Energy-Conserving Fluid Pump with Rotating Convergent Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional centrifugal pumps face limitations due to cavitation issues, high energy loss, and motor locking when fluid flow is stopped, leading to inefficient operation and potential damage, whereas positive displacement pumps suffer from high energy loss and motor lockup when fluid is not being pushed.
Innovation Solution
A unique pump design where the housing and impeller rotate together, incorporating a convergent housing, fluid diffuser, and fluid densifier that prevents cavitation and motor locking by maintaining fluid pressure and flow without load, even when fluid flow is stopped, utilizing magnetic or mechanical couplings to drive the pump components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pump operates at higher RPMs to increase GPM and pressure, then productivity improves, but cavitation occurs in conventional pumps limiting them to about 3500 RPMs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the impeller and housing into a single rotating assembly, eliminating the stationary housing that conventional pumps rely on. This integration prevents cavitation by ensuring all components rotate together, eliminating fluid stagnation and recirculation zones that cause cavitation in traditional designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the housing dynamic by rotating it together with the impeller, rather than keeping it stationary. This dynamic approach allows the entire pump assembly to rotate at high speeds without creating the cavitation conditions that occur in stationary-housing designs, enabling operation at 1000-100,000 RPMs.
2Ease of operation
If the pump continues to run when fluid flow is stopped, then ease of operation is maintained, but energy loss increases and cavitation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The pump's rotating housing and impeller design creates a self-regulating system where fluid naturally circulates within the rotating assembly even during no-flow conditions. This internal circulation prevents fluid stagnation and eliminates the energy-wasting cavitation that occurs in conventional pumps when running without output.
3Reliability
If positive displacement pumps push fluid by brute force, then reliability is improved, but energy loss increases and motor locking occurs when fluid is not being pushed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the brute-force mechanical pushing mechanism of positive displacement pumps with a hydrodynamic system where the rotating impeller and housing create fluid motion through centrifugal force and pressure gradients. This substitution eliminates motor lockup because the system can rotate freely without fluid resistance, and energy loss is minimized through efficient fluid dynamics rather than mechanical forcing.
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 design ensures energy conservation, prevents cavitation and recirculation, and maintains high-pressure output with increased RPMs, reducing energy usage and extending motor lifespan, making it suitable for applications like water desalination and propulsion.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention can transport low viscosity fluids like water and fuel... The present invention may comprise a fluid diffuser, a fluid densifier, and a convergent housing
Implementation Method 2
The fluid densifier multiplies the pressure of the fluid traveling through the fluid densifier until the fluid is redirected to a housing outlet
Implementation Method 3
utilizing magnetic or mechanical couplings to drive the pump components
Data Source
AI summary
An energy-conserving fluid pump is an apparatus used to transport low viscosity fluids like water and fuel without experiencing cavitation, recirculation, nor motor locking while also conserving energy. The apparatus includes a fluid diffuser, a fluid densifier, a convergent housing, and a strut assembly. The fluid diffuser improves the efficiency of the apparatus by expanding the fluid inflow and maintaining a fluid pressure buildup. The fluid densifier shears the incoming fluid flow from the fluid diffuser and increases the fluid outflow pressure. The convergent housing encloses the fluid diffuser and the fluid densifier while facilitating the outflow of the pressurized fluid without the loss of fluid pressure nor cavitation. In addition, the convergent housing facilitates the transfer of torque to the fluid diffuser for the operation of the apparatus. The strut assembly keeps the fluid densifier stationary while enabling the rotation of the convergent housing and/or the fluid diffuser.