Spiral Vane Pipe Assembly for Cavitation-Free Fluid Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid transfer systems experience cavitation issues due to rapid pressure changes, leading to vapor locks and inefficient transfer times, particularly when transferring pressurized fluids like liquid natural gas and propane.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a vane housing and inner pipe configuration, featuring concentric vanes with flutes that spiral around the inner pipe, positioned between the pump and hose to reduce cavitation by converting turbulent flow to laminar flow and re-liquefying cavitation bubbles, thereby enhancing fluid transfer efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional pump is used to transfer pressurized fluid, then the fluid can be moved from one vessel to another, but cavitation occurs due to rapid pressure changes leading to vapor locks and extended transfer times
Solution Approach 1:
A vane assembly is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump outlet and the fluid stream. The vanes interact with the flowing fluid to convert radial flow into axial flow, reducing turbulence and preventing cavitation without requiring modification to the pump itself. This mediator approach allows the pump to maintain its pumping function while the vane assembly corrects the harmful flow patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly changes the flow parameters of the fluid by converting radial velocity components into axial flow. The vanes are positioned and angled to redirect the fluid stream, transforming the turbulent radial flow pattern into a more uniform axial flow pattern, thereby reducing pressure fluctuations and preventing cavitation bubble formation.
2Productivity
If the pump operates at high speed to reduce transfer time, then productivity increases, but cavitation and vapor lock worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The vane assembly serves as a flow condition改善器 that can be added to existing high-speed pump systems without reducing pump speed. It mediates between the high-speed pump output and the fluid transfer requirement, converting the harmful high-velocity radial flow into controlled axial flow that maintains transfer speed while eliminating cavitation.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly is designed to dynamically interact with the flowing fluid, with vanes positioned to optimize flow redirection at different flow rates. The arrangement allows the system to maintain effectiveness across varying operating conditions and speeds, enabling high-speed operation without cavitation.
3Productivity
If a larger pump is used to increase transfer rate, then productivity improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large complex pump, the solution segments the flow control function by adding a separate vane assembly to the existing pump system. This allows the pump to maintain its size and capacity while the vane assembly handles the flow pattern correction, avoiding the need for an oversized pump and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vane assembly is a universal component that can be adapted to various pump sizes and configurations. Rather than requiring different pump designs for different applications, the same basic vane principle can be applied across multiple pump types to improve performance, reducing the need for specialized complex pump designs.
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 solution significantly reduces transfer time by up to 90% and improves fluid characteristics by eliminating or minimizing cavitation, allowing for more efficient and rapid fluid transfer between vessels.
Implementation Method 1
a reduction in turbulent flow including a conversion of some or all of the turbulent flow to helical/laminar flow
Implementation Method 2
Cavitation occurs when a rapid change of pressure in a liquid, such as that caused by the pump, leads to the formation of small vapor-filled cavities
Implementation Method 3
re-liquefying cavitation bubbles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and system for efficient transfer of a fluid from one vessel to another, such as from a distribution center to a large tank on a truck. The apparatus includes a vane housing surrounding an inner pipe with an outer space formed therebetween, where the outer space includes a vane with a plurality of flutes.