Thrust Bearing Liquid Pump for Rankine Cycle Axial Thrust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing liquid pumps in Rankine cycle systems face reliability issues due to axial thrust forces generated by pressure differences, leading to friction, wear, and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A liquid pump design with a pressure container partitioned into high and low pressure spaces, featuring a shaft with a thrust bearing supported by first and second bearings, and a pump mechanism that stabilizes fluid pressure through a fine passage, enhancing load capacity and reducing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid pump is used in a Rankine cycle system to generate high temperature and high pressure working fluid, then the system can generate electricity using the expander, but the axial thrust forces generated by pressure differences cause friction and wear leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A thrust bearing is introduced as an intermediary component between the shaft and the pump housing to absorb and support the axial thrust forces generated by pressure differences. This mediator prevents the axial forces from directly affecting the shaft and pump mechanism, thereby reducing friction and wear while maintaining reliable operation under high pressure conditions
2Productivity
If the pressure difference between high pressure side space and low pressure side space is increased to improve pumping efficiency, then more power can be generated in the expander, but the axial thrust force on the shaft increases causing increased wear and reduced product life
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust bearing serves as a mediator that enables the system to operate at higher pressure differences for improved power generation while protecting the shaft and pump mechanism from excessive axial thrust forces. This allows the system to achieve higher productivity without sacrificing product life
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing provides a counteracting support force that balances the axial thrust force generated by the pressure difference. This counterbalance allows the pump to handle higher pressure differences for improved productivity while the thrust bearing absorbs the resulting axial loads, preventing increased wear and maintaining product life
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 design provides high reliability by stabilizing the shaft under increased pressure differences, prolonging product life and maintaining efficiency, even under high-pressure operations.
Implementation Method 1
a thrust bearing that is disposed between the first bearing and the second bearing and that faces the thrust supported face of the shaft and that supports the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft even when the difference between the pressure in the high pressure side space and the pressure in the low pressure side space increases
Implementation Method 2
a pump mechanism that is disposed between the first bearing and the second bearing in the axial direction of the shaft and that pumps a liquid by rotation of the shaft
Implementation Method 3
a first bearing that is positioned closer to the high pressure side space than the other end of the shaft and that supports the shaft in the radial direction; a second bearing that is positioned closer to the low pressure side space than the first bearing and that supports the shaft in the radial direction
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A liquid pump in the present disclosure includes a pressure container, a shaft, a first bearing, a second bearing, a pump mechanism, and a thrust bearing. The internal space of the pressure container is partitioned into a high pressure side space and a low pressure side space. The shaft has a thrust supported face, one of both ends of the shaft is disposed in the high pressure side space, and the other of both ends of the shaft is disposed in the low pressure side space. The pump mechanism is disposed between the first bearing and the second bearing, and pumps liquid by rotation of the shaft. The thrust bearing is disposed to face the thrust supported face between the first bearing and the second bearing.