CENTRIFUGAL PUMP FOR CRYOGENIC PUMPED MEDIA

Abstract

In a rotary direct-drive single-stage or multi-stage centrifugal pump (1) for cryogenic liquids, having a pump housing (2) for the pump (1) and an electric drive motor unit (12) in a motor housing (10) serving as a pump drive, wherein a shaft (11) of the drive motor unit (12) is mounted on two roller bearings (20; 21), and wherein at least one roller bearing (20; 21) is an unlubricated roller bearing, the structural design of the centrifugal pump (1) should be kept as simple as possible. This is achieved in that at least a first communicating connection, in particular a direct connecting channel (16), is configured between the pressure side (D) in the pump housing (2) and the roller bearing (21) on the pump housing side for a diverted part (F.sub.A1) of the main conveying flow (F.sub.H) of the cryogenic pumped medium to the roller bearing (21), and that a second communicating connection is configured between the roller bearing (21) on the pump housing side and the suction side (S) for the diverted part (F.sub.A2) of the cryogenic pumped medium back to the suction side (S) in the main conveying flow (F.sub.H) of the cryogenic pumped medium, so that a circulation of the diverted part (F.sub.A1, F.sub.A2) of the cryogenic pumped medium is ensured between the pressure side (D) in the pump housing (2) and only the roller bearing (21) on the pump housing side.

Claims

1. A rotary direct-drive single-stage or multi-stage centrifugal pump for cryogenic liquids, having a pump housing for the pump and an electric drive motor unit serving as a pump drive in a motor housing, wherein a shaft of the drive motor unit is mounted on two bearings, in particular roller bearings, and wherein at least one roller bearing is an unlubricated roller bearing, characterized in that at least a first communicating connection is configured between the pressure side in the pump housing and the roller bearing on the pump housing side, in particular a direct connecting channel, for a diverted part of the main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium to the roller bearing, and that a second communicating connection is configured between the roller bearing on the pump housing side and the suction side for the diverted part of the cryogenic pumped medium back to the suction side into the main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium, so that a circulation of the diverted part of the cryogenic pumped medium is ensured between the pressure side in the pump housing and only the roller bearing on the pump housing side.

2. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that an intermediate piece in the form of a housing cover is located between the motor housing and pump housing, wherein the housing cover has a connecting channel in the shape of a bore between the pressure side in the pump housing and the roller bearing on the pump housing side to form the first communicating connection.

3. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing element is arranged sealingly between the housing cover and the shaft so as to achieve a barrier between the pump housing and the motor housing.

4. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the pump is designed for use in a horizontal position.

5. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the motor housing, in particular at a location lowest in use in a horizontal position in the direction of gravity, has an outlet bore, wherein a pressure equalization line between the motor housing and the suction side is attachable at the outlet bore.

6. The pump according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one roller bearing, in particular the non-lubricated roller bearing on the pump housing side, is a hybrid bearing made of low-friction materials.

7. The pump according to claim 7, characterized in that inner and outer races of the roller bearings, in particular of the roller bearing on the pump housing side, are made of steel and have a chromium-based coating in the region of the running surfaces, and the balls of the roller bearings, in particular of the roller bearing on the pump housing side, are made of ceramic, in particular silicon nitride (Si.sub.3N.sub.4).

8. The pump according to claim 8, characterized in that that the roller bearings, in particular the roller bearings on the pump housing side, comprise a cage for mutual spacing of the balls, wherein a separate chamber is created by the cage for each ball and wherein the cage is made of reinforced polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), stainless steel or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or brass or any combination thereof.

9. A method for operating a pump according to claim 1, comprising at least the method steps: Commissioning the pump for conveying a main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, characterized in that during operation, a diverted part is conducted from the main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium to the roller bearing between the pressure side in the pump housing and the roller bearing on the pump housing side via at least one first communicating connection, in particular a direct connecting channel, and that a second communicating connection is configured between the roller bearing on the pump housing side and the pressure side, the diverted part of the cryogenic pumped medium is conducted back to the suction side in the main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium, so that a circulation of the diverted part of the cryogenic pumped medium is ensured between the pressure side in the pump housing and only the roller bearing on the pump housing side.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that during operation of the centrifugal pump due to the centrifugal forces, a pressure on the pressure side in the outer radial region of the pump housing increases with respect to a pressure at the roller bearing arranged in an inner radial region of the pump housing, so that this pressure gradient causes a diversion of a part of the main conveying flow of the cryogenic pumped medium in the direction of the roller bearing via the at least one first communicating connection and thereby a flow or a cryogenic lubrication and cooling of the roller bearing.

