PUMP FOR CORROSIVE FLUIDS

Abstract

The pump includes a pumping chamber within a sealed internal chamber, a pump inlet connected to the pumping chamber, a pump outlet connected to the pumping chamber, and a rotational pumping element configured to pump the corrosive fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet. The rotational pumping element is within the pumping chamber. The pump includes a drive shaft for driving the rotational pumping element. The drive shaft is completely within the sealed internal chamber. The drive shaft is configured for magnetically coupling to an external motor. A pump housing forms the sealed internal chamber. The rotational element, the pumping chamber, and the pump housing are formed from any one a conductive plastic, a non-conducting plastic with conducting particles, a semi-conducing ceramic, and combinations thereof. The drive shaft is formed from the semi-conducting ceramic.

Claims

1. A pump for pumping a corrosive fluid, wherein the pump comprises: a sealed internal chamber; a pumping chamber, wherein the pumping chamber is within the sealed internal chamber; a pump inlet connected to the pumping chamber; a pump outlet connected to the pumping chamber; a rotational pumping element configured for pumping the corrosive fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, wherein the rotational pumping element is within the pumping chamber; a drive shaft for driving the rotational pumping element, wherein the drive shaft is completely within the sealed internal chamber, wherein the drive shaft is configured for magnetically coupling to an external motor; a pump housing forming the sealed internal chamber, the pump housing including a containment can for forming a magnetic coupler receptacle within the sealed internal chamber; a cylindrical internal magnetic coupler located within a magnet receptacle, the cylindrical internal magnetic coupler being connected to the drive shaft; and an external magnetic coupler located outside of the sealed internal chamber, the external magnetic coupler including a cylindrical cavity, at least a portion of the containment can being located within the cylindrical cavity, the external magnetic coupler being configured for rotationally coupling to the cylindrical internal magnetic coupler; wherein the rotational pumping element, the pumping chamber, and the pump housing are formed from an electrically non-conducting plastic with electrically conducting particles; wherein the drive shaft is formed from an electrically semi-conducting ceramic; wherein the electrically non-conducting plastic includes polytetrafluoroethylene; wherein the electrically conducting particles include graphite; wherein the electrically semi-conducting ceramic includes sintered silicon carbide; wherein the magnetic coupler receptacle is cylindrically shaped and includes a dome shaped end cap; and wherein any one of: the pump housing is formed by machining, the rotational pumping element is formed by machining, the pumping chamber is formed by machining, the sealed internal chamber is formed by machining, and combinations thereof.

2-4. (canceled)

5. The pump of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is coupled to the rotational pumping element using a polygonal coupling.

6. The pump of claim 5, wherein the polygonal coupling is a pre-stressed coupling.

7. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump is a gear pump, wherein the rotational pumping element is formed from a main gear and a secondary gear, wherein the main gear is coupled to the drive shaft.

8. The pump of claim 7, wherein the main gear and the secondary gear have helical teeth.

9. The pump of claim 7, wherein the rotational pumping element comprises a gear liner for forming the pumping chamber and for receiving the main gear and the secondary gear, wherein the pump housing is configured for receiving the gear liner.

10. The pump of claim 7, wherein the rotational pumping element comprises a gear liner for forming the pumping chamber and for receiving the main gear and the secondary gear, wherein the gear liner is machined into the pump housing.

11. The pump of claim 7, wherein pump further comprises a secondary shaft, wherein the secondary shaft is formed from the electrically semi-conducting ceramic, wherein the secondary shaft is located completely within the sealed internal chamber, wherein the secondary shaft is coupled to the secondary gear.

12. The pump of claim 11, wherein the pump further comprises at least one bearing for the drive shaft arid the secondary shaft, wherein the at least one bearing is formed from the electrically non-conducting plastic with electrically conducting particles.

13. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump is a sliding vane pump.

14. The pump of claim 13, wherein the sliding vane pump comprises a stator, wherein the rotational pumping element comprises a rotor coupled to the drive shaft, wherein the rotational pumping element further comprises three or more vanes for contacting the stator, and wherein the stator, the rotor, and the three or more vanes are formed from the electrically non-conducting plastic with conducting particles.

