Reciprocating Pump Piston Layout to Minimize Ullage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating pumps face inefficiencies when pumping dense fluids due to dead space or ullage, particularly when handling compressible materials, which reduces their performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pump housing with inlet and outlet ports, a piston, and multiple check valves configured to minimize or eliminate ullage by ensuring one-way fluid flow and optimizing the positioning of the valve housing to receive check valves, thereby reducing dead space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the piston stops short of the inlet check ball to allow valve operation, then the check valve can function properly, but dead space or ullage is created in the inlet area reducing pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is nested within the pump housing and is movable, allowing it to be positioned to receive the check ball when the piston is at its inlet position. This nesting arrangement eliminates dead space by dynamically adjusting the valve housing position rather than leaving a fixed gap, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable valve function and pump efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve housing is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position along the pump housing. This dynamic positioning enables the valve housing to be optimally positioned to receive the check ball during piston operation, eliminating dead space while maintaining proper valve function, thereby improving pump efficiency without sacrificing reliability.
2Productivity
If the piston is positioned to minimize dead space, then pump efficiency improves, but the check valve may not have sufficient space to function properly
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is designed to be movable along the pump housing, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. When the piston is at its inlet position, the valve housing moves to position itself to receive the check ball, ensuring sufficient space for proper valve operation. This dynamic adjustment maintains both pump efficiency and check valve reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve housing is positioned in advance to receive the check ball before the piston completes its stroke. This preliminary positioning ensures that the check valve has adequate space to function properly while minimizing dead space, thereby maintaining both pump efficiency and valve reliability.
3Device complexity
If a fixed valve housing is used, then the structure is simpler, but dead space cannot be minimized reducing pump performance
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is designed to move along the pump housing rather than being fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position to minimize dead space. This dynamic configuration eliminates the trade-off between structural simplicity and pump performance, as the movable valve housing can be optimally positioned during operation to eliminate dead space while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 configuration enhances the efficiency of the pump by minimizing dead space, improving performance when pumping dense or compressible fluids by ensuring continuous and efficient fluid displacement.
Implementation Method 1
a first check valve coupled to a first end of the piston, a valve housing coupled to the first check valve, a second check valve disposed upstream of the first check valve
Data Source
AI summary
A pump having significantly minimized or no ullage for pumping material (fluid or aggregate).