GB2451453A

GB2451453A - Electromagnetic pump

Info

Publication number: GB2451453A
Application number: GB0714795A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Keith Jackson
Original assignee: Arctic Circle Ltd
Current assignee: Arctic Circle Ltd
Priority date: 2007-07-30
Filing date: 2007-07-30
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Also published as: GB0714795D0

Abstract

An electromagnetic pump for pumping fluids comprises an inlet 4, an outlet 6 and a section 8 having spaced apart positive and negative electrode 10,12 such that an electric current is passed through the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section 8, and spaced north south magnetic poles 16,18 such that a magnetic field is applied to the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section 8 and perpendicular to the electric current. Control means/generating means, provided to control/generate the current/field, may be respectively formed as a single device or as two separate devices. The pump may be operated in the manner of a valve applying a controlled resistance to fluid flow.

Description

APPARATUS FOR USE WITH A FLUID

This invention relates to apparatus for use with a fluid, for example a pump for pumping a fluid, or a valve for applying controlled resistance to fluid flow.

Known types of apparatus for use with a fluid typically utilise mechanical moving parts which are subject to wear. It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce this problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use with a fluid, which apparatus comprises an inlet for the fluid, an outlet for the fluid, and a section which is positioned between the inlet and the outlet, and the apparatus being such that: (i) the section has a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spaced apart on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the section, and which in use are contacted by the fluid and an electric current is passed through the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section; and (ii) the section is made of a material which allows a magnetic flux to pass through the material with minimal resistance whereby in use the magnetic flux is passed through the section to create a north magnetic pole and a spaced apart south magnetic pole on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the section and such that a magnetic field is applied to the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section and perpendicular to the electric current.

The apparatus of the present invention is advantageous in that it uses the fluid within the apparatus as an electrical conductor, with the fluid thus forming part of the apparatus. A force is generated within the fluid. There are no mechanically moving parts in the use of the fluid. The apparatus of the present invention may find use in a wide variety of applications, for example as a pump for pumping a fluid, or a valve for applying a controlled resistance to fluid flow.

The apparatus may inc!ude first control means for controlling the electric current flowing through the fluid. Preferably, the first control means controls the magnitude of the electric current flowing through the fluid. Other types of first control means may be employed.

The apparatus may include second control means for controlling the magnetic field. The second control means preferably controls the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field. Other types of second control means may be employed.

The first and the second control means may be formed as part of a single control device for controlling the force applied to the fluid being used by the apparatus. Alternatively, the first and the second control means may be formed as two separate controt devices for controlling the force applied to the fluid being used by the apparatus.

The apparatus may include generator means for generating the electric current.

The apparatus may include generator means for generating the magnetic flux.

The generator means for generating the electric current and the generator means for generating the magnetic flux may be formed as part of a single generator device. Alternatively, the generator means for generating the electric current and the generator means for generating the magnetic flux may be formed as two separate devices.

The material from which the section is made may be any suitable and appropriate material which allows a magnetic flux to pass through the material with minimal resistance. Thus, for example, the material may be a polycarbonate.

The fluid used by the apparatus may be a liquid. The fluid may be a gas, or a mixture of a liquid and a gas if desired. The fluid may be a vapour, or a mist of droplets suspended in a vapour. Preferably, the fluid is a water vapour and liquid droplets suspended as mist.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a pump for pumping a fluid.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown apparatus for use with a fluid, the apparatus being in the form of a pump 2 for pumping the fluid. The pump 2 comprises an inlet 4 for the fluid, and an outlet 6 for the fluid. A section in the form of a pumping section 8 is positioned between the inlet 4 and the outlet 6.

The pumping section 8 has a positive electrode 10 and a negative electrode 12. The positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 are spaced apart on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8. In use of the pump 2, the positive electrode 10 and the negative electrode 12 are contacted by the fluid and an electric current is passed through the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8. An electric current passing between the electrodes 10, 12 is indicated by arrow 14.

The pumping section 8 is made of a material which allows a magnetic flux to pass with minimal resistance. In use of the pump 2, the magnetic flux is passed through the pumping section 8 to create a north magnetic pole 16 and a spaced apart south magnetic pole 18 on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8. The magnetic field is applied to the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8. The magnetic field is also applied to the fluid perpendicular to the electric current.