15-18. (canceled)

19. A biodiesel production system comprising: a reactor chamber for receiving oil; a methanol pump system for supplying methanol to the reactor chamber; and a catalyst pump system for supplying catalyst to the reactor chamber; wherein the catalyst pump system includes the pump of claim 1.

20. The pump of claim 1, wherein the pump is any one of: a gear pump or a rotary vane pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:

[0072] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a gear pump.

[0073] FIG. 2 illustrates a further example of a gear pump.

[0074] FIG. 3 illustrates a further example of a gear pump.

[0075] FIG. 4 illustrates a further example of a gear pump.

[0076] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a sliding vane pump.

[0077] FIG. 6 illustrates a further example of a sliding vane pump.

[0078] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a biodiesel production system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] Like numbered elements in these figures are either equivalent elements or perform the same function. Elements which have been discussed previously will not necessarily be discussed in later figures if the function is equivalent.

[0080] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a gear pump 100 that is connected to an external motor 102. The view shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view which cuts through the center of the pumping chamber 106. The gear pump comprises a pump housing 104. Within the pump housing is a pumping chamber 106. All of the components which are exposed to a corrosive fluid are within a sealed internal chamber. The sealed internal chamber is not shown in this FIG. 1 but the pumping chamber 106 is entirely within the sealed internal chamber. The pumping chamber has a pump inlet 108 and a pump outlet 110. The gear pump 100 has a main gear 112 that is driven by a drive shaft 114. The drive shaft 114 is magnetically coupled to the external motor 102. The magnetic coupling is not illustrated in this Fig. The gear pump 100 also comprises a secondary gear 116 that is connected to a secondary shaft 118. The main gear 112 and the secondary gear 116 form a rotational pumping element 117.

[0081] Both the main gear 112 and the secondary gear 116 are connected to their shafts 114, 118 using a polygonal coupling 120. The polygonal coupling 120 shown in this Fig. is a P3G polygonal coupling. Other polygonal couplings could also be used which have different geometries.

[0082] The main gear 112 and the secondary gear 116 both have gear teeth 124 that mesh at the center of the gear pump 100. In this example, the gear teeth mesh together and do not provide a large volume which would be able to pump fluid. The fluid is therefore pumped by the motion of the gear teeth 124 across the surface of the gear liner 122. When the main gear 112 rotates in a clockwise direction then the pump inlet is 108 and the pump outlet is 110. If the direction of the main gear 112 were reversed then the positions of the pump inlet 108 and the pump outlet 110 would be reversed. The identification of which is the pump inlet 108 and the pump outlet 110 may therefore depend upon the exact mechanical construction of the gear pump 100 and also the electric motor 102 that it is connected to. The pump inlet 108 and the pump outlet 110 can therefore also be generically referred to as access ports or access to the pumping chamber 106.

[0083] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the gear pump 100 of FIG. 1. In this view it can be seen that the housing is made from several components. The housing 104 has several components which surround and encompass the components of the gear pump and also has a containment can 202. In this FIG. 1 an internal magnetic coupler 206 can be seen. The internal magnetic coupler 206 is connected to the drive shaft 114 by a polygonal coupling 120. The internal magnetic coupler 206 is able to rotate within the containment can 204. An external magnetic coupler can be used to then rotate the drive shaft 114 while the pump housing 104 is sealed. The containment can 202 has a domed end cap 204. The use of the domed end cap enables a higher pressure within the pumping chamber 106.

[0084] The sealed internal chamber 210 is formed in the spaces labelled 210 when the components of the housing 104 are assembled. The gear liner 112 is able to be inserted into the sealed internal chamber 210 of the pump housing 104. In this example the pumping chamber 106 is formed within the space of the gear liner 122. Having a removable gear liner 122 is advantageous because it may be replaced easily when worn. This however is not the only alternative. The structure of the gear liner 122 could also be machined directly into the pump housing 104. Also, shown in this Fig, are bearings 208 which each have two holes for supporting the secondary shaft 118 and the drive shaft 114. In some instances the bearings 208 may have grooves or holes which enable the corrosive fluid to travel throughout the sealed internal chamber 210 to equalize the pressure during use of the gear pump 100.

