Turbopump Thrust Balancing via Supercritical Pressure Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-density machinery operating with supercritical fluids faces excessive thrust loads due to high power density, pressure rise, and rotating speeds, leading to system damage, as traditional thrust bearing designs are inadequate, and existing thrust balancing techniques negatively impact system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A turbopump system with a pressure release passageway and valve allows selective pressure release to balance thrust loads, maintaining the working fluid in a supercritical state to reduce or eliminate thrust imbalances, and a process control system monitors pressures to adjust the valve position and regulate pressure profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional thrust bearing designs are used in high-density machinery operating with supercritical fluids, then the system structure is simple, but excessive thrust loads cause component damage and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A thrust balance piston is introduced as an intermediary component between the pump and the working fluid. The piston receives pressure from the supercritical working fluid on its front face and transmits this balancing force to counteract the thrust loads on the pump impeller, thereby protecting components from excessive thrust while maintaining system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in the pressure parameter of the supercritical working fluid to generate the balancing force. By maintaining the fluid in a supercritical state with specific pressure and temperature parameters, the fluid exerts sufficient pressure on the thrust balance piston to counteract the thrust loads dynamically during operation
2Reliability
If thrust balance piston technique is employed to balance thrust loads, then component protection is improved, but system efficiency is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust balance piston is designed to equalize the pressure distribution across the pump impeller assembly. By creating a balancing pressure field that counteracts the thrust-induced pressure differential, the system reduces energy losses associated with unbalanced thrust loads while maintaining overall system efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The high pressure of the supercritical working fluid, which could potentially cause damage, is converted into a beneficial force by directing it against the thrust balance piston. This piston then uses the fluid's own pressure to generate the counteracting thrust balance force, transforming a potentially harmful parameter into a protective mechanism
3Reliability
If pressure release passageway and valve are added to balance thrust loads, then thrust imbalance is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A controllable valve is integrated into the pressure release passageway to dynamically adjust the pressure balancing action. The valve can be modulated in response to operating conditions to optimize thrust load balancing across different system states, transforming a static pressure balance system into a dynamic one that adapts to varying thrust requirements
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 effectively reduces or prevents component damage from thrust load imbalances, enhancing system efficiency by maintaining the working fluid in a supercritical state and using a pressure release mechanism to balance thrust loads, thereby improving the operational reliability of high-density machinery.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining the working fluid in a supercritical state to reduce or eliminate thrust imbalances
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A turbopump system includes a pump portion including a housing having a pressure release passageway disposed therein. The pump portion is disposed between a high pressure side and a low pressure side of a working fluid circuit. A drive turbine is coupled to the pump portion and configured to drive the pump portion to enable the pump portion to circulate a working fluid through the working fluid circuit. A pressure release valve is fluidly coupled to the pressure release passageway and configured to be positioned in an opened position to enable pressure to be released through the pressure release passageway and in a closed position to disable pressure from being released through the pressure release passageway.