DE102019105220A1 - High pressure pump, method of operating a high pressure pump and homogenizer - Google Patents

Abstract

A high-pressure pump (1), preferably for working pressures> 100 bar, for conveying a fluid (20), in particular a wax / resin dispersion, has a plunger (6) arranged in a housing (2), one through the plunger (6) , a suction valve (8) and a pressure valve (9) delimited working space (7), a high pressure seal (10) surrounding the plunger (6), a first inlet (11) connected to the working space (7), through which a continuous phase and a first fluid (20) having a disperse phase can be fed to the working chamber (7), a first outlet (12) provided on a pump head (3) for discharging the first fluid (20) under high pressure, one on one of the working chamber (7) ) on the opposite side of the high pressure seal (10) provided a second inlet (13) for supplying a second fluid (19) and a second outlet (14) for discharging the second fluid (19) from the housing (2), the second outlet (14 ) for admixing the second fluid (19) as con continuous phase of the first fluid (20) is connected to the first inlet (11). Furthermore, a method for operating such a high-pressure pump (1) and a homogenizer are described.

Description

The present invention relates to a high pressure pump, preferably for working pressures> 100 bar for conveying a fluid to be homogenized, in particular a wax / resin dispersion according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method for operating such a high pressure pump and a homogenizer.

To homogenize fluids such as wax / resin dispersions in particular, it is known to bring such a fluid to a pressure of several hundred bar in a high pressure pump, to discharge the pressurized fluid from the high pressure pump and then to homogenize it in an atomizer nozzle.

Due to the wax or resin content of this dispersion, it is necessary to constantly flush the high-pressure pump with a rinsing liquid to prevent residues of the wax or resin content of such a fluid from permanently contaminating the high-pressure pump and thus impairing the function of the High pressure pump leads.

Accordingly, such a high-pressure pump has a first supply line for supplying the fluid, for example consisting of a disperse phase, in particular a wax or resin component and a continuous phase, in particular (hot) water, into a working space of the high-pressure pump and a second supply line for flushing the high-pressure pump Rinsing liquid on.

To provide the first fluid, (hot) water is premixed as a continuous phase with the disperse phase in a premixing unit via a third feed line.

After passing through the high-pressure pump, the rinsing liquid is led out of the high-pressure pump via a second outlet and then has to be fed to a clarification device via an outlet, since the rinsing liquid is contaminated with resin or wax after it has passed through the high-pressure pump, which increases the cost of such Increased homogenization not insignificantly.

The object of the present invention is to further develop a high-pressure pump and a homogenizer of the generic type in such a way that a more cost-effective homogenization of such a dispersion is made possible with little constructive effort.

Another object of the present invention is to further develop a method for operating such a high-pressure pump in such a way that a more cost-effective homogenization of such a dispersion is made possible with little effort.

This first object is achieved by a high pressure pump with the features of claim 1 and by a homogenizer with the features of claim 14.

The second object is achieved by a method for operating such a high-pressure pump with the features of claim 11.

The high-pressure pump according to the invention has a plunger arranged in a housing, a working space delimited by the plunger, a suction valve and a pressure valve, a seal surrounding the plunger, a first inlet connected to the working space through which the fluid can be fed into the working space, a a first outlet provided on a pump head for discharging the high pressure fluid, a second inlet provided on a side of the seal facing away from the working space for supplying a second fluid and a second outlet for discharging the second fluid from the housing of the high pressure pump.

The second outlet is connected to the first inlet for admixing the second fluid as a continuous phase of the first fluid.

With a high-pressure pump designed in this way, it is possible to first use the second fluid for flushing the high-pressure pump and then to mix it in as a continuous phase of the disperse phase for generating the fluid to be homogenized.

As a result, no separate rinsing circuit is necessary and the associated time-consuming cleaning of the rinsing liquid used.

In the present invention, the second fluid is first used for the rinsing process and is then supplied as a continuous phase, which is necessary anyway, to the disperse phase for generating the fluid to be conveyed, in particular a wax / resin dispersion, before the fluid to be conveyed is supplied to the working space of the high-pressure pump becomes.

A great advantage of this arrangement is, in particular, that the large amount of the continuous phase, which is necessary in any case, preferably in the form of water, is passed through a space between the seals and thus a very large amount good flushing effect achieved due to the high flow rate.

This also increases the service life of the seals and thus of the high-pressure pump.

Advantageous embodiment variants of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

According to an advantageous embodiment variant, a premixing device, in which the disperse phase can be mixed with the second fluid to form the first fluid, is arranged between the first inlet and a feed line carrying a disperse phase of the first fluid.

