Positive Displacement Pump Viscosity Calibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing positive displacement pumps face challenges in maintaining consistent flow rates due to variations in fluid viscosity and volumetric efficiency, leading to discrepancies between theoretical and actual flow rates, and are not adaptable to different fluid characteristics and system variations.
Innovation Solution
A positive displacement pump system equipped with viscosity compensation data and charts that calibrate flow rates based on fluid viscosity and pump efficiency, using a control system that adjusts pump operations such as speed, stroke rate, or pulse width modulation to accommodate fluids of varying viscosities, and incorporates RFID tags for fluid identification and real-time system adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a positive displacement pump operates with fluids of varying viscosities, then the pump can handle different fluid types, but the flow rate varies due to viscosity changes and volumetric efficiency variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system changes operating parameters (pump speed, stroke rate, or pulse width modulation) based on viscosity compensation data to maintain consistent flow rates across different fluid viscosities. The system adjusts parameters dynamically rather than operating at fixed settings, resolving the contradiction between handling varying viscosities and maintaining flow rate precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses viscosity compensation charts and stored volumetric efficiency data to provide feedback control. The control system references pre-stored calibration data corresponding to different viscosities and adjusts pump operation accordingly, enabling the pump to adapt to varying fluid characteristics while maintaining accurate flow rate delivery.
2Ease of operation
If the pump operates at fixed speed, then the system is simple to control, but the flow rate cannot accommodate different fluid characteristics and system variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from fixed-speed operation to dynamic speed adjustment. The control system varies pump speed, stroke rate, or pulse width modulation in real-time based on viscosity compensation data, allowing the pump to adapt to different fluid characteristics while maintaining ease of operation through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to handle multiple fluid types and system conditions through a single unified control architecture that uses viscosity compensation charts and stored calibration data. This multi-functional control approach allows the pump to accommodate various fluid characteristics without requiring separate control systems for each fluid type.
3Manufacturing precision
If viscosity compensation data is stored for multiple fluids, then the pump can accurately deliver different viscosities, but the control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration by storing viscosity compensation data and volumetric efficiency information in advance for different fluid types. This pre-stored calibration data enables accurate flow rate delivery for various viscosities without requiring complex real-time calculations, as the control system simply references pre-computed values from the calibration charts.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses copied or replicated calibration data for different fluid viscosities. Instead of computing viscosity compensation in real-time, the system references pre-stored calibration charts that contain compensated values for various viscosities, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining flow rate accuracy across different fluid types.
Data Source
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AI summary
A pumping system for pumping one out of a number of fluids with varying viscosities. The pumping system may include a positive displacement pump and a control for operating the positive displacement pump. The control may include viscosity compensation data. The viscosity compensation data relates to at least one of the fluids such that the control instructs the positive displacement pump to operate based on the viscosity of the fluid.