LIQUID PUMP AND METHOD FOR PUMPING A LIQUID THAT MAY HAVE GAS COMING OUT OF SOLUTION

摘要

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.