High-pressure cylinder assembly for waterjet intensifier pumps, and related methods

Abstract

A high-pressure cylinder assembly for use with a waterjet intensifier pump includes a cylinder having a through bore and a radially inner surface extending along a length of the cylinder. A ceramic liner is provided in the through bore and contacts the radially inner surface of the cylinder. A first high-pressure seal is provided in the through bore of the cylinder and is constrained at a first end of the through bore. A second high-pressure seal is provided in the through bore and is constrained at a second end of the through bore. The first and second high-pressure seals are configured to maintain a sealed environment within the high-pressure cylinder assembly during operation of the waterjet intensifier pump.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A high-pressure cylinder assembly for use with a waterjet intensifier pump, the high-pressure cylinder assembly comprising:
 a cylinder including a through bore and a radially inner surface extending along a length of the cylinder;   a ceramic liner provided in the through bore of the cylinder and contacting the radially inner surface of the cylinder;   a first high-pressure seal provided in the through bore of the cylinder and constrained at a first end of the through bore; and   a second high-pressure seal provided in the through bore of the cylinder and constrained at a second end of the through bore, wherein the first and second high-pressure seals are configured to maintain a sealed environment within the high-pressure cylinder assembly during operation of the waterjet intensifier pump.   
     
     
         2 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second high-pressure seals are positioned radially inward of and sealingly contact the ceramic liner. 
     
     
         3 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a spacer positioned radially inward of the ceramic liner and between the first and second high-pressure seals, the spacer including a through bore configured to receive a plunger of the waterjet intensifier pump.   
     
     
         4 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the spacer and the ceramic liner define an annular cavity therebetween, the spacer configured to allow water to flow through the annular cavity during operation of the waterjet intensifier pump. 
     
     
         5 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic liner extends along a full length of the through bore of the cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ceramic liner is formed of yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal. 
     
     
         7 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a radially inner surface of the ceramic liner is formed with a surface roughness that is less than or equal to approximately 2 RMS. 
     
     
         8 . The high-pressure cylinder assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the cylinder includes a thread configured to couple the high-pressure cylinder assembly to a hydraulic cylinder of the waterjet intensifier pump. 
     
     
         9 . A waterjet intensifier pump comprising:
 a hydraulic cylinder assembly; and   a first high-pressure cylinder assembly and a second high-pressure cylinder assembly each coupled to the hydraulic cylinder assembly, wherein the first high-pressure cylinder assembly comprises:
 a cylinder including a through bore and a radially inner surface extending along a length of the cylinder; 
 a ceramic liner provided in the through bore of the cylinder and contacting the radially inner surface of the cylinder; 
 a first high-pressure seal provided in the through bore of the cylinder and constrained at a first end of the through bore; and 
 a second high-pressure seal provided in the through bore of the cylinder and constrained at a second end of the through bore, wherein the first and second high-pressure seals are configured to maintain a sealed environment within the first high-pressure cylinder assembly during operation of the waterjet intensifier pump. 
   
     
     
         10 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second high-pressure seals are positioned radially inward of and sealingly contact the ceramic liner. 
     
     
         11 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein the first high-pressure cylinder assembly further comprises:
 a spacer positioned radially inward of the ceramic liner and between the first and second high-pressure seals, the spacer including a through bore configured to receive a plunger of the waterjet intensifier pump.   
     
     
         12 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer and the ceramic liner define an annular cavity therebetween, the spacer configured to allow water to flow through the annular cavity during operation of the waterjet intensifier pump. 
     
     
         13 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic liner extends along a full length of the through bore of the cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein the ceramic liner is formed of yttria tetragonal zirconia polycrystal. 
     
     
         15 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein a radially inner surface of the ceramic liner is formed with a surface roughness that is less than or equal to approximately 2 RMS. 
     
     
         16 . The waterjet intensifier pump of  claim 9 , wherein an end of the cylinder includes a first thread and the hydraulic cylinder assembly includes a second thread configured to engage the first thread for coupling the first high-pressure cylinder assembly to the hydraulic cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A method of pressurizing water with a waterjet intensifier pump including a hydraulic cylinder assembly and a high-pressure cylinder assembly coupled to the hydraulic cylinder assembly, the high-pressure cylinder assembly including a cylinder having a through bore and a radially inner surface, a ceramic liner provided in the through bore and contacting the radially inner surface, a pressurization chamber defined by the ceramic liner, and a high-pressure seal provided at an end of the through bore, the method comprising:
 receiving water into the pressurization chamber through an inlet;   driving a plunger through the high-pressure seal and into the pressurization chamber to pressurize the water;   allowing the water to contact the ceramic liner during pressurization; and   forcing pressurized water out of the high-pressure cylinder assembly through an outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein allowing the water to contact the ceramic liner includes blocking the water from contacting the radially inner surface of the cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the high-pressure cylinder assembly further includes a spacer positioned radially inward of the ceramic liner and within the pressurization chamber, and wherein driving a plunger into the pressurization chamber includes driving the plunger through a through bore of the spacer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the spacer and the ceramic liner define an annular cavity therebetween, and wherein allowing the water to contact the ceramic liner includes allowing the water to flow through the annular cavity.