Multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly

Abstract

A multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly includes at least two pump stages (4) which are consecutive in a main flow direction (32), and a backflow channel (13) which lies parallel to at least one a pump stage (4). The backflow channel (13) runs out downstream of the first or a further pump stage (4), in the main flow direction (32).

Claims

1. A multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly comprising: at least two pump stages which are consecutive in a main flow direction and which include a diffuser; and a backflow channel which lies parallel to at least one pump stage and which runs out downstream of the first or a further pump stage in the main flow direction, wherein the backflow channel runs out downstream of the diffuser of the at least one pump stage, wherein the backflow channel is an annular channel surrounding at least one pump stage.

2. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the backflow channel runs out downstream of the diffuser of a first pump stage of the at least two pump stages, in the main flow direction.

3. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a gas separator is arranged at an exit side of the at least second pump stage.

4. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gas separator is formed by a housing-fixed, tubular body which connects onto the diffuser of one of the at least two pump stages and the gas separator comprises a wall that comprises at least one recess fluidically connected to the backflow channel.

5. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 3, further comprising a buffer chamber arranged between two pump stages of the at least two pump stages which follow the first pump stage in the main flow direction, and downstream of the gas separator in the main flow direction.

6. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 5, wherein the buffer chamber is formed by a housing-fixed, tubular body, a housing wall surrounding the tubular body and spaced at a distance and an annular base connecting the tubular body and the housing wall, said base comprising at least one recess which is connected to the backflow channel in a fluid-leading manner.

7. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein a valve is provided on an entry side of the backflow channel and the valve is controlled in a pressure-dependent manner and shuts off the backflow channel on exceeding a predefined differential pressure.

8. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising empty running prevention means for preventing an empty running of the pump are provided.

9. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least two pump stages comprise pump stages arranged vertically above one another and further comprising a suction connection at a foot of the pump and a pipe section which extends laterally of the assembly up to a height of a last pump stage, is arranged upstream of the suction connection.

10. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 9, wherein the pipe section arranged upstream is configured with a U-shape with a region connecting the limbs of the U shape provided with a ventilation opening which can be selectively opened or closed by way of a ventilation valve.

11. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the ventilation opening is conductively connected to a pressure space of the last pump stage, amid an intermediate connection of the ventilation valve.

12. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 10, wherein the ventilation valve is an electrically controllable solenoid valve.

13. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a non-return valve arranged upstream of the first pump stage.

14. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 9, wherein a delivery connection is conductively connected to the last pump stage via an annular space and is arranged in the foot of the pump.

15. The centrifugal pump assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an electric motor to drive a central shaft carrying impellers and arranged at an upper end of the assembly.

16. A multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly comprising: a plurality of pump stages consecutively arranged in a main flow direction, at least one of the plurality of pump stages comprising a diffuser; and a backflow channel parallel to at least one of the plurality of pump stages, the backflow channel extending downstream of the diffuser of the at least one of the plurality of pump stages in a main flow direction, the backflow channel being downstream of another one of the pump stages, wherein the backflow channel defines at least a portion of a fluid flow path extending from an outlet of the at least one of the plurality of pump stages to a position located between an outlet of the another one of the pump stages and an inlet of the at least one of the plurality of pump stages, wherein the backflow channel is an annular channel surrounding at least one pump stage.

17. A multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly comprising: a first pump stage comprising a first pump stage diffuser; a second pump stage; a third pump stage a comprising a third pump stage diffuser, the first pump stage, the second pump stage and the third pump stage being consecutively arranged in a main flow direction; and a backflow channel parallel to at least one of the first pump stage, the second pump stage and the third pump stage, the backflow channel extending downstream of the diffuser of at least the third pump stage diffuser in the main flow direction, wherein the backflow channel defines at least a portion of a fluid flow path extending from an outlet of the third pump stage diffuser to a position located between an outlet of the first pump stage diffuser and an inlet of the second pump stage, wherein the backflow channel is an annular channel surrounding at least one of the first pump stage, the second pump stage and the third pump stage.

