Submersible Pump Priming and Spillage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional submersible pumps face challenges in priming at low liquid heights and spillage when shut down, especially when dealing with liquids laden with solid particles, due to limitations in suction system configuration and sealing mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A submersible pump design that allows priming at any liquid height and prevents spillage by incorporating a closure member that can be held in a closed position by gravity or a spring, with a valve system that adapts for clear liquids and liquids with particles, ensuring the pump body remains sealed during operation and shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the suction system is positioned low within the enclosure to allow configuration changes, then the pump can handle liquids with solid particles, but a significant water depth (e.g., 10 cm) is required for the pump to prime
Solution Approach 1:
The pump body is pre-filled with liquid through a filling device before operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the pump has sufficient liquid for priming even when operating in shallow liquid levels, resolving the contradiction between low suction system positioning and priming capability.
2Productivity
If the pump body is open to allow liquid suction, then the pump can evacuate liquids efficiently, but liquid spills onto the ground when the pump stops
Solution Approach 1:
A sealing device is introduced as an intermediary element between the pump body and the environment. This sealing device includes a sealing element that can be positioned in a sealing position to prevent liquid spillage when the pump stops, while allowing liquid suction during operation, thus resolving the contradiction between evacuation efficiency and spillage prevention.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a sealing device is added to prevent liquid spillage, then liquid containment is improved when the pump stops, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed to be automatically positioned by liquid pressure and gravity. During operation, liquid pressure pushes the sealing element to the open position for suction. When the pump stops, gravity causes the sealing element to return to the sealing position automatically, preventing spillage without requiring additional actuators or complex control mechanisms.
4Reliability
If the pump body is filled with liquid for priming in shallow levels, then the pump can operate in shallow liquid levels, but the amount of liquid required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump body is filled with liquid to a level that is sufficient for priming but not completely full. The sealing device ensures that this partial filling is adequate for operation in shallow liquid levels, avoiding the need for complete filling while still achieving reliable priming and operation.
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
Enables efficient priming at low liquid heights and prevents liquid spillage, maintaining pump functionality and sealing integrity regardless of the liquid height or particle presence, enhancing operational reliability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a closure member (32) for the opening (24), said closure member (32) being adapted to allow the airtight retention of a quantity of liquid in said enclosure (21) in the absence of activation of said electric actuator (22)
Implementation Method 2
a closure member (32) for the opening (24), said closure member (32) being adapted to allow the airtight retention of a quantity of liquid in said enclosure (21) in the absence of activation of said electric actuator (22)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
This submersible pump (P) for evacuating liquids comprises a housing (21), a base (3) of the housing (21) including at least one liquid suction port, adapted to be reversibly positioned in two distinct configurations of the pump (P), one configuration being for the suction of a liquid containing solid particles, the other configuration being for the suction of a clear liquid. The base (3) includes at least one sealing element (32) for at least one liquid suction port, adapted to allow the leak-proof retention of a quantity of liquid in the housing (21) when the pump (P) is not activated.