11. The method according claim 9, characterized in that the pump is installed in a horizontal position during commissioning.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] A preferred embodiment of the subject matter according to the invention is described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It shows:

[0029] FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the centrifugal pump according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section through a preferred embodiment of the centrifugal pump 1 according to the invention. The centrifugal pump 1 has a motor housing for an electric drive motor unit 12 and a pump housing 2 for receiving the pump elements. In the present preferred embodiment, it is a single-stage impeller pump with only one pump wheel 5, which may also be a multi-stage impeller pump with multiple pump wheels 5.

[0031] The drive motor unit 12 has a shaft 11 which is mounted in two roller bearings 20; 21. A roller bearing 20 on the drive motor side, i.e., farther from the pump wheel 5 or pump housing 2, is in this case mounted in a housing cover 9 on the drive motor side. In the presently preferred embodiment, the shaft 11 is a one-piece shaft which functions both as a motor shaft and as a pump shaft. Alternatively, a design of the centrifugal pump 1 having a non-integral shaft is conceivable in which a motor shaft can be connected to a pump shaft via a coupling. At the free end of the shaft 11 facing the pump housing 2, both a pump wheel 5 and an running wheel 6 designed as an impeller 6 are fastened here by means of a fixing screw 7. The pump wheel 5 is exemplified here as a spiral-shaped conveying paddle.

[0032] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a suction flange 4 for the suction of the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium is arranged on the pump housing 2 on the inlet opening E or suction side S. On the substantially same axial position as the pump housing 2 and substantially at a right angle to the inlet side E, the outlet side is here arranged with an outlet flange for the discharge of the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium (not visible in FIG. 1).

[0033] There is an intermediate piece in the form of a housing cover 15 located between the motor housing 10 and pump housing 2, wherein this housing cover 15 with suitable fixing means establishes a firm connection between the motor housing 10 and the pump housing 2. The housing cover 15 has adapter and separation function. The roller bearing 21 on the pump housing side, i.e., located nearer to the pump housing 2 or pump wheel, is mounted in the housing cover 15. According to the preferred embodiment shown here, an insulating disk 19 is preferably arranged between the housing cover 15 and the motor housing 10.

[0034] A first communicating connection is between the pressure side D in the pump housing 2 and the roller bearing on the pump housing side 21, in particular as a direct connecting channel 16, configured for a diverted part F.sub.A1 of the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium. The connecting channel 16 is formed here in the shape of a bore in the housing cover 15 and extends here by way of example between roller bearings 21 transversely outwards to an outer radial region of the pump housing 2. In FIG. 1, only one connecting channel 16 is shown, wherein definitely one or more connecting channels 16 may be present as needed.

[0035] During operation of the centrifugal pump 1, a pressure P.sub.2 increases on the pressure side D in the outer radial region of the pump housing 2 against a pressure P.sub.1 at the suction side S in an inner radial region of the pump housing 2 due to the centrifugal forces. The pressure P.sub.2 on the pressure side D usually corresponds to the pressure to be achieved of the exiting main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium. In other words, a pressure gradient forms, wherein: P.sub.2>P.sub.1. This pressure gradient causes a diversion of a part F.sub.A1 from the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium in the direction of the roller bearing 21 and thereby a flow through or a cryogenic lubrication and cooling of the roller bearing 21. In other words, the circulation is ensured by the pressure gradient or the pressure difference between pressure side D and suction side S. It has been found that in the centrifugal pump 1 according to the invention, a pressure gradient or a pressure difference between P.sub.1 and P.sub.2 can be adjustable from 0.8 to 8 bar, wherein this pressure gradient can be influenced in particular by the pump speed and the diameter of the running wheel.

[0036] Between the roller bearing 21 and the suction side S in the pump housing 2, a second communicating connection is configured for the return of the diverted part F.sub.A2 of the cryogenic pumped medium back to the suction side S in the pump housing 2, so that a circulation of the diverted part F.sub.A1; F.sub.A2 of the cryogenic pumped medium between the pressure side D in the pump housing 2 via the roller bearing 21 on the pump housing side back to the suction side S is ensured. According to the preferred embodiment shown here in FIG. 1, the second communicating connection is designed in the shape of at least one lower opening O.sub.2 of the roller bearing on the pump housing side 21 and can thus reach an upper suction side S.sub.1. In addition, the second communicating connection here includes, by way of example indicated by dashed lines, at least one bore B in the running wheel 6, whereby the diverted part F.sub.A2 of the cryogenic pumped medium can pass from an upper suction side S.sub.1 back to the suction side S. It has been found that there is a slightly higher pressure than the pressure P.sub.1 on the suction side S between the upper suction side S.sub.1, whereby the diverted part F.sub.A2 of the cryogenic pumped medium can get back into the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium.

