Submersible Pump Motor Protection via Sealed Fluid Reservoirs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Submersible pumps face frequent failures due to seal breaches when submerged in fluids, leading to premature motor destruction and costly replacements.
Innovation Solution
A submersible pump apparatus featuring a canned motor assembly and multiple seal assemblies with reservoirs to absorb and redirect leaking fluid, preventing immediate damage and extending the pump's operational life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hermetically sealed motors are used in submersible pumps, then the motors are protected from fluid intrusion, but the mechanical seals gradually wear down and breach, causing fluid leakage and motor destruction
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into separate sealed compartments: the motor housing forms a first sealed compartment, while the pump components form a second sealed compartment. Multiple independent mechanical seals are distributed across different locations (motor shaft seal, pump shaft seal), creating redundant sealing zones. This segmentation ensures that if one seal fails, other sealed compartments remain intact and protective.
Solution Approach 2:
Fluid collection reservoirs are pre-positioned at strategic locations where fluid leakage is most likely to occur. These reservoirs act as pre-prepared containment zones that catch leaking fluid before it can reach and destroy the motor. The reservoirs are integrated into the housing structure in advance, providing immediate protection upon seal failure.
2Reliability
If multiple mechanical seals are used to protect against fluid leakage, then the probability of seal breach increases with each seal, but the reservoirs can contain leaks and prevent motor destruction
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional elements are merged into integrated housing structures. The fluid collection reservoirs are formed as integral parts of the motor housing and pump housing, rather than separate attached components. The housing itself serves dual purposes as both structural support and fluid containment vessel, reducing the number of separate parts while maintaining multiple sealing zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structures serve multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural support, containing mechanical seals, collecting leaked fluid, and protecting the motor. The reservoirs are designed to perform both fluid collection and as mounting structures for seal assemblies, reducing overall system complexity despite the presence of multiple seals.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the pump is designed with reservoirs to contain leaking fluid, then the motor is protected from immediate destruction, but the pump requires more complex housing and seal assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid collection reservoirs are nested within the housing structures, with one reservoir integrated into the motor housing and another into the pump housing. The seal assemblies are nested within the reservoirs, creating a hierarchical containment structure where smaller functional elements are positioned within larger protective structures, maximizing space utilization and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structures are designed with integrated reservoir chambers that act as flexible containment zones. The housing material and structure are configured to accommodate fluid accumulation without rigid reinforcement, using the housing walls themselves as the containment barrier. This approach provides fluid containment functionality without adding bulky external reservoirs or complex reinforcement structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible pump apparatus providing a motor assembly, a pump assembly, and a plastic pump housing. The motor assembly is either a canned motor assembly or a four inch motor assembly. The canned motor assembly is designed to prevent the immediate destruction of the submersible pump apparatus upon the occurrence of the breaching or leaking of the seals. The pump assembly is designed with either a single stage pump or multiple stage pump that utilizes a unique combination of propellers and intermediate flow straighteners, and driving mechanisms for the same. The plastic pump housing is designed to accommodate attachment of either the canned motor assembly or the four inch motor assembly to the same pump assembly.