Solid Feed Pump Venting High-Pressure Gas Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Solid feed pumps face performance issues due to high pressure gases leaking past compacted solids, which interfere with solids intake and discharge, leading to reduced efficiency and stability.

Innovation Solution

A system with vents and filters configured to discharge high pressure gases opposing the solid fuel flow, utilizing a permeable structure and a gas control system to manage and purge these gases, improving solids filling and pump performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a solid feed pump uses a single continuous channel to transport solids, then the pump structure is simple, but high pressure gases leak past the solids and interfere with intake, reducing pump performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump structureVSAvoidpump performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The pump channel is divided into multiple discrete chambers instead of a single continuous channel. Each chamber can be independently sealed and vented, allowing gases to be removed without disrupting the solid feed flow path. This segmentation isolates the gas leakage issue from the main solid transport function, maintaining pump performance while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A separate venting system is extracted from the main pump structure. The venting system includes dedicated vent passages and filtering components that are distinct from the solid feed channel. This extraction allows gases to be removed through a separate pathway, preventing them from interfering with solid intake while maintaining the simplicity of the main pump channel design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the pump operates at high pressure to maintain stable discharge, then the discharge stability is improved, but gas leakage past the solids increases, interfering with intake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge stabilityVSAvoidgas leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The high pressure that causes gas leakage is converted into a beneficial force by using it to drive the venting system. The pressure differential created by high-pressure operation is harnessed to force gases through the vent passages and filter, transforming the harmful gas leakage into a controlled venting process that protects the intake from gas interference while maintaining discharge stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

A filtering component is introduced as an intermediary between the high-pressure gas stream and the solid feed intake. The filter captures and removes gases from the high-pressure environment, allowing the high pressure to be maintained for stable discharge while preventing gases from reaching and interfering with the solid intake. The filter serves as a mediator that isolates the harmful gas effect from the solid feed function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If a vent system is added to remove high pressure gases, then gas interference with intake is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump performanceVSAvoidvent system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The venting system is merged with the existing pump structure by integrating vent passages into the pump housing and combining the filtering component with the vent outlet. This merging approach allows the vent system to be implemented using existing structural elements, minimizing additional complexity while achieving effective gas removal to improve pump performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The venting system is designed to serve multiple functions: it removes high-pressure gases, filters particulate matter, and provides a controlled discharge path for vented gases. By making the vent system multi-functional, the design achieves effective gas interference prevention without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 system effectively vents high pressure gases that leak past solids, enhancing solids filling at the inlet and maintaining stable discharge at the outlet, thereby improving the overall performance of the solid feed pump.

Implementation Method 1

The vent includes a filter, wherein the vent is configured to discharge fluid flow that is opposing the solid fuel flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

The solid feed pump filter includes a permeable structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentUS8887649B2System to vent solid feed pump

Publication Date: 2014.11.18 AIR PROD & CHEM INC

AI summary

A system includes a solid feed fuel pump. The solid feed fuel pump includes a solid feed flow path configured to route a solid fuel flow from an inlet to an outlet. The solid feed fuel pump also includes a vent including a filter, wherein the vent is configured to discharge fluid flow that is opposing the solid fuel flow.