Pump Assembly Guide Vanes for Turbulent Cooling Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pump assemblies in waste-heat producing systems, such as server racks and hybrid electric vehicles, face challenges in maximizing pumping efficiency while maintaining a small footprint and minimizing space occupation due to the turbulent nature of coolant fluids, which affects their ability to provide high-pressure flow.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pump assembly with guide vanes within hose connection ports, specifically inlet and outlet guide vanes, to streamline the flow of cooling fluids, reduce turbulence, and enhance pumping efficiency without increasing the assembly's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional pump assemblies are used to pump cooling fluids, then the pump can provide cooling function, but the turbulent nature of coolant fluids reduces pumping efficiency and pressure flow capability
Solution Approach 1:
Inlet guide vanes are positioned before the impeller to pre-condition the coolant flow, converting turbulent flow into more uniform flow patterns before the fluid enters the impeller. This preliminary flow conditioning reduces turbulence and improves pumping efficiency without requiring additional energy input during the pumping process.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide vanes act as an intermediary element between the coolant source and the impeller. These vanes mediate the flow characteristics by straightening and directing the coolant, reducing turbulence and improving the efficiency of energy transfer from the impeller to the fluid.
2Area of stationary object
If pump assembly size is reduced to minimize space occupation in crowded servers, then the footprint is reduced, but the ability to handle turbulent coolant flow and provide high-pressure flow is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The guide vanes are nested within the pump housing structure, with inlet guide vanes positioned in the inlet passage and outlet guide vanes positioned in the outlet passage. This nested arrangement allows the guide vanes to be integrated into the existing pump geometry without significantly increasing the overall footprint, while still providing flow conditioning to maintain pressure flow capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vanes utilize the radial dimension of the pump housing to provide flow conditioning. By positioning vanes at different radial locations and angles, the design achieves effective turbulence reduction and flow direction control within the constrained axial and radial dimensions of a compact pump assembly.
3Productivity
If guide vanes are added to streamline flow and reduce turbulence, then pumping efficiency is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow conditioning function is segmented into two distinct components: inlet guide vanes and outlet guide vanes. This segmentation allows each set of vanes to be optimized for its specific location and function, while also enabling independent design and manufacturing of each component, which can simplify the overall manufacturing process despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide vanes serve multiple functions simultaneously: they straighten turbulent flow, direct coolant toward the impeller, reduce vortex formation, and improve overall hydraulic efficiency. This multi-functionality is achieved through a relatively simple geometric structure, avoiding the need for multiple separate components and reducing overall system complexity.
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 improves the flow of cooling fluids at high pressure while occupying less space, thereby enhancing the overall performance and efficiency of the pump assembly in cooling waste-heat producing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the turbulent nature of coolant fluids, which affects their ability to provide high-pressure flow
Data Source
AI summary
Example implementations relate to a method and system for pumping fluid with a pump assembly to cool waste-heat producing system of an apparatus. The pump assembly includes a first housing, a rotor assembly, a stator assembly, a second housing, an outlet connection port coupled to the second housing, and a guide vane insert. The first housing includes a first bore and first inlet guide vanes (IGVs) coupled to inlet of the first bore. The rotor assembly including an impeller, is disposed in the first bore. The stator assembly including a coil, is mounted around a portion of the first housing. The second housing has a second bore fluidically coupled to the first bore, and first outlet guide vanes (OGVs) coupled at an entrance of the second bore. The guide vane insert including second OGVs, is disposed within the outlet connection port and fluidically coupled to outlet of the second bore.