Roto-Dynamic Pump With a Diffusion Back Flow Recirculator

This application is related to co-pending application entitled "Roto-Dynamic Pump With A Back Flow Recirculator" by Paul Cooper filed previously.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a roto-dynamic pump and more particularly a roto-dynamic pump having a recirculating means with a diffuser for eliminating pump cavitation.

2. Background

Roto-dynamic pumps are subjected to cavitation surges at low flow rates and at moderate to low values of net positive suction head. Low flow rates are generally flow rates of less than about 50% of design flow rate of the pump. Moderate to low values of net positive suction head (NPSH) are generally those that produce a pump pressure rise reduction of 1% to 3% below the pressure rise obtained in the absence of NPSH influence. In NASA publication NASA SP-8052 entitled "Liquid Rocket Engine Turbopump Inducers", May 1971 a design configuration on pages 33 and 34 is shown which attempts to contain backflow which occurs at low flow. This design, while containing backflow, has a structure protruding into the suction inlet of the pump which decreases the efficiency of the pump and introduces an NPSH penalty of its own.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,659 to Williams shows a roto-dynamic pump wherein a pumping chamber communicates with a suction chamber by means of a slot. The slot allows flowing fluid to pass to the suction chamber and then to an inlet scroll for recirculation which tends to reduce pump cavitation.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,321 to Edwards relates to a vapor separation pump which has an arrangement of diffuser passages or openings which serve as vapor discharge outlets at low rates of flow and as secondary or auxiliary inlets at high rates of flow. The diffuser passages adjacent to the pump inlet are normally intended to function as vapor outlet openings.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,832,292 also to Edwards shows a roto-dynamic pump having a radially extending passage containing diffusion vanes which act as a vapor discharge or a secondary inlet. A lip at the end of the passage directs the discharge away from axial inlet.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,660,366 to Klein et al. pertains to fluid compressors of both the raidal and axial flow types and to structural means and method of inhibiting surging in fluid flow in such compressors.

This invention pertains to a roto-dynamic pump having a housing containing a pump chamber, a leading edge region upstream of the pump chamber, an inlet region upstream of the leading edge region permitting fluid to enter the pump and an outlet region downstream of the pump chamber permitting fluid to discharge from the pump. A roto-dynamic means is provided in the pump chamber for pumping fluid entering the structure by centrifugal force. As the pumping means rotates, swirling fluid may emanate from the leading edge of the roto-dynamic means as backflow. A catching means at the leading edge region collects sufficient backflow fluid to prevent cavitation surging of the pump. A straightening means removes the swirl from the collected fluid and a delivery means returns the straightened fluid to the inlet region.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a roto-dynamic pump showing a radial diffuser and an axial straightening passage and a reinjection slot.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a roto-dynamic pump showing a radial diffuser, a radial-axial straightening passage and a directed reinjection slot.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section illustration of a roto-dynamic pump showing a radial diffuser, a radial-axial straightening passage and a directed reinjection slot.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section illustrating a straightening means along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figures, a roto-dynamic pump 10 is comprised of a housing 11. Housing 11 includes conventional housing such as one-piece castings and housing comprised of several pieces bolted or welded together. Roto-dynamic pump 10 also includes a pumping chamber 12 and a roto-dynamic means within pumping chamber 12. Roto-dynamic means includes conventional roto-dynamic means such as an impeller 18 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and an inducer 20 operating in conjunction with impeller 21 as shown in FIG. 1. The roto-dynamic means has a leading edge 22 located on the upstream side of the roto-dynamic means.

Upstream of pumping chamber 12 is a leading edge region 14 through which fluid enters pumping chamber 12. The cross-sectional shape to the leading edge region includes conventional shapes that transport fluids such as circular shapes, oval shapes, and square and rectangular shapes. The diameter of the leading edge region 14 is the square root of four times the cross-sectional area of the leading edge region divided by .pi. (d=.sqroot.4A/.pi.). Leading edge region 14 preferably extends upstream of leading edge 22 a distance equal to two-fifths the diameter of the leading edge region and extends downstream a distance also equal to two-fifths the diameter of the leading edge region. An inlet region 16 is provided upstream of leading edge region 14. Incoming fluid flows through inlet region 16, through leading edge region 14 and into pumping chamber 12. An outlet downstream of pump chamber 12 is provided for removing fluid from the pump. Outlet region includes conventional outlet regions such as a volute section 17 as shown in the figures. According to the present invention a catching means is provided at the leading edge region for collecting sufficient backflow fluid from the roto-dynamic means to prevent cavitation surging of the pump. It is believed that cavitation surging of the pump occurs when sufficient liquid backflows from the roto-dynamic pumping chamber. The backflowing liquid is caused at low flow rates since liquid cannot move forward through the pump and hence backflows upstream. The backflowing liquid emanates from the leading edge of the pumping means which is rotating. The rotation causes the liquid to swirl upstream as it backflows. The swirling liquid tends to move towards the wall of the inlet region by means of centrifugal force. This results in a low pressure in the center of the inlet region. In order to avoid cavitation surge at low NPSH values the swirling liquid must be removed from this region, straightened and re-introduced in a non-swirling manner.

The catching means includes conventional opening means such as annular slot 24 and holes. In an embodiment of the invention, the annular slot is perpendicular to the flow of the fluid in leading edge region 14. This allows for the backflowing fluid to be caught without interfering with the incoming flow to the pumping chamber and hence without interfering with the performance of the pump. When an annular slot is employed it has been found the annular slot should be at least one-twentieth the diameter of leading edge region 14 in order to allow the catching of sufficient backflowing fluid to prevent cavitation surging of the pump.

A diffusing means is also employed. Diffusion means is a means for converting the kinetic energy of the swirling fluid into pressure. In order for this to be accomplished, the velocity of the swirling fluid must be removed in a gradual, controlled manner. This is accomplished by employing a chamber such as chamber 32 shown in the figures. The cross-sectional area of the chamber perpendicular to the direction of the flowing fluid increases in the direction of the fluid flow. The cross-sectional areas depend on flow rates and pressures and can be determined by one skilled in the art. The width of the chamber is suitably about equal to the width of annular slot 24. The increased pressure as a result of diffusion permits the fluid to be injected into the incoming stream at a relatively high velocity. If the injected fluid is substantially in the direction of the incoming fluid the efficiency of the pump is increased and cavitation performance is improved. Diffusion means includes conventional diffusion such as an axial diffuser, a radial diffuser as shown in FIG. 1, oblique diffusers and combinations of radial oblique and axial diffusion sections as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A means is also provided for straightening or removing the swirl from the collecting fluid. The straightening means includes means such as an annulus 28. The annulus may additionally include straightening means such as straightening vanes 26.

A delivery means is provided for returning the straightened fluid to inlet region 16. Delivery means includes conventional delivery means such as annular slot 30 and holes. The annular slot width should be one-tenth the diameter of the leading edge region or less. It is also desired to introduce the straightened fluid to inlet region 16 at a direction ranging from perpendicular to the flow of the fluid in inlet region 16 to a direction substantially the same as the flow of fluid in inlet region 16.