Liquid Pump Operating State Detection Using Reservoir Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid pumping apparatuses in steam systems face challenges in accurately determining their operating state, particularly distinguishing between pumping and inflow strokes, which affects timely detection of failures or abnormalities.
Innovation Solution
A state determination device is introduced, comprising a casing with a reservoir space, a feed valve, an exhaust valve, and a valve operating mechanism, along with first and second pressure sensors that communicate with the reservoir space. The determination unit uses pressure changes detected by these sensors to differentiate between the pumping and inflow strokes based on predetermined pressure rises and drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single pressure sensor is used to detect reservoir space pressure, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient to reliably distinguish between pumping and inflow strokes
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir space is divided into upper and lower portions, with separate pressure sensors (first pressure sensor in upper portion, second pressure sensor in lower portion) detecting pressure in each segment. This segmentation allows the system to capture pressure variations at different locations, enabling reliable distinction between pumping stroke (pressure rise detected) and inflow stroke (pressure drop detected), thereby resolving the measurement precision issue without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If operating state determination is not implemented, then device complexity is minimized, but reliability of failure detection deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit continuously monitors pressure changes detected by the pressure sensors and provides feedback about the current operating state (pumping or inflow stroke). This feedback mechanism enables the system to reliably detect failures by comparing actual operating state against expected state sequences, improving reliability while maintaining manageable device complexity through intelligent processing of sensor data.
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 solution enables accurate determination of the operating state of the liquid pumping apparatus, allowing for early detection of failures or abnormalities by reliably distinguishing between pumping and inflow strokes, thereby improving monitoring and maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor that communicates with a higher portion of the reservoir space, a second pressure sensor is provided that communicates with a lower portion of the reservoir space and detects a pressure of the reservoir space
Implementation Method 2
the valve operating mechanism performs a pumping stroke in which the liquid is pumped from the reservoir space under a pressure of the working gas
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a state determination device 70 for a liquid pumping apparatus 1 including: a casing 10 that forms a reservoir space 13 for storing liquid flowed thereto; a feed valve 20 that introduces working gas into the reservoir space 13; an exhaust valve 30 that releases the working gas from the reservoir space 13; and a valve operating mechanism 40 having a float 41 arranged in the reservoir space 13, and performing a pumping stroke in which the liquid is pumped from the reservoir space 13 under a pressure of the working gas by opening the feed valve 20 and closing the exhaust valve 30 when the float 41 moves up to a predetermined high level, and an inflow stroke in which the liquid flows into the reservoir space 13 and the working gas is released from the reservoir space 13 by closing the feed valve 20 and opening the exhaust valve 30 when the float 41 moves down to a predetermined low level. The state determination device 70 includes a pressure sensor 71 that detects a pressure of the reservoir space 13, and a determination unit 72 that determines whether the liquid pumping apparatus 1 is in an operating state of performing the pumping stroke or the inflow stroke based on the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 71.