PUMP WITH INTEGRAL FLOW MONITORING
First Claim
1. A centrifugal pump for transporting fluid, said pump comprising:
- a housing including;
a volute section disposed therein, said volute section defined by a circumferential path through which a fluid may travel;
a discharge section tangentially aligned and in fluid communication with said volute section such that a flowpath is defined by fluid flowing through said volute section and through said discharge section; and
a volute lip section defining a bifurcation point between said volute section and said discharge section;
an impeller disposed within said volute section of said housing; and
a plurality of pressure sensors disposed within said volute section of said housing such that said sensors are exposed to a portion of said flowpath corresponding to said volute section.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A centrifugal pump for transporting fluid with a housing, an impeller and a plurality of pressure sensors. Disposed within the housing is a volute section defined by a circumferential path through which a fluid may travel, a discharge section tangentially aligned and in fluid communication with the volute section such that a flowpath is defined by fluid flowing from the volute section and through the discharge section; and a volute lip section defining a bifurcation point between the circumferential path and the discharge section. The plurality of pressure sensors are disposed within the volute section of the housing, and are spaced apart from one another such that pressure difference readings taken between each exhibit a substantially linear relationship with fluid flow rates to ensure accurate flow rate measurement.
13 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A centrifugal pump for transporting fluid, said pump comprising:
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a housing including;
a volute section disposed therein, said volute section defined by a circumferential path through which a fluid may travel;
a discharge section tangentially aligned and in fluid communication with said volute section such that a flowpath is defined by fluid flowing through said volute section and through said discharge section; and
a volute lip section defining a bifurcation point between said volute section and said discharge section;
an impeller disposed within said volute section of said housing; and
a plurality of pressure sensors disposed within said volute section of said housing such that said sensors are exposed to a portion of said flowpath corresponding to said volute section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of measuring fluid flow through a centrifugal pump, said method comprising the steps of:
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configuring said pump to include;
a housing with an impeller disposed therein;
a flowpath defined by a volute section, discharge section and volute lip section in fluid communication with one another; and
a plurality of sensors circumferentially mounted to and spaced apart in said volute section;
placing said pump in fluid communication with a fluid;
operating said pump such that said fluid flows through at least a portion of said flowpath;
taking measurements of said fluid at each location of said plurality of sensors;
comparing said measurements taken at each of said locations with one another, thereby establishing a differential;
inputting said differential into an algorithm configured to compare said differential to a flow constant;
calculating a flow rate with said algorithm; and
outputting said flow rate. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification