Fluid Pump Piston Support Diamond Coating Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure fluid pumps used in HPLC systems face rapid wear and seal failure due to high stress on seals and pistons, leading to reduced service life and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A fluid pump design featuring a piston and support body in physical contact, with at least one surface area coated in smoothed polycrystalline diamond, forming a narrow gap between them to reduce friction and prevent seal material extrusion, combined with a thermally conductive coating to dissipate heat and prevent seal material melting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a seal is used between the piston and pump body to prevent fluid leakage, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wear and service life deteriorate due to high stress at high pressures
Solution Approach 1:
A support body is introduced as an intermediary component between the seal and the piston. The support body absorbs the high compressive stresses and mechanical loads, allowing the seal to maintain its sealing function without being subjected to excessive stress that would cause rapid wear and failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support body is provided with a diamond coating on its surface area that contacts the piston. This composite structure combines the mechanical support function of the base material with the extreme wear resistance and low friction properties of diamond, enabling the system to withstand high pressures while minimizing wear on both the piston and seal.
2Loss of substance
If the gap between the piston and support body is reduced to minimize seal material extrusion, then seal material loss is improved, but friction and heat generation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The surface properties of the support body are changed by applying a diamond coating, which fundamentally alters the friction characteristics. This coating reduces the coefficient of friction between the piston and support body, allowing the gap to be minimized to prevent seal extrusion without generating excessive frictional heat that would compromise the seal material.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a support body is added to reduce seal stress, then service life is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The support body performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides mechanical support to the seal, reduces stress concentrations, prevents seal extrusion into the gap, and its diamond-coated surface serves as a low-friction bearing surface for the piston. By consolidating these functions into a single component, the design avoids adding excessive complexity while achieving extended service life.
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
Significantly increases the service life of the pump and seal by minimizing wear and preventing seal material deposition on the piston, allowing for higher pressures and speeds while maintaining a low-wear, low-friction operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first surface area of the support body, which is at least temporarily in contact with the piston during operation of the fluid pump, has a diamond coating (in particular polycrystalline diamond, more particularly smoothed polycrystalline diamond)
Implementation Method 2
combined with a thermally conductive coating to dissipate heat and prevent seal material melting
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a fluid pump (20) for pumping fluid in a sample separation unit (10), wherein the fluid pump (20) has a pump body apparatus (200), a piston (202), which is arranged in the pump body apparatus (200) for conveying fluid in a reciprocal manner, a seal (204), which is arranged in fluid-tight contact with and between the pump body apparatus (200) and the piston (202), and a supporting body (206), which is coupled to the seal (204) in a supporting manner, wherein the supporting body (206) is arranged on the pump body apparatus (200), forming an in particular stationary bearing for the piston (202).