18. A multi-stage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly comprising: at least two pump stages which are consecutive in a main flow direction and which include a diffuser; and a backflow channel which lies parallel to at least one pump stage and which runs out downstream of the first or a further pump stage in the main flow direction, wherein the backflow channel runs out downstream of the diffuser of the at least one pump stage, the at least two pump stages comprising pump stages arranged vertically above one another and further comprising a suction connection at a foot of the pump and a pipe section which extends laterally of the assembly up to a height of a last pump stage, is arranged upstream of the suction connection, wherein a delivery connection is conductively connected to the last pump stage via an annular space and is arranged in the foot of the pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified schematic longitudinal sectional view through a centrifugal pump assembly according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a region of the first four pump stages of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a region between the fourth and the last pump stage in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a pressure-side housing region behind the fourth pump stage;

(6) FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the housing region according to FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a greatly simplified schematic longitudinal sectional view of the centrifugal pump assembly according to FIG. 1, with an incorporated valve; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a greatly simplified schematic longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment variant with a non-return valve connected upstream, according to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) With regard to the centrifugal pump assembly represented by way of the FIGS. 1 to 5, it is the case of a multistage, self-priming centrifugal pump assembly of the inline construction type which is envisaged for vertical operation, thus standing upright. Thereby, only the pump-side part of the centrifugal pump assembly which is provided on a foot part 1 for standing placement on a horizontally aligned surface and which comprises a suction connection 2 as well as a delivery connection 3 aligned thereto, as is common with inline pumps, is represented in FIG. 1. A middle pump part 5 connects to this foot part 1 formed as a cast metal component and this middle pump part comprises the pump stages 4 and at its upper end is closed off by a head part 6 likewise formed from cast metal and simultaneously forming a motor base 7 for the electric motor to be connected there. This (not shown) electric motor is connected via a (likewise not represented) coupling to a central shaft 8 which passes through the pump from the head part 6 to the foot part 1, is rotatably mounted and carries impellers 9 of the pump stages 4.

(10) The pump represented by way of FIGS. 1 to 5 as a whole comprises five pump stages 4 which are connected hydraulically in series so that the delivery fluid is led from the suction connection 2 firstly to the lowermost, first impeller 9a, from there into the diffuser 10a assigned to this impeller 9a and leading the delivery fluid to the pump stage arranged downstream, specifically to the suction port of the impeller 9b of the second pump stage to which second pump stage a diffuser 10b leading the fluid to the suction port of an impeller 9c of the third pump stage is assigned. The fourth pump stage consisting of the impeller 9d and the diffuser 10d connects to the third pump stage which is closed off by the diffuser 10c. Finally, the pump close to its upper end comprises a fifth pump stage consisting of an impeller 9e and a diffuser 10e.

(11) The pump stages 4 are arranged in a cylindrical inner casing 11 which is surrounded at a radial distance by a likewise cylindrical outer casing 12. The delivery fluid is led via the annular space formed between the inner casing 11 and the outer casing 12, from the exit of the diffuser 10e of the uppermost, fifth pump stage back downwards to the lower foot part 1 and there to the delivery connection 3.

(12) The basic construction of the pump as well as the pump stages in each case consisting of an impeller 9 and a diffuser 10 corresponds to that which is common, is counted as belonging to the state of the art and is therefore not described in detail here.

(13) In order to design the pump in a self-priming manner, i.e. to ensure with regard to design that a self-priming effect happens at least when a small quantity of fluid is located within the pump, several design measures are envisaged with the represented centrifugal pump.

(14) Thus a backflow channel 13 is provided, which is formed by a cylindrical intermediate wall arranged at a small distance to the inner casing 11 between the exit of the first pump stage and the exit of the fourth pump stage and is otherwise connected at the ends to the inner casing 11 in a fixed and sealed manner. The backflow channel 13 arises due to radial recesses 14 above the fourth pump stage, thus above the diffuser 10d of the fourth pump stage in the inner casing 11. The backflow channel 13 runs as an annular channel downwards from the recesses 14, where it runs out through recesses 15 between the diffuser 10a at the exit side of the first stage and the impeller 9b at the entry side of the second pump stage. This backflow channel 13 thus short circuits the fourth pump stage with the exit of the first pump stage, so that the delivery fluid during a suctioning phase of the pump after switching on firstly circulates between the second and the fourth pump stage, as is indicated by the interrupted lines 16 in FIG. 2, said lines representing the suctioning fluid circulation. The self-priming is effected in a comparatively rapid manner due to the fact that the backflow channel 13 is not led back to the entry of the first pump stage as is the case with the state of the art, but to the entry of the second pump stage.

