Displacement Pump Leak Detection via Controlled Speed and Pressure Rise
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for detecting wear in positive displacement pumps are cumbersome and require expensive equipment, and there is a risk of damaging the pump during pressure measurements due to unknown wear conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a controlled increase in displacement body speed from a minimum to a calculated maximum, with pressure measurements to determine wear condition and avoid damage, using an electronic controller for automated analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the speed of the displacement body is increased to obtain a meaningful pressure rise for wear detection, then the measurement precision improves, but the risk of pump damage increases due to vibrations and heating
Solution Approach 1:
The method performs preliminary actions by first determining the wear condition of the pump before conducting the pressure measurement. The control unit calculates a maximum speed based on the determined wear condition, ensuring that the subsequent speed increase does not exceed damage thresholds. This preliminary assessment prevents pump damage while enabling accurate wear detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The method dynamically adjusts the maximum speed for pressure measurement based on the real-time wear condition of the pump. Instead of using a fixed speed limit, the control unit calculates and applies a variable maximum speed that adapts to the actual wear state, allowing optimal measurement precision while preventing damage under different wear conditions.
2Measurement precision
If expensive volume flow meters are used to measure actual volume flow rate, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The method extracts the essential information needed for wear detection by measuring only the pressure in the pressure line, rather than measuring the actual volume flow rate directly. By analyzing the pressure rise and its relationship with speed, the system derives wear condition information without requiring complex volume flow meters, thus simplifying the measurement equipment while maintaining diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure measurement serves as an intermediary parameter that indirectly provides information about the pump's wear condition and volumetric efficiency. Instead of directly measuring volume flow rate with expensive equipment, the system uses pressure as a mediator to infer the actual volume flow rate and wear state, simplifying the measurement system while preserving diagnostic capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of detecting leakage in a pump (10) that has at least one displacement body (12) for displacing a medium to be pumped into a pressure line (20), the method including the steps of: a) closing-off the pressure line (20), b) operating the pump (10) with a known speed of the displacement body (12), c) measuring the pressure (P) in the pressure line (20), d) repeating the steps b) and c) with different speeds, and e) recording the dependency of the measured pressure from the speed, wherein the speed of the displacement body (12) is program-controlled to increase, starting from a minimum speed, gradually to a maximum speed, the maximum speed being calculated on the basis of the measured pressure rise.