Centrifugal Pump Impeller Fixing Mechanism for Wet End Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrifugal slurry pumps in mineral processing require lengthy and costly procedures for replacing worn parts, leading to significant production losses due to the time-consuming process of realigning the impeller and drive shaft during repairs.
Innovation Solution
An impeller fixing mechanism using flexible elastomeric and stiff backing members allows the impeller to be immobilized and maintained in a centralized position, enabling the removal of the pump casing without disengaging the shaft from the drive, thus eliminating the need for realignment and reducing the time and cost of repairs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the pump casing is removed and wet end liners and impeller are replaced component by component, then the pump can be repaired, but the repair time exceeds eight hours due to the need for shaft realignment and wet end dismantling
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller is pre-fixed to the pump shaft assembly before removing the wet end, using a lifting device that maintains impeller centrality. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for time-consuming shaft realignment during reassembly, reducing repair time from over eight hours to under two hours
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized lifting device acts as an intermediary tool between the impeller and pump shaft, maintaining precise impeller positioning during wet end removal and reassembly. This device enables the impeller to remain centrally aligned without requiring complex realignment procedures
2Loss of time
If the complete pump is replaced instead of individual components, then repair time is reduced, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into replaceable modules: the wet end (casing with liners) can be removed and replaced as a unit, while the impeller remains fixed on the pump shaft assembly. This selective segmentation allows replacement of only worn components rather than the entire pump, reducing both time and cost compared to complete pump replacement
3Ease of operation
If the pump shaft is disengaged from the drive shaft during repair, then the wet end can be removed, but shaft realignment is required which increases repair time
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller is preliminarily secured to the pump shaft using the lifting device before wet end removal. This pre-positioning ensures that when the wet end is removed and reinstalled, the impeller remains correctly aligned with the drive shaft, eliminating the need for time-consuming realignment operations
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting device maintains the impeller in a centralized position throughout the wet end removal and reassembly process, allowing the shaft alignment to be maintained automatically without requiring additional realignment operations by the technician
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 significantly reduces the repair time to less than two hours, minimizing production losses and maintaining plant productivity by allowing the entire wet end to be replaced without realigning the pump shaft and drive shaft, thus addressing the inefficiencies of existing repair methods.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the two fixing elements comprises a flexible elastomeric member and a stiff backing member
Data Source
AI summary
An impeller fixing mechanism is provided in a centrifugal pump for immobilizing the impeller, relative to the pump shaft and drive shaft of the pump, while effecting repairs to the pump, thereby eliminating much of the labor-intensive need for realigning the pump shaft and drive shaft and assuring accurate positioning of the impeller relative to the pump shaft. A method for effecting repairs of centrifugal pumps employs use of the impeller fixing mechanism of the invention to immobilize the impeller relative to the pump shaft, thereby facilitating the repair.