Vacuum assisted pump with integrated instrumentation and control system for slurry, sludge and solid laden fluids

Abstract

Pump system for pumping a fluid product including slurry, sludge or solid laden fluids. It includes a pump body for receiving the fluid product with a product inlet and a product outlet with respective one-way check valves; a liquid inlet for communicating a liquid source with the pump body; a vacuum inlet for communicating a vacuum source with the pump body; a product detector for detecting at least one parameter of the fluid product inside the pump body; and a control system for controlling operation of the liquid source, the vacuum source and the product detector. The product detector includes a radio frequency level detector for detecting a level of the fluid product inside the pump body by emitting radio frequency signals that are received by the control system.

1 . A pump system for pumping a fluid product including slurry, sludge or solid laden fluids, comprising:
 a pump body ( 14 ) for receiving the fluid product, the pump body having a product inlet ( 12 ) and a product outlet ( 13 ) with respective one-way check valves ( 15 ,  15 ′);   a liquid inlet ( 8 ″) for communicating a liquid source with the pump body;   a vacuum inlet ( 10 ′) for communicating a vacuum source with the pump body;   a product detector ( 9 ) for detecting at least one parameter of the fluid product inside the pump body; and   a control system ( 1 ) for controlling operation of the liquid source, the vacuum source and the product detector;   wherein the product detector ( 9 ) comprises a radio frequency level detector for detecting a level of the fluid product inside the pump body by emitting radio frequency signals that are received by the control system ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one-way check valves ( 15 ,  15 ′) include metal check valves with a knife edge cutting seat configured to cut soft solids so as to ensure sealing when the check valves are closed. 
     
     
         3 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one parameter detected by the product detector ( 9 ) includes viscosity or thickness of the fluid product. 
     
     
         4 . The pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) is in communication with a liquid spray device inside the pump body. 
     
     
         5 . The pump system of  claim 4 , wherein the liquid spray device comprises a water spray ball for cleaning the inside of the pump body or adjusting a thickness level of the fluid product. 
     
     
         6 . A method of operating the pump system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 generating a vacuum in the pump body ( 14 ) by means of the vacuum inlet ( 10 ′) to suction the fluid product into the product inlet ( 12 ) and the pump body ( 14 ) with the inlet check valve ( 15 ) being open and the outlet check valve ( 15 ′) being closed;   detecting a predetermined level of the fluid product inside the pump body ( 14 ) by means of the product detector ( 9 ); and   after said detecting, supplying compressed air to the pump body ( 14 ) to discharge the fluid product through the product outlet ( 13 ) with the inlet check valve ( 15 ) being closed and the outlet check valve ( 15 ′) being open.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising:
 monitoring a pressure inside the pump body by means of a pressure monitor ( 6 ) connected to the control system ( 1 ) and in communication with vacuum inlet ( 10 ′); and   detecting a predetermined pressure level inside the pump body ( 14 ) and repeating said steps of generating a vacuum, detecting the predetermined level and supplying compressed air.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising:
 monitoring a pressure inside the pump body by means of a pressure monitor ( 6 ) connected to the control system ( 1 ) and in communication with the vacuum inlet ( 10 ′);   detecting a predetermined pressure level inside the pump body ( 14 ); and   after said detecting the predetermined pressure, injecting liquid into the pump body ( 14 ) through the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) to reduce viscosity or thickness of the fluid product inside the pump body.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising:
 detecting product build-up to a metal rod inside the pump body ( 14 ) by the product detector ( 9 ); and   after said detecting product build-up, injecting liquid into the pump body through the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) to clean said metal rod inside the pump body.   
     
     
         10 . A pump system for pumping a fluid product including slurry, sludge or solid laden fluids, comprising:
 a pump body ( 14 ) for receiving the fluid product, the pump body having a product inlet ( 12 ) and a product outlet ( 13 ) with respective one-way check valves ( 15 ,  15 ′);   a liquid inlet ( 8 ″) for communicating a liquid source with the pump body;   a vacuum inlet ( 10 ′) for communicating a vacuum source with the pump body;   a product detector ( 9 ) for detecting at least one parameter of the fluid product inside the pump body; and   a control system ( 1 ) for controlling operation of the liquid source, the vacuum source and the product detector;   wherein the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) is in communication with a liquid spray device inside the pump body for adjusting a thickness level of the fluid product.   
     
     
         11 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the one-way check valves ( 15 ,  15 ′) include metal check valves with a knife edge cutting seat configured to cut soft solids so as to ensure sealing when the check valves are closed. 
     
     
         12 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one parameter detected by the product detector ( 9 ) includes viscosity or thickness of the fluid product. 
     
     
         13 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the product detector ( 9 ) comprises a radio frequency level detector for detecting a level of the fluid product inside the pump body by emitting radio frequency signals that are received by the control system ( 1 ). 
     
     
         14 . The pump system of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid spray device comprises a water spray ball for cleaning the inside of the pump body or adjusting a thickness level of the fluid product. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating the pump system of  claim 10 , comprising:
 generating a vacuum in the pump body ( 14 ) by means of the vacuum inlet ( 10 ′) to suction the fluid product into the product inlet ( 12 ) and the pump body ( 14 ) with the inlet check valve ( 15 ) being open and the outlet check valve ( 15 ′) being closed;   detecting a predetermined level of the fluid product inside the pump body ( 14 ) by means of the product detector ( 9 ); and   after said detecting, supplying compressed air to the pump body ( 14 ) to discharge the fluid product through the product outlet ( 13 ) with the inlet check valve ( 15 ) being closed and the outlet check valve ( 15 ′) being open.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 monitoring a pressure inside the pump body by means of a pressure monitor ( 6 ) connected to the control system ( 1 ) and in communication with vacuum inlet ( 10 ′); and   detecting a predetermined pressure level inside the pump body ( 14 ) and repeating said steps of generating a vacuum, detecting the predetermined level and supplying compressed air.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 monitoring a pressure inside the pump body by means of a pressure monitor ( 6 ) connected to the control system ( 1 ) and in communication with the vacuum inlet ( 10 ′);   detecting a predetermined pressure level inside the pump body ( 14 ); and   after said detecting the predetermined pressure, injecting liquid into the pump body ( 14 ) through the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) to reduce viscosity or thickness of the fluid product inside the pump body.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 detecting product build-up to a metal rod inside the pump body ( 14 ) by the product detector ( 9 ); and   after said detecting product build-up, injecting liquid into the pump body through the liquid inlet ( 8 ″) to clean said metal rod inside the pump body.