The Kinetic Water Pump

ADVANCED MODELS

 More advanced models than those shown in Figures 2 and 3 have been designed, which operate faster and have features that provide for higher-temperature operation, but the designs of Figures 2 and 3 are sufficient to illustrate the operating principle. The fundamental idea of all the designs is to use steam or other gas to impart kinetic energy into the water so that the water can be pumped to higher pressure than the pressure of the driving steam.

Some of these designs are given below.

VERTICAL KINETIC PUMP

The Pump needs to be designed so that the steam does not condense rapidly as it enters the Acceleration Tube. The tube should be constructed with an insulating material or with a metal coated by an insulating layer. It is also important to prevent the steam from contacting the water that is being pumped.

The vertical Kinetic Pump is shown schematically in Figure 4. This design has a heavy Steel Piston in the Acceleration Tube. (Heavy material other than steel could be used). This design has less water in the Tube than previous designs, since the Steel Piston supplies sufficient mass in which to store the kinetic energy. A gap between the Steel Piston and the Tube wall minimizes friction as the piston moves.

The Steel Piston has Teflon O-rings near the top to prevent water from flowing downward. Teflon O-rings can also be positioned near the bottom of the Steel Piston, unless the temperatures are too high. For high-temperature operation, the seal near the bottom of the piston can be steel piston rings like those used in automobile engines.

During operation, the steam drives the Steel Piston and the water upward, building up kinetic energy until the water strikes the Check Valves, which are pivoted flapper valves. As the Check Valves are forced open, water flows into the Compressed-Air Surge Tank. Details of the operation are not given in this document, but are available upon request.

One of the advantages of this design is that it automatically “refills” the Acceleration Tube with the right amount of water.

Figure 4. The Vertical Kinetic Pump

The purpose in having a heavy Steel Piston is that gravity can quickly move the piston downward in spite of the friction of the O-Rings. For calculational purposes, assume that the Acceleration Tube is 3 inches ID and 2.8 meters long (inside). If the Steel Piston is 1 meter long, it will weigh about 75 lbs. If the water is 1 meter long, it will weigh 10 lbs., for a total of 85 lbs. pushing downward. One advantage of having this much weight is that the peak velocity of the water on the upward power stroke is cut to 12.5 meters per second, compared to 20 meters/second for the initial Kinetic Pump design with 3 meters of water length and no piston, but the amount of water pumped is the same. The lower speed will reduce the wear on the Check Valve.

The Steel Piston (and water) will fall to the bottom in 0.4 seconds. The power stroke (upward) will require 0.1 seconds. The Pump will complete 120 cycles per minute with 60 liters of 800-psi water delivered per minute. That is 7,600 gallons per 8-hour day. It would require about 28 kW of steam power.

Introduction | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4