(15) A gas separator 17 in the form of a cylindrical pipe section is formed at the exit side of the fourth pump stage within the inner casing 11, in a manner connecting to the diffuser 10d of this stage, and this pipe section is arranged in a manner fixed to the housing and coaxially to the shaft 8 and in the region of the upper third of its length is provided with circular recesses 18. The pipe forming the gas separator 17 with regard to height corresponds roughly to two pump stages. The gas separator 17 has the effect that on interruption of the flow of the fluid due to a relatively large gas bubble, this can rise centrally, whereas the fluid which exits from the diffuser 10d, due to the swirling which is still present and the centrifugal force resulting from this, exits through the openings 18 to the outside and then flows back at the outer periphery within the inner casing 11 or rises further upwards, without the delivery flow breaking away due to this.

(16) A buffer chamber 19 which is delimited inwards coaxially to the shaft 8 by a cylindrical pipe section 20, is delimited to the outside by the inner casing 11 and is delimited to the bottom by an annular base 21, connects onto the gas separator 17 to the top at a distance. The base 21 is provided with recesses 22 which are dimensioned such that the buffer chamber 19 due to the recesses 22 in the base 21 empties only very slowly but not spontaneously, thus that delivery fluid firstly remains in this region of the pump even in the case of a passage of larger gas quantities. The suction port of the impeller 9e of the fifth pump stage connects to the top onto the cylindrical pipe section 20 at a distance. The delivery fluid which gets through the pipe section 20 thus at least partly flows into the buffer chamber 19 arranged laterally next to it and from there, as long as these spaces are not filled with delivery fluid as in normal pump operation, back to the fourth pump stage and from there via the backflow channel 13 to the entry of the second pump stage. In this manner, even with the occurrence of larger gas bubbles, it is always ensured that sufficient delivery fluid remains within the pump, in order to ensure the continuous delivery operation.

(17) A pressure-controlled valve 23 is provided which, when the pressure at the exit of the fourth pump stage rises above a certain value, specifically when the actual suctioning procedure is completed, closes the recesses 14 in the inner casing 11, in order to prevent losses arising after the suctioning phase in the actual delivery operation due to delivery fluid flowing back though the backflow channel 13. For this, the valve 23 comprises a sheet-metal strip 24 which is arranged within the cylindrical outer inner contour in a limitedly movable manner, at its two ends is designed in a fork-like manner and is connected to the inner casing 11 in a limitedly movable manner within this by way of screws 25. The sheet-metal strip 24 in the region of the screws 26 is held in a manner distanced to the inner casing 11 via a screw 26 in the inner casing 11, said screw being arranged centrally between the screws 25 and between the two recesses 14. The sheet-metal strip 24 which is formed from spring steel is elastically deformed with an increasing inner pressure and is pressed radially outwards in a manner closing the recesses 14. As soon as the inner pressure drops below a certain value, the sheet-metal strip 24 again assumes its original shape represented in FIG. 5 and thus opens the recesses 14.

(18) A U-shaped pipe section 27 is arranged upstream of the suction connection 2 in order to prevent the centrifugal pump from running empty after switching off for example, and this pipe section with regard to height extends up to the fifth pump stage, so that the pump itself and the limb of the U-shaped pipe section 27 which is on the left in FIG. 1 always remains filled with delivery fluid.

(19) Thereby, in a further development, the U-shaped pipe section 27 at its uppermost location, thus in the web region of the U can comprise a bleed connection 28 which is closed by way of a solenoid valve 29. This bleed connection 28 is connected to the pressure space of the last pump stage via a flexible tube 30. The solenoid valve 29 is closed in the non-actuated condition and is opened by way of a suitable (not shown) control, given a pressure drop in the pressure space of the last pump stage, in order to ensure that sufficient delivery fluid always remains within the pump and the self-priming capability is retained.

(20) With the embodiment according to FIG. 7, a non-return valve 31 is provided on the suction side instead of the U-shaped pipe section 27 and the bleed opening 28, and this valve endures that delivery fluid can only flow into the pump but not out of this at the suction side, and the self-priming capability is also ensured by way of this.

(21) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.