The magnetic field is shown by arrows 20.

The inlet 4, the outlet 6 and the pumping section 8 are shown as forming part of a pipe 22 of square cross sectional shape. The fluid passing through the pipe 22 passes in the direction of arrows 24.

The pump 2 includes first control means (not shown) for controlling the electric current flowing through the fluid. The first control means controls the magnitude of the electric current flowing through the fluid.

The pump 2 includes second control means 28 for controlling the magnetic field. The second control means 28 controls the magnetic flux

density of the magnetic field.

The pump 2 includes generator means (not shown) for generating the electric current. The pump 2 also includes generator means (not shown) for generating the magnetic flux.

The pump 2 is such that the inlet 4, the outlet 6 and the pumping section 8 are on a linear axis. Fluid flow is along this linear axis as indicated by the arrows 24. In use of the pump 2, the fluid passes axially through the pump 2 from the inlet 4 to the outlet 6. in the pumping section 8, an electricai potential difference is applied to the electrodes 10, 12 such that an electric current flows through the fluid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8. A magnetic field is applied to the fluid through which the electric current is flowing. This magnetic field is perpendicular to the axis of the electric current, and it is also perpendicular to the axis of the pump 2. The interaction between the electric current flowing through the fluid and the applied magnetic field causes a force to be generated within the fluid that creates a force within the fluid along the longitudinal axis of the pumping section 8 and therefore along the pump 2. Differential pressure between the inlet 4 and the outlet 6 is able to be controlled by varying the magnitude of the electric current flowing through the fluid and/or by varying the flux density of the magnetic field. Thus, the pump 2 operates by applying an accelerating force to the liquid within the pump 2 by using the interaction of electric current and magnetic fields such that a differential pressure is created between the fluid flow at the inlet 4 and the fluid flow of the outlet 6.

The pump 2 uses the fluid within the pump 2 as an electrical conductor which forms part of the pump 2. The pumping force is generated within the fluid being pumped. The pump 2 is an electro-magnetic pump. There are no mechanical moving parts in the pumping process, and thus there are no mechanically moving parts to wear out.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawing has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, since the apparatus shown in the drawings is not a positive displacement pump but more a means of applying a force directly to a fluid, the apparatus can be used not only as a pump but in reverse like a valve in order to apply a controlled resistance to fluid flow with instantaneous control application time.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with a fluid, which apparatus comprises an inlet for the fluid, an outlet for the fluid, and a section which is positioned between the inlet and the outlet, and the apparatus being such that: (i) the section has a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spaced apart on opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the section, and which in use are contacted by the fluid and an electric current is passed through the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section; and (ii) the section is made of a material which allows a magnetic flux to pass through the material with minimal resistance whereby in use the magnetic flux is passed through the section to create a north magnetic pole and a spaced apart south magnetic pole on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the section and such that a magnetic field is applied to the fluid perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the section and perpendicular to the electric current.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and including first control means for controlling the electric current flowing through the fluid. * * S... * **

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the first control means S..

controls the magnitude of the electric current flowing through the fluid. S..

S

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including second control means for controlling the magnetic field.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the second control means controls the magnetic flux density of the magnetic field.

6. Apparatus according to claims 2 and 4 in which the first and the second control means are formed as part of a single control device for controlling the speed at which the fluid is pumped by the pump.

7. Apparatus according to claims 2 and 4 in which the first and the second control means are formed as two separate control devices for controlling the speed at which the fluid is pumped by the pump.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including generator means for generating the electric current.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including generator means for generating the magnetic flux. * .*

10. Apparatus according to claims 8 and 9 in which the generator means ***. * * a...

for generating the electric current and the generator means for generating the * S. * .: magnetic flux are formed as part of a single generator device. a..

S S. 55 * S S

S

S S.,

S

11. Apparatus according to claims 8 and 9 in which the generator means for generating the electric current and the generator means for generating the magnetic flux are formed as two separate devices.

12. Apparatus for use with a fluid, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. * ** * * * * ** * *** * * * *1* * S. ** . S... *. .* * S * * S S..