[0085] In this example, it can be seen that the housing 104 comprises a removable port 212. The removable port enables easy disassembly of the gear pump 100 for maintenance and/or for replacing components.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows a further example of a gear pump 100. The design of the gear pump 100 in FIG. 3 is similar to that as is shown in FIG. 2. In this example the gear pump 100 is shown as being mounted to an external motor 102 which is able to drive the drive shaft 114 via a magnetic coupling which is not shown in this Fig.

[0087] FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a gear pump 100. In FIG. 4 a cross-sectional view that passes through both the drive shaft 114 and the secondary shaft 118 is shown. The connection between the drive shaft 112 and the internal magnetic coupler 206 is clearly shown. In this example, the containment can 202 has a flat end cap 204. The example shown in FIG. 4 can also be modified such that the end cap 204 is also domed as is illustrated in FIG. 2. In this Fig., there is an external magnetic coupler 400 which has a cylindrical cavity 401. It can be seen that the containment can 202 fits within this cylindrical cavity 401. Both the external magnetic coupler 400 and the internal magnetic coupler 206 are shown as having permanent magnets 402. This causes a magnetic coupling between the external magnetic coupler 400 and the internal magnetic coupler 206. The arrow labelled 102 shows where an external motor could be connected to the external magnetic coupler 400. It can be seen that the components of the gear pump 100 are within the sealed internal chamber 210 formed by the pump housing 104. The pumping chamber 106 is only a portion of the sealed internal chamber 210.

[0088] In FIGS. 1 through 4, the rotational pumping element 117, the pumping chamber 106, and the pump housing 104 may be manufactured from any one of the following: a conductive plastic, a non-conducting plastic with conducting particles, a semi-conducting ceramic and combinations thereof. The drive shaft 114 and the secondary shaft 118 may be manufactured from a semi-conducting ceramic also. In some examples the rotational pumping element 117, the pumping chamber 106, and the pump housing 104 may be manufactured from Siston Carbide or Teflon with carbon particles (PTFE C25%). In some examples the drive shaft 114 and the secondary shaft 118 may be manufactured from Silicon Carbide. The main gear 112 and/or the secondary gear 116 may be formed from plastic, such as a thermoplastic polymer, or a semi-conducting ceramic, such as silicon carbide.

[0089] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a sliding vane pump 500. The pump again comprises a pump housing 104 which has a pumping chamber 106. The pump housing 104 has a pump inlet 108 and a pump outlet 110 that provides access to the pumping chamber 106.

[0090] The sliding vane pump 500 comprises a rotor 502. When the rotor 502 turns in the direction indicated by the arrow 504 then 108 is the inlet and 110 is the outlet. When the direction of the arrow 504 is reversed then the inlet 108 and the outlet 110 have their positions reversed. Within the rotor 502, is a number of sliding vanes 506. The sliding vanes are spring loaded or with an elastic element that makes it maintain contact with a stator 508. The rotation 504 and the changing position of the sliding vanes 506 causes fluid to be pumped from the inlet 108 to the outlet 110.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a further example of a sliding vane pump 500. The pump in FIG. 6 shows many components in common with the pumps illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, this case the rotational pumping element 117 is formed by the rotor 502 and the vanes 506. The components within the sealed internal chamber 210 may be made of a conductive plastic, a non-conducting plastic with conducting particles, and a semi-conducting ceramic. The drive shaft 114 is made from the semi-conducting ceramic.

[0092] The bearings 208 may additionally be constructed from either the conductive plastic, a non-conducting plastic with conducting particles, a semi-conducting ceramic and in some instances it may be made from solid graphite.

