Pump Drive Unit Shaft Storage Chambers Barrier Fluid Dilution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pump drive units used in extreme conditions, such as ebullated bed processes, face challenges in maintaining operational safety and reliability due to potential disruptions in the supply of sealing fluid, which can lead to process fluid ingress and damage to the drive components.
Innovation Solution
A pump drive unit design featuring a common housing with a throttle and multiple storage chambers for the barrier fluid, allowing for controlled dilution of process fluid in case of reduced barrier fluid volume, preventing damage to the drive even during faults or failures in the sealing fluid supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the barrier fluid supply is disrupted, then the drive is exposed to process fluid ingress, but the drive components can be damaged by aggressive process fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The storage chambers are pre-filled with barrier fluid before operation begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that when a supply disruption occurs, the pre-stored barrier fluid is already in position to immediately dilute any process fluid that enters, preventing damage without requiring active response time
Solution Approach 2:
The storage chambers act as a protective buffer or cushion between the drive and the process fluid. By pre-storing barrier fluid in these chambers, the system creates a protective barrier that absorbs and dilutes harmful process fluid before it can reach and damage the drive components
2Reliability
If multiple storage chambers are added to the shaft, then process fluid dilution capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage chambers are nested within the shaft structure, with each chamber positioned sequentially along the shaft's length. This nested arrangement allows multiple storage chambers to be integrated into the existing shaft geometry without requiring separate external components, thereby minimizing the increase in overall device complexity while maximizing the dilution capability
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
Ensures the drive is protected from process fluid ingress by diluting it to non-damaging concentrations, allowing for safe operation or controlled shutdown, and effective flushing of contaminated fluid upon rectification of the fault, enhancing operational reliability and reducing the risk of mechanical seal failures.
Implementation Method 1
the barrier fluid diluting the process fluid in each of the storage chambers
Implementation Method 2
a throttle which extends around the shaft and which is provided between the impeller and the drive
Data Source
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AI summary
A pump-drive unit for conveying a process fluid is proposed, comprising a common housing (4) enclosing a pump (2) with an impeller (21) for rotation about an axial direction (A) and a drive (3) for the pump (2), a shaft (5) for driving the impeller (21) which connects the drive (3) to the pump (2), and a throttle (13) which extends around the shaft (5) and which is provided between the impeller (21) and the drive (3), wherein the housing (4) has a pump inlet (22) and a pump outlet (23) for the process fluid, wherein an inlet (43) is provided for a barrier fluid through which the barrier fluid can be introduced into the drive (3), and an outlet (44) for the barrier fluid through which the barrier fluid can be discharged from the housing (4).and wherein a plurality of storage chambers (11) for the barrier fluid are provided on the shaft (5) in the area between the throttle (13) and the drive (3), which storage chambers (11) are arranged one behind the other with respect to the axial direction (A), wherein two adjacent storage chambers (11) are fluidically connected to each other.