Radial Diaphragm Pump Layout for Low-Pulsation Bioprocessing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multiple cavity diaphragm pumps used in biological processing face challenges such as air trapping, difficulty in cleaning, and limited flow and pressure ranges, especially in radial configurations, which are unsuitable for precise fluid handling.
Innovation Solution
A radial diaphragm pump design with a common inlet and outlet, featuring a flexible diaphragm and one-way valves to minimize air trapping, combined with a cam-driven mechanism for reduced pressure pulsation, allowing for a wide range of flow and pressure with improved cleanability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple cavity diaphragm pumps are used to provide wide flow range and pressure, then flow range and pressure capability are improved, but pressure pulsation increases and air trapping occurs
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple pump cavities (at least two) are combined into a single integrated pump body with shared inlet and outlet ports. The cavities operate simultaneously with their diaphragms driven by a common drive mechanism, merging their output flows to cancel pressure pulsations and prevent air trapping through continuous fluid movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragms in multiple cavities are driven in alternating periodic cycles - while one diaphragm is in the pumping stroke, another is in the suction stroke. This periodic alternation ensures continuous fluid flow and pressure stabilization, eliminating the pulsating effect that would occur with single-cavity operation.
2Productivity
If radial configuration with multiple inlets and outlets is used, then flow distribution is improved, but cleaning time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple individual inlet and outlet ports are merged into two common ports - a single common inlet connected to all cavities and a single common outlet receiving from all cavities. This consolidation maintains efficient flow distribution to multiple cavities while dramatically simplifying cleaning procedures to require access through only two ports rather than multiple separate ones.
3Device complexity
If single pump is used instead of multiple pumps, then cost and control simplicity are improved, but pressure pulsation increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single pump body is segmented into multiple independent cavities (at least two), each with its own diaphragm and valve system. This internal segmentation allows multiple pumping actions to occur simultaneously within one device, canceling pressure pulsations through phased operation while maintaining the simplicity of a single external pump unit with one drive mechanism.
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 design achieves a high flow rate and pressure range with minimal pressure pulsation, reduced air trapping, and enhanced cleanability, making it suitable for precise fluid handling in laboratory and biological applications.
Implementation Method 1
multiple positive displacement pump cavities
Implementation Method 2
Each pump cavity inlet includes a one-way inlet valve allowing fluid flow into, but not out of the pump cavity
Implementation Method 3
a cam-driven mechanism for reduced pressure pulsation
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a multiple cavity reciprocating positive displacement pump 200 comprising plural pump cavities 222 each including at least one pair of one-way valves the at least one pair including an inlet valve 228 and an outlet valve 231, the pump being characterised in that respective inlet valves are in fluid communication with a common inlet 224 and respective outlet valves are in fluid communication with a common outlet 238. The multiple cavities may include diaphragm arranged in a radial configuration for more uniform pressure output.