This enables premixing of the first fluid to be carried out in a simple manner.

The second outlet is connected to the premixing device via a connecting line, which in turn is connected to the first inlet.

The provision of such a premixing device, which is preferably designed as a mixing container, has the advantage that the fluid to be homogenized is injected into the high-pressure pump in its finished composition, which ensures reliable thorough mixing of the fluid.

According to a further advantageous embodiment variant, an external pump is connected upstream of the second inlet.

This external pump ensures that the second fluid is supplied to the high-pressure pump at a predetermined initial pressure, preferably in the range of approximately 10 bar.

According to a further embodiment variant, in which the high-pressure pump is equipped with several plungers, the second inlets and the second outlets are connected to one another in such a way that the second fluid can flow through them one after the other.

This makes it possible to use the existing large amount of continuous phase with high pressure for flushing the low pressure area.

It is also conceivable, according to an alternative variant, that the second inlets and the second outlets are connected to one another in such a way that the second fluid can flow through them in parallel.

The advantage of this variant is that all of the low-pressure areas of the plunger have a clean, continuous phase flowing through them.

According to a preferred embodiment variant, the seal of the high pressure pump is designed as a contactless seal, in particular as a gap seal.

Such a gap seal ensures reliable sealing of the high-pressure pump, in particular at higher pressures above approximately 200 bar.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the seal as a contact seal.

The method according to the invention, in which a second fluid is introduced under a predetermined pressure into an area of the housing on a side of the high-pressure seal facing away from the working chamber and is discharged from the housing via a second outlet for discharging the second fluid, is characterized characterized in that the second fluid passed through the housing is then admixed with a disperse phase of the first fluid to be conveyed as a continuous phase of the first fluid before it enters the working space.

It is particularly preferable for the second fluid to be admixed with the disperse phase in a premixing device connected upstream of the first inlet.

The homogenizer according to the invention with a homogenizing unit is characterized by a high-pressure pump as described above.

• 1 eine schematische Längsschnittdarstellung einer aus dem Stand der Technik bekannten Hochdruckpumpe,
• 2 eine schematische Längsschnittdarstellung einer Ausführungsvariante einer erfindungsgemäßen Hochdruckpumpe und
• 3 eine Detailansicht des Gehäuses und des Pumpenkopfes der Hochdruckpumpe mit Darstellung der Durchflusswege des Fluids und des Spülmediums.

A preferred exemplary embodiment is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a high-pressure pump known from the prior art,
• 2 a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an embodiment variant of a high pressure pump according to the invention and
• 3 a detailed view of the housing and the pump head of the high pressure pump showing the flow paths of the fluid and the flushing medium.

In the following description of the figures, terms such as above, below, left, right, front, rear etc. relate exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the high-pressure pump, the housing, the pump head, the working space, the supply line, the discharge line selected in the respective figures and the same. These terms are not to be understood as restrictive, that is, these references can change as a result of different working positions or the mirror-symmetrical design or the like.

In 1 is with the reference number 100 denotes a high-pressure pump known from the prior art.

Accordingly, in 2 with the reference number 1 overall denotes an embodiment of a high pressure pump according to the invention.

Both high pressure pumps 1 and 100 are designed here as a plunger pump with a housing 2 , a pump head 3 that is on the case 2 is screwed on and one in the housing 2 arranged inner body 4th from a suction chamber 5 the high pressure pump 1 , 100 is enclosed.

As in the in 3 The detailed representation shown can also be seen within the inner body 4th on one of the pump head 3 facing side of the housing 2 a suction valve 8th arranged. There is also a recess in the pump head 3 a pressure valve 9 arranged.

A plunger 6th is central on the inner body 4th arranged vertically movable and via a crank 23 that have an engine 22nd is drivable, can be moved in an oscillating manner. This is in a first stroke, in which the plunger 6th in 1 to 3 moved down the suction valve 8th opened and thus a fluid to be homogenized 20th through one with the workspace 7th connected first inlet 11 in the work room 7th sucked in.

In the subsequent second cycle when the plunger moves upwards 6th the suction valve closes 8th and the pressure valve opens at a predetermined pressure, which is preferably greater than 100 bar, particularly preferably between 200 and 1000 bar.

The fluid under high pressure 20th will then have one on the pump head 3 provided first outlet 12 from the pump head 3 discharged and for homogenization of a homogenization unit 24 , preferably in the form of an atomizer nozzle.

A combination of high pressure pump 1 and homogenization unit 24 is also described as a homogenizer.

