Vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps
AssigneeCornell Pump Company
InventorsSeth Michael James, Jordan Russell White
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods described herein provide a vacuum priming system for close-coupled pumps. The vacuum priming system is mounted separately from a centrifugal pump and powered by an electric motor. An auxiliary vacuum pump pulls prime (e.g., water or another liquid) through a solenoid valve that is in turn connected to a connecting tube. At one end of the connecting tube is a screen and prime sensor. The screen filters particulates to protect the vacuum pump, and the prime sensor may detect when the centrifugal pump is primed. The vacuum priming system includes a self-contained control panel with an auto operation mode to only pull power during priming, reducing power consumption over the lifetime of the pump system and improving efficiency.
Claims20
A vacuum priming system for a centrifugal pump, the system comprising:
- a vacuum pump;
- a motor coupled to the vacuum pump and configured to run the vacuum pump;
- a suction assembly including a volute end section configured for connection to a volute casing of the centrifugal pump and a vacuum end section for connection to the vacuum pump, wherein the suction assembly includes:
- a tube located between the volute end section and the vacuum end section, the tube configured for providing fluid communication between the vacuum pump and the volute casing of the centrifugal pump,
- a prime sensor connected at the volute end section, the prime sensor configured to detect when a liquid level in the volute casing reaches a primed state,
- a solenoid valve connected at the volute end section between the prime sensor and the tube, the solenoid valve configured to selectively permit fluid flow through the tube, and
- a water separator connected at the vacuum end section, the water separator configured to prevent moisture from entering the vacuum pump, and wherein the water separator comprises a check valve configured to release collected water when there is no suction in the suction assembly;
- and
- a controller including logic to:
- receive signals from the prime sensor,
- start the motor and open the solenoid valve to provide suction through the suction assembly when the signals from the prime sensor indicate an unprimed state, and
- stop the motor and close the solenoid valve to prevent suction through the suction assembly when the signals from the prime sensor indicate the primed state.
A system comprising:
- a centrifugal pump including a volute casing with an opening;
- a vacuum pump;
- a motor coupled to the vacuum pump;
- a suction assembly, including a volute end section configured for connection to the volute casing of the centrifugal pump and a vacuum end section for connection to the vacuum pump, wherein the suction assembly includes:
- a tube located between the volute end section and the vacuum end section, the tube configured for providing fluid communication between the vacuum pump and the opening of the volute casing,
- a prime sensor connected at the volute end section, the prime sensor configured to detect a primed state in the volute casing and send signals to a controller for the vacuum pump,
- a solenoid valve connected at the volute end section between the prime sensor and the tube, the solenoid valve configured to selectively permit fluid flow through the tube, and
- a water separator connected at the vacuum end section, the water separator configured to prevent moisture from entering the vacuum pump, and wherein the water separator comprises a check valve configured to release collected water when there is no suction in the suction assembly;
- and
- the controller for the vacuum pump, the controller including logic to:
- start the motor and open the solenoid valve to provide suction through the suction assembly when the controller does not receive signals from the prime sensor that indicate the primed state, and
- stop the motor and close the solenoid valve to prevent suction through the suction assembly when the controller receives signals from the prime sensor that indicate the primed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.