Liquid pump and method for pumping a liquid that may have gas coming out of solution

Abstract

The present invention increases the pumping efficiency when pumping liquids whose liquid source is at a temperature and pressure close to the liquidus, or having entrained gas or gas coming out of solution, referred to as vapor, in several ways. First, the pump is oriented to allow liquid flowing into the compression chamber by the natural tendency of liquid to flow downward and residual vapor to return to the supply tank, by the natural tendency of vapor to flow upward. The location of the large smooth inlet line at the top of the pump encourages any vapor to escape and be piped back to the supply tank. The flow of vapor back to the supply tank is also encouraged by the vapor outlets and conduit leading back, at a positive slope, to the supply tank. Second, the inlet chamber located above the inlet valve reduces cavitation because this chamber prepares a new discrete volume of inlet liquid while the current discrete volume is being power-stroked out of the compression chamber. This is furthered by setting the inlet valves in angled pockets which encourage and facilitates the release any released vapor bubbles back to the top of the inlet line during the power stroke. Finally, the current invention discourages cavitation because the unswept volume is minimized. This is critical to the efficiency of the pump as well as reduction of the adverse effects of cavitation because this residual liquid tends to vaporize when subjected to depressurization during the intake stroke.

1 . A pump for pumping a liquid that may have gas coming out of solution, comprising: 
 a manifold having an upper inlet chamber connected to at least one lower valve chamber with first and second ends, the first end adjacent and below the upper inlet chamber and the second end adjacent and above a compression chamber with an inlet valve between the second end of the at least one valve chamber and the compression chamber;    a plunger displaceable in the compression chamber; and    an outlet valve in a lower portion of the compression chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising downwardly angling the at least one valve chamber such that the second end of the valve chamber is positioned lower than the first end of the valve chamber to facilitate the upward escape of released vapor and the downward flow of liquid.  
   
   
       3 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising the valve chamber having a substantially smooth upper side.  
   
   
       4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the at least one valve chamber is greater than the volume vacated by the plunger in moving its full stroke in the compression chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a downwardly declining inlet conduit in fluid communication with the upper inlet chamber;    an upwardly inclining vapor release conduit in fluid communication with the upper inlet chamber; and    a supply tank containing liquid in liquid communication with the inlet conduit and vapor with the vapor release conduit, wherein the pump is at a lower level than the level of liquid in the supply tank to facilitate the downward flow of liquid and the upward escape of released vapor, the inlet conduit and vapor release conduits being in fluid communication with the upper inlet chamber.    
   
   
       6 . A pump, for pumping liquids that may have gas coming out of solution, comprising: 
 a manifold having an upper inlet chamber connected to at least one lower valve chamber with a substantially smooth upper side and having first and second ends, the first end adjacent to the upper inlet chamber and the second end adjacent and above a compression chamber with an inlet valve between the second end of the at least one valve chamber and the compression chamber, then at least one valve chamber being downwardly angled by positioning the second end of the valve chamber lower than the first end of the valve chamber;    a plunger displaceable in the compression chamber;    an outlet valve in a lower portion of the compression chamber;    a downwardly declining inlet conduit in fluid communication with the upper inlet chamber;    an upwardly inclining vapor release conduit in fluid communication with the upper inlet chamber; and    a supply tank in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and vapor release conduit, the supply tank containing liquid, wherein the pump is at a lower level than the level of liquid in the supply tank.    
   
   
       7 . A method for reducing cavitation in a pump, for pumping liquids that may have gas coming out of solution, the method comprising: 
 locating the upper inlet chamber adjacent to and above the valve chamber;    locating the valve chamber adjacent to and above a compression chamber with an inlet valve therebetween;    locating an outlet valve in a lower portion of the compression chamber;    facilitating the removal of vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber; and    providing an upwardly inclined conduit for vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber to return to the liquid supply tank.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising facilitating the removal of vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber by downwardly angling the valve chamber so that the second end of the valve chamber is lower with respect to the first end of the valve chamber.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising ensuring the upper side of the valve chamber is substantially smooth.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising placing the pump lower than the level of liquid in the supply tank.  
   
   
       11 . A method for reducing cavitation in a pump for pumping a liquid that may have gas coming out of solution, the method comprising: 
 locating the upper inlet chamber adjacent to and above the valve chamber;    locating the valve chamber above a compression chamber with an inlet valve therebetween, wherein the valve chamber is downwardly angled so that the second end of the valve chamber is lower with respect to the first end of the valve chamber and the upper side of the valve chamber is substantially smooth;    facilitating the removal of vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber; and    providing an upwardly inclined conduit for vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber to return to the supply tank, wherein the pump is placed at a lower level than the liquid in the supply tank.    
   
   
       12 . A method for reducing the unswept volume in a pump for pumping a liquid that may have gas coming out of solution, the method comprising: 
 locating the upper inlet chamber adjacent to and above the valve chamber;    locating the valve chamber above a compression chamber with an inlet valve therebetween;    minimizing the distance between the inlet valve and the compression chamber by downwardly angling the inlet valve;    facilitating the removal of vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber; and    providing an upwardly inclined conduit for vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber to return to the liquid supply tank, wherein the pump is lower than the level of liquid in the supply tank.    
   
   
       13 . A method for increasing the efficiency of a pump for pumping liquids a liquid source that may have gas coming out of solution, the method comprising: 
 locating the upper liquid gas inlet chamber adjacent to and above the valve chamber;    locating the valve chamber above a compression chamber with an inlet valve therebetween, wherein the valve chamber is downwardly angled so that the second end of the valve chamber is lower with respect to the first end of the valve chamber and the upper side of the valve chamber is substantially smooth;    facilitating the removal of vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber;    minimizing the distance between the inlet valve and the compression chamber by downwardly angling the inlet valve; and    providing an upwardly inclined conduit for vapor released by the liquid while held in the upper inlet chamber and valve chamber to return to the supply tank, wherein the pump is placed at a lower level than the liquid in the supply tank.