Electromagnetic Pump

Abstract

An electromagnetic pump has a supply section and a magnetic force pumping section wherein flow of an electrically conductive material through the supply section is opposite to the flow of the material in the magnetic force pumping section in some examples. Multiple coils surround the supply and magnetic force pumping sections. Current flowing through the multiple coils creates magnetic fields that magnetically couple with a magnetic material disposed between the supply and magnetic force pumping sections so that the fields penetrate the electrically conductive material in the magnetic force pumping section substantially perpendicular to the desired flow direction which maximizes the magnitudes of magnetic forces applied to the electrically conductive material. Alternatively the electromagnetic pump has a supply section and a magnetic force pumping section wherein flow of an electrically conductive material through the supply section is in the same direction as the flow of the material in the magnetic force pumping section.

1 . An apparatus for pumping an electrically conductive material, the apparatus comprising: 
 an open outer tube, the opening in the bottom of the outer tube in communication with an inlet for entry of the electrically conductive material into the open outer tube;    an open mid tube disposed within the outer tube to form an annular volume between the inner wall of the outer tube and outer wall of the mid tube, the mid tube having a closed bottom, the top of the annular volume in communication with an outlet for exit of the electrically conductive material from the apparatus;    an inner structural element disposed within the mid tube;    a magnetic material disposed between the outer wall of the inner structural element and the inner wall of the mid tube;    a plurality of induction coils disposed around the exterior height of the outer tube; and    a means for supplying an ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and the outlet by the magnetic force applied to the electrically conductive material by the magnetic fields created by the supply of the ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of induction coils comprises a bobbin magnetic coil.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for supplying the ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils comprises a power supply having a three phase output wherein each two of the three phases, with alternating positive and negative phase orientation, are sequentially connected to the plurality of induction coils to create a six phase cycle of the magnetic fields to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and the outlet.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein each of the plurality of induction coils comprises a bobbin magnetic coil.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the power supply has a variable output voltage or output frequency.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the means for supplying the ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils comprises a power supply having a plurality of three phase outputs wherein each two of the three phases, with alternating positive and negative phase orientation, are sequentially connected to the plurality of induction coils to create a multi-phase cycle of the magnetic fields to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and the outlet.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein each of the plurality of induction coils comprises a bobbin magnetic coil.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the power supply has a variable output voltage or output frequency.  
   
   
       9 . A method of pumping an electrically conductive material comprising the steps of: 
 supplying the electrically conductive material into an opening in the bottom of an open outer tube;    connecting the open bottom of the outer tube with an annular volume formed between the outer wall of a mid tube and the inner wall of the outer tube;    disposing a magnetic material between the outer wall of an inner structural element and the inner wall of the mid tube;    surrounding the exterior of the outer tube with a plurality of induction coils; and    applying ac current to each of the plurality of induction coils to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and an outlet by the magnetic force applied to the electrically conductive material by the magnetic fields created by the ac current in each of the plurality of induction coils.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising the step of supply the ac currents to each of the plurality of induction coils from a three phase supply wherein each two of the three phases, with alternating positive and negative phase orientation, are sequentially connected to the plurality of induction coils.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for pumping an electrically conductive material, the apparatus comprising: 
 an open outer tube, the opening in the bottom of the outer tube in communication with an inlet for entry of the electrically conductive material into the open outer tube;    an open mid tube disposed within the outer tube to form an annular volume between the inner wall of the outer tube and outer wall of the mid tube, the mid tube having a closed bottom, the top of the annular volume in communication with an outlet for exit of the electrically conductive material from the apparatus;    an inner structural element disposed within the mid tube;    a magnetic material disposed between the outer wall of the inner structural element and the inner wall of the mid tube;    a plurality of induction coils disposed around the exterior height of the outer tube; and    a power supply having at least one three phase output wherein each two of the three phases, with alternating positive and negative phase orientation, are sequentially connected to the plurality of induction coils to create a six phase cycle of the magnetic fields to force the electrically conductive material up through the annular volume and the outlet.