[0093] FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a biodiesel production system 700. The biodiesel production system 700 comprises a reactor chamber 702. The reactor chamber 702 has an inlet 704 and an outlet 706. There may be additional components at the inlet 704 to purify oil from a biological source such as an animal or plant which can be then pumped or placed into the reactor chamber 702. The outlet 706 may also have additional components to remove glycerine 718 and/or methanol from the finished biodiesel 716. The reactor 702 is shown as being connected to a methanol reservoir filled with methanol 708 via a methanol pump system 712. The reactor chamber 702 is also shown as being connected to a catalyst reservoir filled with a catalyst 712. The catalyst reservoir 710 is connected to the reactor chamber 702 via a catalyst pump system 714. The catalyst pump system 714 may be a pump according to an example such as is illustrated in any one of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. When the catalyst 710 is mixed with oil and methanol the oil separates into the biodiesel 716 and the glycerine 718. After the outlet 706 there may be further processing to purify the biodiesel 716 and remove any glycerine 718 or methanol which may make the biodiesel potentially too flammable. The use of a pump as described herein for the catalyst pump system 714 has the benefit that the catalyst is highly corrosive and may destroy most pumps and additionally the presence of the methanol may make the system explosive if there are sparks. The use of a pump as described herein may then provide for a more safe and durable biodiesel production system.

[0094] In the pumps illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, it is beneficial to highly corrosion-resistant PTFE or silicon carbide. However, various materials may be substituted for the conductive plastic, the non-conducting plastic with conducting particles, and the semi-conducting ceramic to save money when the pump is used with less corrosive and/or explosive fluids. A variant made of Polypropylene PP could be made for weaker corrosive applications.

[0095] Optionally, components of the pumps can be replaced by components made from other materials such as stainless steel (1.4571), Hastelloy C276 and/or titanium if the customer so desires. The shafts can also be made from alumina or 99.5% high-purity aluminum oxide ceramic. Plain bearings are available from carbon graphite, silicon carbide or PTFE C25%. O-rings or sealing elements can for example be made of NBR, EPDM, FKM and FFKM are available for the static seals.

[0096] Machining of the pump components, such as CNC milling, has the advantage that the same computer numeric control (CNC) data can be used for controlling the machining irrespective of the choice of material in contrast to a molding process where the mold depends on the chosen material.

[0097] The gear and sliding vane pumps illustrated herein may also be driven dry at low speeds without damage for a period of time useful for self priming.

[0098] In addition to biodiesel production systems, the pumps describe herein may also be useful for: application in the chemical industry; wastewater treatment, for example for ferric (III) chloride dosing, for oleo chemistry, in the paper and pulp industry, and in the construction of chemical plants and industrial apparatuses.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0099] 100 Gear Pump

[0100] 102 external motor

[0101] 104 pump housing

[0102] 106 pumping chamber

[0103] 108 pump inlet

[0104] 110 pump outlet

[0105] 112 main gear

[0106] 114 drive shaft

[0107] 116 secondary gear

[0108] 117 rotational pumping element

[0109] 118 secondary shaft

[0110] 120 polygonal coupling

[0111] 122 gear liner

[0112] 124 gear teeth

[0113] 200 sealing element

[0114] 202 containment can

[0115] 204 end cap

[0116] 206 internal magnetic coupler

[0117] 208 bearing

[0118] 210 sealed internal chamber

[0119] 212 removable port

[0120] 400 external magnetic coupler

[0121] 401 cylindrical cavity

[0122] 402 permanent magnet

[0123] 500 sliding vane pump

[0124] 502 rotor

[0125] 504 direction of rotation

[0126] 506 vane

[0127] 508 stator

[0128] 700 biodiesel production system

[0129] 702 reactor chamber

[0130] 704 inlet to reactor chamber

[0131] 706 outlet to reactor chamber

[0132] 708 methanol reservoir filled with methanol

[0133] 710 catalyst reservoir filled with catalyst

[0134] 712 methanol pump system

[0135] 714 catalyst pump system

[0136] 716 biodiesel

[0137] 718 glycerin