IP Library Granted Patent US 11,047,398
Granted Patent B2
US 11,047,398 · App. 14/818,219 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Systems and methods for repairing fluid handling equipment

Inventors: Farshad Ghasripoor (Berkeley, CA); Jeremy Grant Martin (Oakland, CA)
Assignee: Energy Recovery, Inc.
F04F13/00B23P6/00F04B19/04E21B43/2607E21B43/267
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,047,398
App. No.
14/818,219
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method includes removing a worn portion from a component of a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX). The rotary IPX is configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid. The method also includes repairing the component after the worn portion is removed from the component.

Claims (31)

1. A system, comprising:

a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid, the rotary IPX comprising:

a cylindrical body portion having a first end and a second end;

a rotor configured to rotate within the cylindrical body portion and about a longitudinal axis disposed along a center of the rotor, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of channels disposed between a first end face of the rotor and a second end face of the rotor;

a rotor replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the rotor replacement piece is configured to couple to and cover the first end face of the rotor, wherein the rotor replacement piece forms a first plurality of apertures configured to align with the plurality of channels of the rotor to receive the first fluid or the second fluid, wherein the rotor replacement piece is to replace a removed worn portion of the rotor;

an end plate replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the end plate replacement piece is configured to directly couple to the first end of the cylindrical body portion and configured for fluid sealing contact with the rotor replacement piece, wherein the rotor replacement piece is configured to rotate relative to the end plate replacement piece, and wherein the end plate replacement piece forms a second plurality of apertures;

an end plate, wherein a first end face of the end plate is configured to couple to a second end face of the end plate replacement piece, the end plate forms a third plurality of apertures configured to align with the second plurality of apertures, wherein each of the second plurality of apertures and each of the third plurality of apertures has a corresponding cross-sectional area that is greater than the corresponding cross-sectional area of each of the first plurality of apertures and the plurality of channels of the rotor, wherein the end plate replacement piece is to replace a removed worn portion of the end plate; and

a manifold configured to couple to and extend over a second end face of the end plate, the manifold comprising a fluid chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port configured to transfer one of the first or second fluids in and out of the rotary IPX.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end plate replacement piece comprises one or more connection elements configured to respectively mate with one or more complementary connection elements on the end plate.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end plate replacement piece comprises a fastener configured to couple the end plate replacement piece to the end plate.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the end plate replacement piece is configured to couple to the end plate via a friction fit.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor replacement piece defines a contact face configured to contact the first end face of the rotor, wherein the contact face defines a first perimeter that matches a second perimeter of the first end face of the rotor.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second end face of the end plate replacement piece defines a contact face configured to contact the first end face of the end plate, wherein the contact face defines a first perimeter that matches a second perimeter of the first end face of the end plate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotor replacement piece is configured to couple to the rotor via a friction fit.

8. A system, comprising:

a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid, the rotary IPX comprising:

a cylindrical body portion having a first end and a second end;

a rotor configured to rotate within the cylindrical body portion and about a longitudinal axis disposed along a center of the rotor, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of channels disposed between a first end face of the rotor and a second end face of the rotor;

a rotor replacement piece wherein a first end face of the rotor replacement piece is configured to couple to and cover the first end face of the rotor, wherein the rotor replacement piece forms a first plurality of apertures configured to align with the plurality of channels of the rotor to receive the first fluid or the second fluid;

an end plate replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the end plate replacement piece is configured to directly couple to the first end of the cylindrical body portion and configured for fluid sealing contact with the rotor replacement piece, wherein the rotor replacement piece is configured to rotate relative to the end plate replacement piece, and wherein the end plate replacement piece forms a second plurality of apertures;

an end plate wherein a first end face of the end plate is configured to couple to a second end face of the end plate replacement piece, the end plate forms a third plurality of apertures configured to align with the second plurality of apertures, and wherein the rotor replacement piece and the end plate replacement piece comprise a material that has a first wear resistance that is different than a second wear resistance of at least one of the rotor or the end plate; and

a manifold configured to couple to and extend over a second end face of the end plate, the manifold comprising a fluid chamber, an inlet port, and an outlet port configured to transfer one of the first or second fluids in and out of the rotary IPX.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the end plate replacement piece comprises one or more connection elements configured to respectively mate with one or more complementary connection elements on the end plate.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first wear resistance is different than the second wear resistance of the end plate.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the end plate replacement piece is configured to couple to the end plate via a friction fit.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second rotor replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the second rotor replacement piece is configured to couple to and cover the second end face of the rotor, wherein the second rotor replacement piece defines a fourth plurality of apertures configured to align with the plurality of channels of the rotor to receive the first fluid or the second fluid.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a second end plate replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the second end plate replacement piece is configured for second fluid sealing contact with the second rotor replacement piece, wherein the second rotor replacement piece is configured to rotate relative to the second end plate replacement piece, and wherein the second end plate replacement piece defines a fifth plurality of apertures.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a second end plate, wherein a first end face of the second end plate is configured to couple to a second end face of the second end plate replacement piece, the second end plate defines a sixth plurality of apertures configured to align with the fifth plurality of apertures.

15. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a second end plate, wherein a first end face of the second end plate is configured to couple to a second end face of the second rotor replacement piece, the second end plate defines a fifth plurality of apertures.

16. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a second end plate replacement piece, wherein a first end face of the second end plate replacement piece is configured for second fluid sealing contact with the rotor, wherein the rotor rotates relative to the second end plate replacement piece, the end plate replacement piece defines a fourth plurality of apertures.

17. The system of claim 8 , wherein the rotor replacement piece is configured to couple to the rotor via a friction fit.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2021
From: ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 060751/0479 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAMES OF THE INVENTORS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 036257 FRAME 0443. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE LAST NAME WAS USED FOR BOTH INVENTORS WHEN FIRST RECORDED. Recorded Feb 2, 2017
From: GHASRIPOOR, FARSHAD; MARTIN, JEREMY GRANT
To: ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 041592/0742 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2015
From: GHASRIPOOR, FARSHAD; GHASRIPOOR, JEREMY GRANT
To: ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
Reel/Frame 036257/0443 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62033525 · Aug 5, 2014
Related Publication 20160039054A1 · Feb 11, 2016