Pump Lantern Cooling Ribs for Motor Heat Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Centrifugal pumps delivering hot fluids cause heat emission towards the electric motor, leading to reduced efficiency, component damage, and overheating issues, necessitating larger spacings that compromise installation and increase vibration.

Innovation Solution

A lantern with surface-enlarging elements, such as cooling ribs, is used between the pump and motor casings to enhance heat dissipation, featuring optimized airflow guidance and thermal uncoupling, utilizing materials with low thermal conductivity and high thermal conductivity for the ribs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a large spacing is implemented between the pump casing and electric motor to avoid heat-related problems, then the motor efficiency and component lifetime are improved, but the pump arrangement dimensions increase and installation flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor efficiency and component lifetimeVSAvoidpump arrangement dimensions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lantern serves as an intermediary component between the pump casing and motor casing, incorporating heat dissipation elements that actively manage thermal transfer. This mediator approach allows reduced spacing while maintaining motor protection, as the lantern's cooling ribs and airflow channels prevent excessive heat accumulation despite closer proximity to the heat source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful heat flow from pump casing to motor into a beneficial cooling mechanism. The lantern's design captures the thermal energy that would otherwise harm the motor and redirects it through controlled airflow paths, using the heat itself to drive convection currents that enhance cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If a large spacing is implemented between the pump casing and electric motor to avoid heat-related problems, then the motor efficiency and component lifetime are improved, but the driveshaft length increases and vibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor efficiency and component lifetimeVSAvoidvibration and system stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lantern acts as a structural intermediary that supports the driveshaft at intermediate points, providing additional mounting positions for bearings or support elements. This mediator structure reduces driveshaft span length and associated vibrations while still allowing sufficient thermal management spacing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If cooling air flow is increased to improve heat dissipation from the lantern, then the lantern heat dissipation is improved, but the flow resistance onto the pump casing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelantern heat dissipationVSAvoidflow resistance onto pump casing

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lantern incorporates locally optimized airflow channels and cooling rib configurations that direct cooling air preferentially across high-heat areas of the lantern body. The airflow path is engineered to follow the thermal gradient, concentrating cooling effort where heat generation is highest while minimizing unnecessary flow resistance against the pump casing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The cooling ribs and airflow channels incorporate curved surfaces that guide cooling air smoothly across the lantern exterior. These curved geometries reduce turbulence and flow separation, maintaining higher flow velocities with lower pressure losses compared to sharp-edged configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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

Effectively dissipates heat away from the pump casing, reducing thermal stress on the motor and power electronics, maintaining efficiency while allowing for compact and cost-effective designs suitable for various installation spaces.

Implementation Method 1

surface-enlarging elements for dissipating heat are arranged on a lantern... The surface-enlarging elements are ideally designed as cooling ribs in order to optimize the heat dissipation of the lantern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Convection

Implementation Method 2

surface-enlarging elements for dissipating heat are arranged on a lantern... to optimize the heat dissipation of the lantern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 3

The fan of the motor arrangement generates a stream of cooling air which cools the ribs of the motor casing and then flows over the lantern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection cooling: Convection

Implementation Method 4

utilizing materials with low thermal conductivity... the pump casing, which can have high temperatures because hot fluids are delivered, and the motor casing are virtually thermally uncoupled

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12510098B2Lanterns with elements for heat discharge

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 KSB SE & CO KGAA

AI summary

A pump assembly such as a centrifugal pump assembly includes a lantern arranged between a pump housing and a motor housing. Surface enlarging elements are arranged at the lantern for increasing heat dissipation and/or enhancing cooling air flow.