Pump Cavitation Device

Abstract

A sacrificial body mitigates cavitation damage to components within a pump. The sacrificial body is mounted in the pump so that flowing fluid passes over the sacrificial body, which causes the sacrificial body to shed electrons into the flowing fluid in the vicinity of the cavitation. The excess electrons tend to suppress hydrogen ions from releasing, which can mitigate cavitation. The sacrificial body is formed of a material having less resistance to corrosion due to the flowing fluid than the components of the pump. Needles are attached to the sacrificial body for immersion in the flowing fluid to facilitate the release of the electrons for the sacrificial body.

1 . A method of reducing cavitation damage to a component within a pump, comprising:
 (a) mounting a sacrificial body within the pump; and   (b) operating the pump to pump fluid at a rate that causes at least some cavitation to occur on the component,   wherein the pumped fluid flows over the sacrificial body to shed electrons into the flowing fluid in the vicinity of said cavitation.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial body comprises a material that is more easily corroded than the component. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein in use the operating step causes hydrogen ions to release from the component, the release of which is mitigated by said shedding of electrons from the sacrificial body. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising attaching at least one needle to the sacrificial body to facilitate the shedding of the electrons from the sacrificial body. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein in use the needle is pointing downstream. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the needle is formed of a metal that is less subject to corrosion than the sacrificial body. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of mounting an upstream portion of the sacrificial body into the pump, the sacrificial body having a profile to enhance turbulence of the fluid flowing over the sacrificial body. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump is positioned such that no portion of the pump is immersed in the fluid to be pumped by the pump. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sacrificial body is formed from one or more materials from the group comprising zinc, aluminum, magnesium or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a fluid end block having a chamber, a plunger bore leading to the chamber, a suction valve port leading to the chamber, and a discharge valve port passing from the chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body within the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body stationarily within the plunger bore surrounding the plunger. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body to the suction valve for movement therewith. 
     
     
         14 . The method according y  claim 10 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body within the suction valve port upstream from a suction valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the component comprises a plunger in the plunger bore. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting a sacrificial body to the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the component comprises a housing having a rotatable impeller therein. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body within the housing adjacent a periphery of the impeller. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein step (a) comprises mounting the sacrificial body to the impeller for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         20 . A pump, comprising:
 a fluid end block having a chamber, a plunger bore leading to the chamber, a suction valve port leading to the chamber, and a discharge valve port passing from the chamber;   suction and discharge valves mounted for reciprocation within the suction valve port and discharge valve port, respectively;   a sacrificial body mounted within the fluid end block for immersion during use in fluid flow; and   the sacrificial body being formed of a material less resistant to corrosion as compared to the fluid end block.   
     
     
         21 . The pump according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one needle mounted to the sacrificial body, the needle being immersed in use in the fluid flow. 
     
     
         22 . The pump according to  claim 21 , wherein the needle is formed of a metal more resistant to corrosion than the sacrificial body. 
     
     
         23 . The pump according to  claim 20 , further comprising a profile configured to enhance turbulence. 
     
     
         24 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the sacrificial body is formed from one or more materials from the group comprising zinc, aluminum, magnesium or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the sacrificial body comprises a sleeve mounted stationarily within the plunger bore surrounding the plunger. 
     
     
         26 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the sacrificial body is mounted to a forward end of the plunger for movement therewith. 
     
     
         27 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the sacrificial body is mounted to the suction valve for movement therewith. 
     
     
         28 . The pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the sacrificial body is mounted within the suction valve port upstream from the suction valve. 
     
     
         29 . A pump, comprising:
 a housing;   a rotatable impeller mounted within the housing;   a sacrificial body mounted within the housing for immersion within fluid flow as the impeller rotates during use; and   the sacrificial body formed of a material less resistant to corrosion than the impeller and the housing.   
     
     
         30 . The pump according to  claim 29 , wherein the sacrificial body is mounted to an interior portion of the housing adjacent a periphery of the impeller. 
     
     
         31 . The pump according to  claim 29 , wherein the sacrificial body is mounted to the impeller for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         32 . An apparatus for retarding damage to a pump due to cavitation, comprising:
 a sacrificial body adapted to be mounted within the pump, the sacrificial body being formed of a material selected to shed electrons when immersed within a flowing fluid of the pump; and   at least one needle mounted to the sacrificial body and formed of a material more resistant to corrosion due to the flowing fluid than the sacrificial body.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the sacrificial body comprises a sleeve having a profile formed on an exterior surface to enhance turbulence of fluid flowing over the sleeve in use, the profile adapted to be upstream of the at least one needle. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the sacrificial body comprises a disk having a circular periphery and adapted to be mounted to an inner end of a plunger of the pump, wherein the at least one needle is mounted to a face of the disk in alignment with an axis of the disk. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus according to  claim 34 , wherein the at least one needle is recessed within a cavity formed in the face of the disk and a flow port extends through a portion of the disk to a base of the cavity for directing fluid to the needle. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the sacrificial body comprises a ring adapted to be mounted to a downstream face of an suction valve of the pump, wherein the at least one needle is mounted to the face of the ring in alignment with an axis of the ring. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus according to  claim 36 , further comprising a flow port leading from one side of the ring to the face of the ring adjacent the at least one needle and the flow port being outboard of an inner diameter of the ring. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , further comprising a support rod upon which the sacrificial body is mounted and the support rod is adapted to be mounted to an interior portion of the pump. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the sacrificial body is formed from of a material from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum, magnesium or alloys thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The pump according to  claim 23 , wherein the profile being located on an upstream portion of the sacrificial body.