PRESSURE CONTROL OF A PUMP USING A VORTEX AMPLIFIER

Abstract

This paper proposes a pressure regulation system for a pump by use of a vortex amplifier (VA) whose supply nozzle is angled to reverse direction of main vortex. VA is inserted just before the suction port of the pump, and its load pressure is feedbacked to the control port of VA. It is shown by simulation and experiment that a fairly wide region of constant pressure can be obtained against change of the load flow. The characteristic is further improved by installing a “core bar” in the low pressure bubble region on the center axis of the vortex chamber.