PRESSURE EXCHANGER FLOW ADAPTER
A pressure exchanger includes a rotor, an end cover, and a flow adapter. The rotor is configured to exchange pressure between fluids. The end cover is disposed at a distal end of the rotor. The end cover forms end cover low pressure ports and end cover high pressure ports. The flow adapter includes a planar surface, a distal end, and a upper surface. The planar surface forms planar low pressure openings and planar high pressure openings and is configured to seal to the end cover. The distal end forms a distal low pressure opening. Low pressure fluid flow is between the end cover low pressure ports and the distal low pressure opening via the planar low pressure openings. The upper surface forms upper high pressure openings. High pressure fluid flow is between the end cover high pressure ports and the upper high pressure openings via the planar high pressure openings.
1 . A pressure exchanger comprising:
a rotor configured to exchange pressure between a first fluid and a second fluid;
an end cover disposed at a first distal end of the rotor, the end cover forming end cover low pressure ports and end cover high pressure ports; and
a flow adapter comprising:
a planar surface forming planar low pressure openings and planar high pressure openings, wherein the planar surface is configured to seal to the end cover;
a distal end forming a distal low pressure opening, wherein low pressure fluid flow is between the end cover low pressure ports and the distal low pressure opening via the planar low pressure openings; and
an upper surface forming upper high pressure openings, wherein high pressure fluid flow is between the end cover high pressure ports and the upper high pressure openings via the planar high pressure openings.
2 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to direct flow paths between the end cover and external ports of the pressure exchanger.
3 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to set pressure distribution on the end cover to reduce deflection of the end cover in relation to the rotor.
4 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to seal against the end cover to provide a sealed pathway between the end cover and external ports of the pressure exchanger.
5 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter is injection molded.
6 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the end cover forms at least two low pressure ports and at least two high pressure ports, wherein the flow adapter is configured to combine fluid flow from the at least two low pressure ports and provides the combined fluid flow to a low pressure external port.
7 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter combines fluid flow from the end cover low pressure ports of the end cover proximate a center of the end cover to reduce deflection of the end cover in relation to the rotor.
8 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface of the flow adapter is configured to seal to the end cover via face seals or radial seals.
9 . The pressure exchanger of claim 1 , wherein the flow adapter comprises an over molded steel structure or an over molded ceramic structure.
10 . A flow adapter of a pressure exchanger, the flow adapter comprising:
a planar surface forming planar low pressure openings and planar high pressure openings, wherein face seals are to be disposed between the planar surface and an end cover to seal the flow adapter to the end cover, the end cover forming at least two end cover low pressure ports and at least two end cover high pressure ports;
a distal end forming a distal low pressure opening, wherein low pressure fluid flow is to be between the end cover low pressure ports and the distal low pressure opening via the planar low pressure openings; and
a upper surface forming upper high pressure openings, wherein high pressure fluid flow is between the end cover high pressure ports and the upper high pressure openings via the planar high pressure openings.
11 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to direct flow paths between the end cover and external ports of the pressure exchanger.
12 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to set pressure distribution on the end cover.
13 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to seal against the end cover to provide a sealed pathway between the end cover and external ports of the pressure exchanger.
14 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter is injection molded.
15 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter is configured to combine fluid flow from the end cover low pressure ports of the end cover proximate a center of the end cover to reduce deflection of the end cover in relation to a rotor of the pressure exchanger.
16 . The flow adapter of claim 10 , wherein the flow adapter comprises an over molded steel structure or an over molded ceramic structure.
17 . A system comprising:
a pressure exchanger comprising:
a rotor;
an end cover disposed at a distal end of the rotor; and
a flow adapter configured to passively control pressure at the end cover; and a controller configured to:
receive, from a lube flow sensor, sensor data; and
cause, based on the sensor data, active adjustment of the pressure at the end cover.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is to cause active adjustment of the pressure via a lube pump.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is to cause active adjustment of the pressure at a surface of the end cover.
20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the controller is to cause active adjustment of the pressure at a circumferential groove between the rotor and the end cover.