Reciprocating Pump Drive Unit Lubrication via Working Fluid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reciprocating pumps face issues with oil oxidation and mist formation due to mixing with the working fluid, leading to increased maintenance and environmental concerns, as well as high temperatures within the drive unit.
Innovation Solution
The reciprocating pump incorporates a flow path within the drive unit case for the working fluid to bathe and lubricate the drive unit, eliminating the need for oil and reducing the risk of fluid mixing, thereby cooling and lubricating components without oil, and simplifying maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If oil is used to lubricate the drive unit, then the drive unit is lubricated and cooled, but the oil mixes with the liquid in use, causing oxidation, deterioration, and high temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful element (oil) from the system and replaces it with the working liquid itself. The drive unit is designed to be directly bathed in the liquid in use, eliminating the need for separate lubrication oil and preventing mixing issues, oxidation, and deterioration problems associated with traditional oil lubrication systems
Solution Approach 2:
The working liquid serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both the process fluid being pumped and the lubricant for the drive unit. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate lubrication systems and ensures that the same fluid provides both operational and protective functions without contamination risks
2Reliability
If multiple seals (high-pressure seal, low-pressure seal, oil seal) are used to prevent fluid mixing, then sealing is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the low-pressure seal and oil seal from the traditional three-seal configuration. By having the drive unit directly bathed in the liquid in use, the function of the low-pressure seal (backing up the high-pressure seal) and the oil seal (preventing oil leakage) becomes redundant, as there is no separate oil system to protect
Solution Approach 2:
The single high-pressure seal performs multiple sealing functions that were previously distributed across three seals. It prevents liquid in use from leaking into the drive unit while the drive unit operates immersed in the same liquid, eliminating the need for additional sealing layers
3Ease of operation
If oil is used for lubrication, then the drive unit operates smoothly, but oil mist is generated and environmental load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the lubrication system by replacing oil with the working liquid. This substitution eliminates the formation of oil mist and associated environmental hazards while maintaining effective lubrication through the same liquid that serves as the process fluid
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts what would traditionally be a harmful separation issue (liquid and oil mixing) into a beneficial unified system where the working liquid provides both process and lubrication functions, eliminating oil mist generation and environmental contamination
4Power
If high pressure is generated in the pump chamber, then pumping performance is improved, but the high-pressure seal becomes subject to higher thermal load and requires additional cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure seal cools itself by being in direct contact with the liquid in use, which flows through the drive unit case. The seal's own operating environment provides the cooling medium, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems while maintaining effective sealing under high pressure conditions
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 reduces maintenance costs, minimizes environmental impact, and effectively cools the high-pressure seal, improving overall pump efficiency and manageability.
Implementation Method 1
the liquid in use flows through the flow path (R) formed within the drive unit case (4), so as to bathe the drive unit (M) therewith, thereby lubricating and cooling the drive unit (M)
Implementation Method 2
the liquid in use flowing through the drive unit case (4) comes into contact with the rear side of the high-pressure seal (18) and thus can fully cool the high-pressure seal (18)
Data Source
AI summary
In a reciprocating pump comprising a reciprocating member adapted to reciprocate as driven by a drive unit contained in a drive unit case, so as to perform a pumping action such that a liquid in use is aspirated into a pump chamber formed axially in front of the reciprocating member and pushed out under pressure and further comprising a high-pressure seal in slidable contact with an outer peripheral surface of the reciprocating member axially behind the pump chamber so as to prevent the liquid in use from leaking out when a high pressure is generated in the pump chamber, a flow path for the liquid in use to flow so as to bathe the drive unit therewith is provided within the drive unit case, while the rear side of the high-pressure seal is in contact with the liquid in use flowing through the drive unit case.