chamber and the pumped fluid. This intermediate chamber acts as a buffer that decouples the direct connection between the reciprocating pump mechanism and the pumped medium, thereby reducing the transmission of pressure pulsations to the pumped fluid while maintaining the high power output capability of the reciprocating pump
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful pressure pulsations from the main pumping system by separating the pump chamber from the pumped fluid chamber using a membrane. The intermediate fluid chamber contains the pressure fluctuations, effectively taking out the harmful pulsations from the pumped fluid path while preserving the pumping function
2Productivity
If reciprocating pumps operate with high power output, then productivity is improved, but operational reliability decreases due to pressure pulsations and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate fluid chamber serves as a mediator that protects the pumped fluid system from the high-frequency pressure pulsations generated by the reciprocating pump. This intermediary structure maintains operational reliability by preventing damage to downstream components while allowing the pump to operate at high productivity levels
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane separating the pump chamber from the intermediate fluid chamber acts as a flexible barrier that isolates the high-frequency pressure fluctuations. This flexible film allows the pump to maintain high productivity while protecting the reliability of the pumped fluid system by blocking the transmission of damaging pressure waves
3Device complexity
If pressure pulsations are not dampened, then device complexity is reduced, but harmful effects such as cavitation and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate fluid chamber acts as a built-in dampening intermediary that naturally reduces high-frequency pressure fluctuations without requiring additional complex external dampening devices. This simple intermediary structure effectively reduces cavitation and vibrations while adding minimal complexity to the overall pump design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful high-frequency pressure pulsations into beneficial pressure equalization within the intermediate fluid chamber. The membrane and intermediate chamber work together to transform the damaging pulsations into a stabilizing effect, reducing cavitation and vibrations while maintaining the pumping function
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 effectively dampens high-frequency pressure fluctuations, enhancing operational reliability, reducing maintenance needs, and improving efficiency in handling demanding fluids like drilling mud and slurry, while maintaining high output capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an accumulator fluidly connected to the intermediate fluid chamber via a throttle
Implementation Method 2
The accumulator may be configured to dampen pressure fluctuations in the intermediate chamber which have a frequency higher than a reciprocating speed of the pump
Implementation Method 3
a membrane arranged within the housing... The membrane delimits the pump chamber from the intermediate fluid chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A pump for pumping a pumping mud or a slurry. The pump includes a housing having a pump chamber and an intermediate fluid chamber, a membrane arranged within the housing, a reciprocal pumping member operatively arranged in the intermediate fluid chamber, and an accumulator fluidly connected to the intermediate fluid chamber via a throttle. The pump chamber has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The membrane delimits the pump chamber from the intermediate fluid chamber.