Vane pump: principle of operation

The vane pump is better known as a plate-like pump, since its working elements look like flat or shaped plates - gates. In 1899, a scientist from the US, Robert Blackmer, developed the design of a rotary pump with a gate. It is this device that was the prototype of modern sliding slide pumps having a displaced center of rotation.

In the USSR, such a pump was patented by a group of scientists from the Tatar GNIIPI of the Oil Industry in 1974. And in May 2016, the Russian inventor Boris Grigoriev has issued a patent in 29 countries around the world on the improved design of the internal element of the plate pump. In the new device, the Russian engineer managed to increase the volume, hydraulic and mechanical efficiency of the slide pump.

The device of the plate pump

The basis for a simple and unique design of the slide valve is a rotor with circular grooves spaced in a circle at regular intervals through grooves. The plates inserted into them are equipped with a retractable spring. The rotor is installed in the stator (body, sleeve, glass), which has two holes: inlet and outlet. Some designs have two such holes through which liquid is fed into the pump and withdrawn from it.

Principle of operation of the slide pump

The increased outlet pressure is created by a "vortex effect". That is, the displacement of the axis of rotation of the rotor relative to the axis of the housing allows the plates to be pulled out at the place of the larger clearance and pressed against the stator by a centrifugal force.

At the time of starting the pump, a vacuum is generated in the suction port. The transported mass is sucked into the space between the plates and pushed out through the outlet pipe.

Pumps with a variable displacement axis are used to adjust the volume of the pumped liquid.

Benefits

• With respect to screw or gear pumps, the efficiency of lamellar pumps is much higher.
• The simplest design is strong and durable. The strength of the mechanism reduces the probability of malfunctions to a minimum.
• Slot pumps allow pumping abrasive and crystallizing liquids: with soft inclusions up to 1 cm, with hard ones not exceeding 500 microns.
• Simple replacement of plates with breakage. To repair the slide pump, no professional repairmen are required, which saves considerable money.
• The body (sleeve, glass) of the pump and the plate (blades) are selected for pumping substance.
• To create a vacuum, it is possible to "dry" start.
• Some models provide a reversible mode, which significantly expands the scope of the slide pumps and enables production to be multi-profile.
• Almost quiet operation of compact equipment does not cause inconvenience to employees. Vibration of the plate pumps relative to other devices is lower by approximately 50%.
• Economical energy consumption reduces the material costs of maintenance by about 20-30%. As a consequence, the cost of transported products is reduced.
• Can be used as a dispenser.
• The device of plate pumps allows the production of working parts from different materials to obtain a certain resistance to chemicals, avoid sparking, improve wear resistance, use in the food industry, and so on.

It is not recommended to use the slide pump for a long time on a dry run. Increases the performance of the device function of electric heating, a special heat-exchanging shirt, sealing rings of Teflon.

Application

Pumps of sliding type are actively used in large and small production, involving the transportation of products with a liquid or viscous texture. The popularity of these devices is due to the possibility of full preservation of the working mass: the plate mechanism eliminates the occurrence of losses. The use of pumps of sliding type significantly increases the volume of production or processing of suspensions and viscous masses, while being the most secure process for maintenance personnel.

Self-sucking effect of plate pumps has found wide application in chemical, pharmaceutical and oil refining industries, in cosmetology and food production.

Use of slide pumping systems

Gantry pumps are used for pumping various products:

• Crude oil, bitumen, mazut, paraffin, oil sludge, greases and mineral oils.
• Adhesives, varnishes, putties, paints, latex emulsions, epoxy resins and mastics.
• Acid, solvents, black liquor, liquid glass, creosote, caustic, caustic soda.
• Fat, glycerin, emulsifiers, liquid soap, ink.
• Honey, mayonnaise, molasses, chocolate, condensed milk, vegetable oil, ketchup, syrups.

And many other liquid and viscous masses.

In the automotive industry, these pumps are used for the power steering, boost, in the air supply system for afterburning exhaust gases, in the brake system amplifier for large trucks and in the automatic transmission. In diesel cars, the inlet vacuum of the engines is created by a slide pump.

In household appliances such a device sates carbonated carbon dioxide and is used in coffee machines.

In most light aircraft, the gyroscopic devices are driven by this type of pump.

The device of the fire vane pump

To increase the technical and operational characteristics of centrifugal pumps, in the vacuum systems of fire trucks, slide gates are installed. Their autonomous work does not interfere with the design of the car's exhaust system and can have both manual and electric drive. The devices made of corrosion-resistant materials work more reliably. Since the working process does not exclude the ingress of water into the cavity, the gates may be jammed due to the accumulation of rust in the rotor grooves. It is also necessary to carefully monitor the oil lubrication of rubbing elements, as the oil used is gradually discharged outward, mixing with water.

Vacuum plate aggregate creates the vacuum necessary for filling with water in the suction arms and cavities of the fire pump, creating a pressure of 16-18 mPa.

Hand pump

Hand-operated vane pumps are used for pumping small volumes of liquid from one container to another. Most often, hand tools are used to provide drinking or technical water in country houses. A hand pump helps pump water from a well or a reservoir using mechanical force for various reasons:

• In the absence of wiring to the site of water intake, and, therefore, it is not possible to use an electric pump.
• It takes a small amount of water and is unstable.

Advantages of hand pumps include their long service life, low cost, independence from the presence of electricity, simple installation and maintenance, the ability to use anywhere. However, their use does not provide a constant supply of water and requires physical effort.

Design and application of hand pumps

The plate-type hand pumps are a low-power design consisting of a long tube with a rotary-vane pump mounted on it. Water or other liquid is sucked from the source (barrel, tank or well) by turning the pump handle and transmitted to the consumer through the tap. Mobile slide valve is easily installed and transferred to a new location. For its use, only a hose is required.

A manual vane pump can also be used for pumping various liquids from drums, for example, motor and transmission oils, diesel fuel and others, to refuel the equipment or to pour oil over cans.

How to choose a hand pump?

When choosing a hand pump, it should be understood that such a device is able to pump about 30-40 liters of liquid per minute. It is indispensable in remote places in the absence of the possibility to use automatic pumps. The vane pump is useful for periodic irrigation of vegetable beds in the country. But not suitable for long-term use, for example, when lifting large amounts of water from a deep well. When purchasing a hand pump, you should pay attention to its appearance: the casing should not have cracks of chips, poor-quality seams. Longer will serve a more expensive pump from time-tested cast iron. The models of stainless steel and plastic are popular. The valves of rubber will be erased faster. And brass or bronze will last longer at times. Piston rings can also be cast iron or leather and rubber, which affects the life of the pump and its price.

Thus, the choice of a hand pump is based, first of all, on the expected volume of consumption of water or pumped liquid and the expediency of its use. And also on his other characteristics.