Servo-controlled variable geometry ejector pump

Abstract

A variable geometry ejector pump is configured to receive pressurized fluid from one or more pressurized fluid sources and to control fluid pressure and temperature down stream of the pump to a variety of pressure and temperature values. The variable geometry ejector pump includes a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, a variable geometry ejector, an ejector valve, an actuator, a mixing section, a diffuser section, and an actuator control mechanism. The actuator control mechanism is adapted to receive one or more control signals, and is operable, in response to the control signals, to control the actuator, to thereby control fluid pressure and temperature down stream of the pump.

1 . A variable geometry ejector pump, comprising:
 a primary inlet;   a secondary inlet;   a variable geometry ejector including at least a flow passage and an outlet nozzle, the variable geometry ejector flow passage fluidly communicating the primary fluid inlet port with the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   an ejector valve disposed at least partially within the variable geometry ejector flow passage and movable therein to control fluid flow from the primary fluid inlet through the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   a mixing section in fluid communication with the secondary inlet and the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   a diffuser disposed downstream of, and in fluid communication with, the mixing section;   an actuator coupled to the ejector valve and further coupled to receive position commands, the actuator responsive to the position commands to controllably move the ejector valve; and   an actuator control mechanism coupled to the actuator and adapted to receive one or more control signals, the actuator control unit operable, in response to the one or more control signals, to supply the position commands to the actuator.   
   
   
       2 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 1 , wherein the position commands supplied from the actuator control mechanism are pneumatic commands. 
   
   
       3 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the actuator is responsive to a differential pneumatic pressure to thereby controllably move the ejector valve; and   the actuator control mechanism controls the differential pressure.   
   
   
       4 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a feedback conduit including an inlet port and an outlet port, the feedback conduit inlet port in fluid communication with the diffuser, the feedback conduit outlet port in fluid communication with the actuator,   wherein the actuator control mechanism is disposed at least partially within the feedback conduit and is operable, in response to the one or more control signals, to control the differential pressure via the feedback conduit.   
   
   
       5 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 an actuator enclosure including a control port and a vent port, the actuator enclosure control port in fluid communication with the feedback conduit outlet port, the actuator enclosure vent port in fluid communication with an ambient environment;   a piston coupled to the valve and slidably disposed within the actuator enclosure between the control port and the vent port; and   a spring disposed within the actuator enclosure and configured to supply a bias force to the piston that biases the valve away from the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle.   
   
   
       6 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors disposed at least partially within, or downstream of, the diffuser section and operable to supply one or more sensor signals; and   a control unit coupled to receive the one or more sensor signals and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply the one or more control signals to the feedback control mechanism.   
   
   
       7 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a control unit operable to selectively supply the one or more control signals to the actuator control mechanism.   
   
   
       8 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors disposed at least partially within, or downstream of, the diffuser section and operable to supply one or more sensor signals to the control unit.   
   
   
       9 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 8 , wherein the control unit is responsive to the one or more sensor signals to selectively supply the one or more control signals. 
   
   
       10 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more temperature sensors. 
   
   
       11 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors disposed at least partially within, or downstream of, the diffuser section and operable to supply the one or more control signals to the feedback control mechanism.   
   
   
       12 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more temperature sensors. 
   
   
       13 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more pressure sensors. 
   
   
       14 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more temperature sensors and one or more pressure sensors. 
   
   
       15 . A variable geometry ejector pump, comprising:
 a primary inlet;   a secondary inlet;   a variable geometry ejector including at least a flow passage and an outlet nozzle, the variable geometry ejector flow passage fluidly communicating the primary fluid inlet port with the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   an ejector valve disposed at least partially within the variable geometry ejector flow passage and movable therein to control fluid flow from the primary fluid inlet through the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   a mixing section in fluid communication with the secondary inlet and the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle;   a diffuser disposed downstream of, and in fluid communication with, the mixing section;   an actuator coupled to the ejector valve responsive to a differential pneumatic pressure to thereby controllably move the ejector valve; and   an actuator control mechanism coupled to the actuator and adapted to receive one or more control signals, the actuator control unit operable, in response to the one or more control signals, to control the differential pressure.   
   
   
       16 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 an actuator enclosure including at least a control port and a vent port, the actuator enclosure control port in fluid communication with the actuator control mechanism, the actuator enclosure vent port in fluid communication with an ambient environment;   a piston coupled to the valve and slidably disposed within the actuator enclosure between the control port and the vent port; and   a spring disposed within the actuator enclosure and configured to supply a bias force to the piston that biases the valve away from the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle.   
   
   
       17 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 an actuator enclosure including a control port and a vent port, the control port and vent port each in fluid communication with the actuator control mechanism;   a piston coupled to the valve and slidably disposed within the actuator enclosure between the control port and the vent port; and   a spring disposed within the actuator enclosure and configured to supply a bias force to the piston that biases the valve away from the variable geometry ejector outlet nozzle.   
   
   
       18 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors disposed at least partially within, or downstream of, the diffuser section and operable to supply one or more sensor signals; and   a control unit coupled to receive the one or more sensor signals and operable, in response thereto, to selectively supply the one or more control signals to the feedback control mechanism.   
   
   
       19 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors disposed at least partially within, or downstream of, the diffuser section and operable to supply the one or more control signals to the feedback control mechanism.   
   
   
       20 . The variable geometry ejector pump of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a control unit operable to selectively supply the one or more control signals to the actuator control mechanism.