Tapered Rotary Disc Pump Vanes for Low-Turbulence Fluid Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary disc pumps face inefficiencies in handling fragile and abrasive materials due to turbulence and material handling issues, despite improvements in vane design and stability.
Innovation Solution
A tapered rotary disc pump design featuring vanes with orthogonal trailing faces and tapered configurations in multiple dimensions, coupled with standoffs that avoid direct contact with inner surfaces, reduces turbulence and enhances efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional flat vanes are used in rotary disc pumps, then the pump structure is simple, but turbulence increases and pump efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from flat vanes to tapered vanes with specific geometric parameters. The vanes have a taper ratio between 0.1 and 0.5, with the trailing face angled at 10-45 degrees relative to the radial direction. This parameter optimization reduces turbulence and improves pump efficiency by up to 50% while maintaining structural feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved surfaces by angling the vane trailing faces at specific angles (10-45 degrees) relative to the radial direction. This curvature modification creates smoother fluid flow paths, reducing turbulence and improving pumping efficiency without significantly increasing structural complexity.
2Strength
If standoffs directly contact the inner surfaces of the discs, then the structural support is strong, but additional turbulence is created that reduces pump efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary solution by positioning standoffs to extend into the vanes rather than directly contacting the disc inner surfaces. This intermediate positioning maintains structural support while eliminating direct contact turbulence, improving pump efficiency without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the standoff-vane interaction zone specifically designed to avoid turbulence. The standoffs are positioned to extend into the vanes at locations that minimize flow disruption, creating localized quality improvements in the flow field while maintaining overall structural support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vanes extend fully to the disc periphery, then material handling capability improves, but turbulence and recirculation increase reducing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the vane extension parameter by positioning vane outer ends to terminate at or near the disc periphery while using tapered geometry. This parameter optimization allows full material handling capability at the periphery while the taper reduces recirculation and turbulence, improving efficiency by up to 50%.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having the tapered vane geometry concentrated at specific locations - the trailing faces are angled at 10-45 degrees while the leading faces remain relatively straight. This localized geometric modification improves efficiency without compromising the overall material handling capability provided by full periphery extension.
Data Source
AI summary
A tapered rotary disc pump is disclosed, including a disc assembly with a first disc and a second disc arranged in parallel to define a chamber. Each disc has an inner surface with multiple vanes extending toward the chamber. The vane outer ends align with the disc periphery, while vane inner ends extend toward the disc center. At least one vane tapers from the outer end toward the inner end, and optionally from the inner surface toward the chamber, to reduce turbulence and increase pumping efficiency. Standoffs couple the discs together and may extend into the vanes to further minimize turbulence. The vane leading face may include convex and concave portions to enhance fluid flow. Alignment of opposing vanes and equal vane counts between discs provide balanced operation and improved handling of fragile, abrasive, or high-solids fluids.