[0037] An annular shaped, the shaft 11 enclosing seal member 18 is arranged between the housing cover 15 and the shaft 11 sealed such in order to achieve a barrier between the pump housing 2 and the motor housing 10. This sealing element 18 forces, as can be seen in FIG. 1 in the direction facing away from the motor housing 10, the diverted part F.sub.A2 of the cryogenic pumped medium via the second communicating connection back into the main conveying flow F.sub.H of the cryogenic pumped medium. The preferred exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also has by way of example, in addition to the sealing element 18, a labyrinth seal 17 between the unlubricated roller bearing 21 and the sealing element 18. The centrifugal pump 1 according to the invention allows a flow of the diverted part F.sub.A1 of the cryogenic pumped medium through a gap between the labyrinth seal 17 and the roller bearing 21, so that the diverted part F.sub.A1 of the cryogenic pumped medium can enter into the roller bearing 21 via at least one upper opening O.sub.1 and can be lubricated by the cryogenic pumped medium.

[0038] Ideally, the centrifugal pump 1 is designed or suitable to be operated in a horizontal position, i.e., in a horizontally oriented longitudinal axis of the shaft 11, for use, for example, on a truck. For example, the centrifugal pump 1 is preferably configured such that the outlet bore 13 shown in FIG. 1 is aligned and arranged in the motor housing 10 at a lowest point in the direction of gravity, whereby liquid cryogenic pumped medium undesirably located in the motor housing 10 can collect at this point. As indicated in FIG. 1 by a dashed line, a pressure equalization line 14 is preferably sealingly attached to the outlet bore 13 and to a bore 3 in the suction flange 4 of the pump housing 2. Such a pressure equalization line 14 is advantageous since the liquid, cryogenic pumped medium is forced from the interior of the motor housing 10 in the direction of the suction side S at the inlet opening E. Such an outlet bore with an attached pressure compensation line advantageously allows removal of unwanted cryogenic pumped medium present in the motor housing, which is, for example, due to a poor barrier effect, for example due to damage or wear of the sealing element 18 between the housing cover 15 on the pump housing side and the shaft 11 entering into the motor housing 10.

[0039] The unlubricated roller bearing 21 in the housing cover 15 here comprises a plurality of balls 23, an inner race 25 and an outer race 27 each with running surfaces, between which the balls 23 are arranged, wherein here the balls 23 may be made of ceramic. The races 25; 27 are preferably made of steel and ideally have a chromium-based coating in the region of the running surfaces.

[0040] Such an unlubricated roller bearing 21 or ball bearing is also referred to as a hybrid bearing, in which different materials are used for the races 25; 27 and the balls 23 (also called rolling bodies). The most common type is that of the deep groove ball bearing with conventional races 25; 27 made of steel and balls 23 made of a high-strength ceramic, usually silicon nitride.

[0041] The roller bearing 20 in the housing cover 9 on the drive motor side can be made identical to the roller bearing 21, but it can also advantageously be a conventional, lubricated roller bearing for cost reasons.

[0042] The mutual distance of the balls 23 in the unlubricated roller bearing 21 is ensured by a cage (not shown in FIG. 1), which has a separate chamber for each ball 23. The inner surfaces of the chambers are preferably cylindrical and the cylinder diameter is chosen slightly larger than the diameter of the balls 23, so that the balls can rotate freely in the cage. Preferably, this cage is made of reinforced PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). Alternatively or additionally, this cage may also be made of stainless steel, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), brass or any combination thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0043] 1 centrifugal pump [0044] 2 pump housing [0045] 3 bore (in the pump housing) [0046] 4 suction flange [0047] 5 pump wheel [0048] 6 running wheel [0049] 7 fixing screw [0050] 9 housing cover on the drive motor side [0051] 10 motor housing [0052] 11 shaft [0053] 12 drive motor unit [0054] 13 outlet bore (in the motor housing) [0055] 14 pressure compensation line (between suction side and pressure side) [0056] 15 housing cover on the pump housing side [0057] 16 connecting channel (for diverted, cryogenic medium) [0058] 17 labyrinth seal [0059] 18 sealing element [0060] 19 insulating disk [0061] 20 roller bearing on the drive motor side [0062] 21 roller bearing on the pump housing side [0063] 22 ball (upper roller bearing) [0064] 23 ball (lower roller bearing) [0065] 24 inner race (upper roller bearing) [0066] 25 inner race (lower roller bearing) [0067] 26 outer race (upper roller bearing) [0068] 27 outer race (lower roller bearing) [0069] A outlet opening [0070] B bore (in the running wheel) [0071] D pressure side [0072] E inlet opening [0073] F.sub.A1 diverted, cryogenic pumped medium (pressure side to the roller bearing) [0074] F.sub.A2 diverted, cryogenic pumped medium (roller bearing to the pressure side) [0075] F.sub.H main conveying flow cryogenic medium [0076] L longitudinal axis [0077] O.sub.1 upper opening (of the roller bearing on the pump housing side) [0078] O.sub.1 lower opening (of the roller bearing on the pump housing side) [0079] S suction side [0080] S.sub.1 upper suction side