Patent · US Expired

Pressure exchanger with an anti-cavitation pressure relief system in the end covers

US6540487B2 · kind B2 · utility

68Cited by
8References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 10, 2001
Grant dateApr 1, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 10, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF15B21/047
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A pressure exchanger for simultaneously reducing the pressure of a high pressure liquid and pressurizing a low pressure liquid. The pressure exchanger has a housing having a body portion; with end elements at opposite ends of the body portion. A rotor is in the body portion of the housing and in substantially sealing contact with the end plates. The rotor has at least one channel extending substantially longitudinally from one end of the rotor to the opposite end of the rotor with an opening at each end. The channels of the rotor are positioned in the rotor for alternate hydraulic communication with 1) high pressure liquid and 2) low pressure liquid, in order to transfer pressure between the high pressure liquid and the low pressure liquid. Because of the high pressures and the high angular velocities, this is a highly cavitation prone structure, In order to prevent cavitation, there are one or more grooves in one or both of the end plates. These grooves bleed pressure out of the channels, for example to a lower pressure channel or to a sealing volume between the end piece and the rotor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.