DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF PORTABLE PNEUMATIC FUEL PUMP

ABSTRACT

This project “DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF PORTABLE PNEUMATIC FUEL PUMP” is an outcome of basic instinct to increase the discharge rate and decrease the time of pumping the fuel from storage barrels to the machine or equipment especially industries where machineries are placed in second or third floor.

By utilizing simple pneumatic mechanism, fuel can be pumped especially with less power consumption and minimum human labour. When compared to traditional fuel pumping the time taken is also dramatically reduced, as the discharge rate is increased drastically.

Added advantage in this is portable and occupies less space. It is ideal for fuel pumping, as no electric field around the fuel pumping area.

This project is of great use to companies where pumping of fuel is everyday duty, even this project can be used in ration shops.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

In the pursuit of excellence, the manufacturing industries are seeking now in a new technology to improve productivity, quality of the product and reduce product cost. The cited subjects are seriously discussed in these days.

Most of the manufacturing industries use centrifugal pumps for pumping fuel from barrels to the required location. The discharge rate of centrifugal pump is low. The discharge head has also some limitations which restrict the use of centrifugal pump where high head is required.

As a fuel pump, the centrifugal pump is always risky because of electric motor placed just behind the impeller, which may lead to fire accidents.

Hence having this in mind, usage of reciprocating pump instead of centrifugal pump looked like the best alternate. Rather than keeping the idea in mind we brought it to reality. We tested the performance of both the pumps.

In this work a double acting reciprocating pump is used as fuel pump.

PARTS OF THE FUEL PUMP

The following are the parts of the fuel pump,

Pressure gauge
Air adjustment screw
Cylinder
Suction pipe
Filter
Air hose
Locknut
Grease nipple
1/4 inch gate valve
O Rings
Cylinder head
Tube couplers

DESIGN AND FABRICATION OF PORTABLE PNEUMATIC FUEL PUMP

WORKING PRINCIPLE

Initially starting with air compresses, its function is to compress air from a low inlet pressure (usually atmospheric) to a higher pressure level. This is an accomplished by reducing the volume of the air.

Air compressors are generally positive displacement units and are either of the reciprocating piston type or the rotary screw or rotary vane types. The air compressor used here is a typically small sized, two-stage compressor unit. It also consists of a compressed air tank, electric rotor and pulley drive, pressure controls and instruments for quick hook up and use. The compressor is driver by a 10HP motor and designed to operate in 145 – 175 PSI range. If the pressure exceeds the designed pressure of the receiver a release value provided releases the excesses air and thus stays a head of any hazards to take place.

The stored air from compressor is passed through an air fitter where the compressed air is filtered from the fine dust particles. However, before the suction of air into compressor a filter process take place, but not sufficient to operate in the circuit here the filter is used.

Then having a pressure regulator where the desired pressure to the operated is set. Here a variable pressure regulator is adopted.

Through a variety of direction control value are available, a hand operated solenoid Valve with control unit is applied.

The solenoid valve used here is 5 ports, 3 positions. There are two exhaust ports, two outlet ports and one inlet port. In two extreme positions only the directions can be changed while the Centro ore is a neutral position and no physical changes are incurred.

The 2 outlet ports are connected to an actuator (Cylinder). The pneumatic activates is a double acting, single rod cylinder. The cylinder output is coupled to further purpose. The piston end has an air horning effect to prevent sudden thrust at extreme ends.

ADVANTAGES

Even if all the other pumps are similar in use the Pneumatic water pump is more advantageous than the other pumps.

1. This is of compact in size

2. Less Maintenance is enough

3. The oil or water pumped is of higher pressure

4. Quite running and smooth operation is achieved.

5. Higher efficiency

6. Full efficient positive displacement pump

7. Effective working principle

8. It does not have any Prime mover, like electric motor related to the unit.

9. As the air is freely available, we can utilize the air to pumping the water and hence it is economical.

10. Less Maintenance