Between the work space 7th and one the work room 7th facing away from the low pressure side of the high pressure pump is a plunger 6th surrounding high pressure seal 10 arranged. Continue towards the crank 23 is a low pressure area 31 through a low pressure seal 25th sealed.

With the fluid to be homogenized 20th it is preferably a wax dispersion or a resin dispersion in which a wax or resin component is the disperse phase 18th , a lot of a continuous phase 19th , preferably in the form of water, is supplied.

Before admitting the fluid 20th into the high pressure pump 1 becomes the fluid 20th preferably heated to a temperature of about 150 ° in order to achieve sufficient liquefaction of the wax or resin portion.

Because resin / wax residues lead to blockages and outsourcing of the disperse phase between the high-pressure seal 10 and the low pressure seal 25th can occur, which can significantly reduce the service life of the seals and cause leaks, becomes the low-pressure area 31 between the high pressure seal 10 and the low pressure seal 25th constantly flushed during operation. The high pressure pump 1 on the work room 7th facing away from the plunger 6th surrounding high pressure seal 10 a second inlet 13 for supplying a second fluid used for flushing 19th and a second outlet 14th for discharging the second fluid 19th out of the case 2 on.

The disperse phase is used both in the prior art and in 2 illustrated embodiment of the high pressure pump according to the invention 1 via a first feed line 15th in a premixing device 17th passed, in which it is premixed with the continuous phase, preferably water at a temperature of preferably above 140.degree.

This premix, here as the first fluid 20th is then referred to by the workspace 7th the high pressure pump 1 , 100 brought to the high pressure required for the subsequent homogenization and after passing through the work area 7th via the second outlet 12 diverted from the housing and the homogenization unit 24 supplied, in which the first fluid 20th is relaxed. As a result of the relaxation, the disperse phase is broken up into fine droplets and the premix is thus homogenized.

In the prior art, as it is in 1 is shown, for flushing the low-pressure area 31 a rinsing liquid 26th via a second feed line 16 through the second inlet 13 in the housing 2 the high pressure pump 100 let in and through the second outlet 14th , now contaminated with wax or resin parts of the disperse phase, out of the case 2 left out and then via a drain 29 disposed of or laboriously cleaned. To produce the premix (the first fluid 20th ) is via a third feed line 28 the continuous phase, for example water, into the premixer 17th passed and with the disperse phase 18th mixed to the first fluid.

In the high pressure pump according to the invention, shown in 2 and 3 , is instead of the rinsing liquid 26th the continuous phase as the second fluid 19th via the second feed line 16 through the second inlet 13 in the housing 2 the high pressure pump 100 let in and through the second outlet 14th , now contaminated with wax or resin components of the disperse phase, out of the housing 2 left out and then the premixing device 17th supplied, preferably via an in 2 connection line shown schematically 30th . This allows the third supply line 28 completely eliminated.

Furthermore, there is no longer any need to provide a separate flushing liquid and then to dispose of it in a laborious manner, because the wax or resin components that are used when flushing the low-pressure area 31 In this case, the continuous phase used for flushing is no longer an impurity, since the continuous phase is then mixed with the disperse phase anyway.

In addition, the continuous phase is used to flush the low-pressure area 31 Due to the significantly larger (multiple, in particular about ten times) amount of liquid that is used for flushing, the flushing is much more thorough than with the previously used flushing liquids, which were used very sparingly due to the subsequent necessary disposal.

In 3 is the flow path of the continuous phase based on the arrow lines shown 19th through the housing 2 the high pressure pump 1 and the flow path of the fluid to be conveyed 20th consisting of continuous phase 19th and disperse phase 18th , shown as an example.

To the continuous phase 19th to a sufficient pressure before introduction into the high pressure pump 1 to bring is an external pump 21st upstream, with which the continuous phase 19th can be brought to a pressure of preferably about 10 bar.

Concerning the sealing between the working area 7th and that of which the continuous phase 19th flushed space is the seal 10 preferably designed as a contactless seal, in particular as a gap seal.

It is also conceivable that poetry 10 to be designed as a contact seal.

In the method according to the invention for operating such a high-pressure pump 1 , at which via the second inlet 13 the second fluid 19th , here the continuous phase, under a given pressure in a low pressure area 31 of the housing 2 on one of the workspace 7th facing away from the high pressure seal 10 is introduced and through a second outlet 14th for discharging the second fluid 19th out of the case 2 is diverted, that is through the housing 2 second fluid passed through 19th then the disperse phase 18th of the first fluid to be conveyed 20th as the continuous phase of the first fluid 20th before entering the work area 7th mixed in.

