Pump Separator for Sodium Hypochlorite Gas Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Liquid pumping systems face issues with gas bubble formation, particularly with sodium hypochlorite solutions, leading to pump malfunction and the need for manual priming and bleeding, which is time-consuming and prone to mechanical failures due to chemical precipitate build-up.
Innovation Solution
A pumping apparatus with a separator to distinguish between gaseous and liquid components, using a T-fitting for gravity-driven liquid separation and a wash-water subsystem to prevent crystallization and precipitate formation, allowing self-priming and automatic operation without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sodium hypochlorite solution is pumped directly into pressurized water stream, then chemical feed rate control is achieved, but gas bubbles form causing pump to become gas-bound and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate pumps: a first pump dedicated to handling gaseous components and a second pump dedicated to handling liquid components. This segmentation allows each pump to specialize in its respective phase, preventing gas-binding issues in the liquid pump and ensuring reliable operation of the chemical feed system.
Solution Approach 2:
A separator acts as an intermediary device between the sodium hypochlorite solution source and the pumps. The separator removes gas bubbles from the liquid chemical before it enters the liquid pump, preventing gas-binding and ensuring the pump receives only liquid for reliable operation.
2Ease of operation
If manual priming and bleeding is performed to restore chemical feed, then pump is re-primed with liquid chemical, but system becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-priming automatically through the separator and dual-pump configuration. The first pump continuously removes gas bubbles while the second pump delivers liquid chemical, eliminating the need for manual priming and bleeding operations by technicians.
Solution Approach 2:
The chemical concentration detection apparatus provides feedback about the chemical feed status to the control system. When gas-binding is detected or chemical concentration deviates from setpoints, the control system automatically adjusts pump operations to restore proper feeding without manual intervention.
3Quantity of substance
If liquid chemical vessel is emptied and replaced, then fresh chemical supply is provided, but air enters circuit requiring manual bleeding to prime pump
Solution Approach 1:
The separator and first pump automatically remove air bubbles that enter the circuit when vessels are replaced. The system self-primes by continuously circulating liquid through the separator, which removes gas phases, allowing rapid vessel replacement without technician intervention for bleeding or priming.
4Reliability
If sodium hypochlorite solution is diluted to reduce gas bubble formation, then gas binding is reduced, but chemical concentration control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By separating gas and liquid handling into different pumps, the system can use undiluted sodium hypochlorite solution (maintaining high concentration and effectiveness) while the first pump removes gas bubbles. This eliminates the need to dilute the chemical to reduce gas binding, preserving both reliability and measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary that removes gas bubbles from undiluted sodium hypochlorite solution before it reaches the liquid pump. This allows the chemical to remain at full concentration for precise control and maximum effectiveness while the separator handles the gas removal function.
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
The system effectively manages gas bubbles, self-primes, and reduces mechanical failures by maintaining a liquid reservoir to prevent crystallization, ensuring continuous operation and minimizing manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A pumping apparatus with a separator to distinguish between gaseous and liquid components, using a T-fitting for gravity-driven liquid separation
Implementation Method 2
a wash-water subsystem to prevent crystallization and precipitate formation, allowing self-priming and automatic operation without manual intervention
Data Source
AI summary
A pumping apparatus for pumping a liquid from a source to a target includes a pump having a pump housing and a pump piston. The pump housing defines a central longitudinal bore, a transverse bore communicating with the central bore for conveying a liquid through the pump housing and a liquid reservoir communicating with the central bore and the transverse bore for retaining an amount of the liquid conveyed through the transverse bore. The pump piston is axially and rotatably slidable within the central longitudinal bore for pumping the liquid through the transverse bore.