Liquid Pump Valve Deterioration Detection by Pressure Change
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the life of liquid pumping apparatuses are inaccurate due to varying degrees of deterioration caused by wear and foreign matter, which can lead to pumping failures.
Innovation Solution
A deterioration determination device equipped with first and second pressure sensors that detect pressure changes in a liquid pumping apparatus, allowing for the assessment of valve operating mechanism deterioration based on differential pressure analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid pumping apparatus operates continuously, then productivity increases, but the valve operating mechanism deteriorates due to wear and foreign matter accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor detects pressure changes before the valve operating mechanism completely fails, allowing for predictive maintenance. By monitoring pressure variations that indicate early signs of deterioration (wear, foreign matter accumulation), the system can schedule maintenance before actual failure occurs, thus maintaining both continuous productivity and reliability.
2Productivity
If the liquid pumping apparatus operates for extended periods, then productivity increases, but pumping failure risk increases due to component deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor provides continuous feedback on the operational state of the valve operating mechanism. By monitoring pressure changes during operation, the system can detect deterioration trends and alert operators before pumping failure occurs, enabling extended safe operation while preventing unexpected failures.
3Device complexity
If traditional life estimation methods based on operation count are used, then device complexity is minimized, but measurement precision of deterioration degree is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces simple operation-count-based estimation with a pressure-based detection system. The pressure sensor measures actual physical conditions (pressure variations caused by deteriorating components) rather than relying on theoretical operation counts, significantly improving measurement precision while adding only minimal device complexity.
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
Enables accurate determination of the degree of deterioration, preventing pumping failures by providing a reliable estimation of the apparatus's life and operational state.
Implementation Method 1
a first pressure sensor arranged to communicate with a lower portion of the reservoir space to detect a pressure of a liquid layer in the reservoir space
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a deterioration determination device for a liquid pumping apparatus including: a casing that forms a reservoir space for storing liquid flowed thereto; a feed valve that introduces working gas into the reservoir space; an exhaust valve that releases the working gas from the reservoir space; and a valve operating mechanism having a float arranged in the reservoir space, and performing a pumping stroke in which the liquid is pumped from the reservoir space under a pressure of the working gas by opening the feed valve and closing the exhaust valve when the float moves up to a predetermined high level, and an inflow stroke in which the liquid flows into the reservoir space and the working gas is released from the reservoir space by closing the feed valve and opening the exhaust valve when the float moves down to a predetermined low level. The deterioration determination device includes a first pressure sensor arranged to communicate with a lower portion of the reservoir space to detect a pressure of a liquid layer in the reservoir space, and a deterioration determination unit that determines a degree of deterioration of the valve operating mechanism based on a change in the pressure detected by the first pressure sensor.