Hydroelectric Pump Swirl Inducer for Vibration Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pump designs for hydroelectric power plants, including pump turbines, require complex counter-swirl generators to facilitate start-up and reduce vibrations, which increases design complexity.
Innovation Solution
A simplified design incorporating a connecting line with a swirl generator that imparts a swirl to the water flow, creating a counter-swirl in the suction pipe to aid start-up and reduce vibrations, without the need for complex counter-swirl generators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex counter-swirl generator is used to facilitate start-up and reduce vibrations, then the pump start-up performance and vibration reduction are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of counter-swirl generation from the complex counter-swirl generator and relocates it to the connecting line. By removing the complex generator components and placing a simple swirl generator in the connecting line, the patent achieves the same start-up performance with significantly reduced device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting line serves as an intermediary element that indirectly generates counter-swirl by introducing a swirl generator within it. This mediator approach allows the system to achieve counter-swirl effect without requiring a direct complex counter-swirl generator, simplifying the overall device while maintaining functionality.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex counter-swirl generator is used to reduce vibrations during start-up, then vibration reduction is improved, but the design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vibration-reduction function from the complex counter-swirl generator and implements it through a simple swirl generator in the connecting line. This extraction eliminates the need for complex generator components while maintaining the ability to reduce vibrations during start-up.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a complex counter-swirl generator to directly create counter-swirl, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple swirl generator in the connecting line to create swirl that naturally translates into counter-swirl effect. This inversion simplifies the design while achieving the same vibration reduction.
3Device complexity
If a connecting line is used to simplify the design, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to generate counter-swirl may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting line acts as an intermediary that carries the swirl generator and delivers the swirling water flow to the suction pipe. This intermediary role allows the simple connecting line configuration to effectively generate counter-swirl by combining the swirl generator with the existing connecting line structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting line is given multiple functions: it serves as both a structural component of the pump system and as a functional element that houses the swirl generator to create counter-swirl. This multi-functionality allows the simple connecting line design to achieve counter-swirl generation capability without adding separate complex components.
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 proposed solution effectively generates a counter-swirl in the suction pipe, improving pump start-up conditions and reducing vibrations, while simplifying the design compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
A swirl generator (7), which can be designed in different ways, is arranged in the connecting line (5). The swirl generator (7) is designed such that water flowing through the connecting line (5) is given a swirl by the swirl generator (7)
Implementation Method 2
When the swirling water jet from the connecting line (5) enters the suction pipe (3), the swirl of the water jet creates a rotating flow within the suction pipe (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a pump comprising a high-pressure-side water path, a low-pressure-side water path and an impeller (1), wherein the high-pressure-side water path comprises a spiral housing (2) and a pressure pipe (4) and wherein the low-pressure-side water path comprises a suction pipe (3), and wherein the pump comprises a closure member (8) which is arranged in the high-pressure-side water path, and a connection line (5) which connects the high-pressure-side water path to the low-pressure-side water path and is designed such that water from the pressure pipe can enter the suction pipe via the connection line without the water passing the impeller in the process, and wherein the connection line branches off from the high-pressure-side water path downstream of the closure member in the pump flow direction, and wherein the pump comprises a valve (6) which is arranged in the connection line, and wherein the pump comprises a swirl inducer (7) which is arranged in the connection line and is designed such that water passing the swirl inducer in the connection line is provided with a swirl when passing said swirl inducer.