Pump for molten metal or other fluid

Patent · Tue May 17 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:7287895

Horton, J A; Brown, D L

A pump having no moving parts which can be used to pump high temperature molten metal or other fluids in a vacuum or low pressure environment, and a method for pumping such fluids is disclosed. The pump combines elements of a bubble pump with a trap which isolates the vacuum or low pressure region from the gas used to create the bubbles. When used in a vacuum the trap prevents the pumping gas from escaping into the isolated region and thereby reducing the quality of the vacuum. The pump includes a channel in which a pumping gas is forced under pressure into a cavity where bubbles are formed. The cavity is in contact with a reservoir which contains the molten metal or other fluid which is to be pumped. The bubbles rise up into a column (or pump tube) carrying the fluid with them. At the top of the column is located a deflector which causes the bubbles to burst and the drops of pumped fluid to fall into a trap. The fluid accumulates in the trap, eventually forcing its way to an outlet. A roughing pump can be used to withdraw the pumping gas from the top of the column and assist with maintaining the vacuum or low pressure environment. 1 figures.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5312232
• Application Number: PPN: US 8-067910
• OSTI ID: 7287895
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420200* -- Engineering-- Facilities
Equipment
& Techniques
BUBBLES
DESIGN
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
LIQUID METALS
LIQUIDS
METALS
PUMPS
VACUUM SYSTEMS