The admixture of the second fluid 19th to the disperse phase 18th preferably takes place in the premixing device described above 17th , for example a premix tank.

In addition to the 2 and 3 illustrated variant of a high pressure pump 1 with a single plunger it is also conceivable that the high pressure pump 1 several plungers and accordingly a plurality of suction valves 8th , Pressure valves 9 , Inlets and outlets and the like. Has.

In such an embodiment variant, according to a preferred embodiment variant, the second inlets are 13 and the second outlets 14th are connected to one another in series so that they are separated from the second fluid 19th flow through one after the other during operation.

According to an alternative embodiment variant, it is also conceivable that the second inlets 13 and the second outlets 14th are interconnected in such a way that they are separated from the second fluid 19th flow through in parallel during operation.

List of reference symbols

1

high pressure pump

2

casing

3

Pump head

4th

Inner body

5

Suction chamber

6th

Plunger

7th

working space

8th

Suction valve

9

Pressure valve

10

High pressure seal

11

first admission

12

first outlet

13

second inlet

14th

second outlet

15th

first feed line

16

second feed line

17th

Premixing device

18th

disperse phase

19th

second fluid

20th

first fluid

21st

pump

22nd

engine

23

Crank drive

24

Homogenizing unit

25th

Low pressure seal

26th

Rinsing liquid

27

third feed line

28

continuous phase

29

Drain

30th

Connecting line

31

Low pressure area

100

high pressure pump

Claims (14)

High-pressure pump (1), preferably for working pressures> 100 bar, for conveying a first fluid (20) to be homogenized, in particular a wax / resin dispersion, comprising - at least one plunger (6) arranged in a housing (2), - one through the Plunger (6), a suction valve (8) and a pressure valve (9) delimiting the working space (7), - a high pressure seal (10) surrounding the plunger (6), - a first inlet (11) connected to the working space (7), through which the first fluid (20), which has a continuous phase and a disperse phase, can be fed to the working chamber (7), a first outlet (12) provided on a pump head (3) for discharging the first fluid (20) under high pressure, - A second inlet (13) provided on a side of the high-pressure seal (10) facing away from the working chamber (7) for supplying a second fluid (19) and a second outlet (14) for discharging the second fluid (19) from the housing (2 ), characterized by, that - the second outlet (14) for admixing the second fluid (19) as a continuous phase of the first fluid (20) is connected to the first inlet (11). High pressure pump (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that a premixing device (17) is arranged between the first inlet (11) and a feed line (15) carrying a disperse phase (18) of the first fluid (20), in which the disperse phase (18) with the second Fluid (19) is miscible with the first fluid (20). High pressure pump (1) Claim 2 , characterized in that the second outlet (14) is connected via a connecting line (30) to the premixing device (17) which is connected to the first inlet (11). High pressure pump (1) Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that an external pump (21) is connected upstream of the second inlet (13). High-pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a homogenizing unit (24) is connected downstream of the first outlet (12). High-pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-pressure pump (1) has several plungers (6) arranged in a housing (2) and a corresponding plurality of suction valves (8), pressure valves (9), second inlets (13 ) and second outlets (14). High pressure pump (1) Claim 6 , characterized in that the second inlets (13) and the second outlets (14) are connected to one another in such a way that the second fluid (19) can flow through them one after the other. High pressure pump (1) Claim 6 , characterized in that the second inlets (13) and the second outlets (14) are connected to one another in such a way that the second fluid (19) can flow through them in parallel. High pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one high pressure seal (10) is designed as a contactless seal, in particular as a gap seal. High pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8th , characterized in that the at least one high pressure seal (10) is designed as a contacting seal. Method for operating a high pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which a second fluid (19) is introduced under a predetermined pressure into an area of the housing (2) on a side of the high-pressure seal (10) facing away from the working chamber (7) via a second inlet (13) and via a second outlet (14 ) to discharge the second fluid (19) from the housing (2), wherein the second fluid (19) passed through the housing (2) then a disperse phase (18) of the first fluid (20) to be conveyed as a continuous phase of the first fluid (20) is admixed before it enters the working space (7). Procedure according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the admixture of the second fluid (19) to the disperse phase (18) takes place in a premixing device (17). Procedure according to Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the second fluid (19) is brought to a predetermined temperature and / or a predetermined pressure before being introduced into the housing (2). Homogenizer with a high pressure pump (1) and a homogenizing unit (24), characterized in that the high pressure pump (1) according to one of the preceding Claims 1 to 10 is trained.

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