Iowa Patent of the Month – January 2022
Crude oil is transported through pipelines from the oilfield to refineries. While pumps are used to facilitate this transportation, they often face limitations when the crude oil has particularly low viscosity or lubrication. Current industry standard solutions use cavity pumps to overcome this, but this requires multiple stages of pumps and creates a lengthy pipeline even lengthier.
Iowa-based Viking Pump, Inc. has been involved in developing innovative pumping solutions since 1911. Recently, they have designed a high-pressure pumping system to better handle crude oils and petroleum products. The system uses a series of external gear pumps to create a higher flow and therefore higher pressures in the pipeline. The design is more compact than the industry standard, leading to a smaller footprint and reduced overall maintenance. The pump is designed with an innovative bracket design to incorporate a variety of cartridge mechanical seal options. These options can limit leaks or allow for leak detection.
By better managing pressure, preventing leaks with optimized seals, and reducing the footprint, Viking Pump has designed a system that allows for longer pump life, simpler and less maintenance, and a more cost-effective solution.
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