Energy efficient variable flow pump saves fuel

A British company has developed a unique design of variable flow pump for diesel engines which uses significantly less power than conventional fixed flow pumps, provides impressive savings in fuel consumption and even offers the potential for a more energy efficient oil system on vehicles, construction and agricultural equipment. The company responsible for the new pump is Concentric Pumps based in Birmingham. The firm designs and manufactures oil, water and fuel transfer pumps for a range of industries mainly the truck, agricultural and construction equipment industries. The company's CEO Ian Dugan told Eureka: "The VFP [variable flow pump] has demonstrated savings for heavy duty [diesel] engines of between 3 and 4hp at rated speed and more than 1hp at cruise speed. Further benefits can be achieved if the oil system is optimised to allow the pump to provide only the pressure necessary at that point in the operating range." The pump certainly has a unique design. While other variable flow oil pump manufacturers have similar designs, none uses Concentric's novel 'split' rotor set principle. The design was derived from the variable flow pump design pioneered by Concentric more than a decade ago and . The principle is to align the oil flow to demand, therefore limiting the power needed to drive the pump and hence fuel consumption. Paul Evans, director of technology at Concentric explained: "Two rotor sets control oil flow output. The driving rotor operates in the traditional, fixed arrangement while the offset position and therefore resulting flow of the second, eccentrically-mounted rotor is controlled mechanically by a rack and pinion, but is equally appropriate for electronic management." The design is very durable, compact and cost effective. As Evans continued: "The VFP pump was originally designed to combine low cost and robustness with fuel savings of around 1%. However, even greater savings are possible in a system where oil supply is matched to demand. The pump is able to take advantage of the differing oil requirements for each point in the engine operating cycle." Evans explained that, in the truck market, given today's emphasis on high speed-part load, caused by driving styles on congested UK roads, the technology could also lead to significant savings in medium and light duty engines, offering benefits to the passenger car market. According to Evans, in a typical duty cycle, light and medium duty engines often do not reach a stable 80°C for long periods and the regulating valve can operate prematurely, providing the opportunity for further energy saving. A British company has developed a unique design of variable flow pump for diesel engines which uses significantly less power than conventional fixed flow pumps, provides impressive savings in fuel consumption and even offers the potential for a more energy efficient oil system on vehicles, construction and agricultural equipment. The company responsible for the new pump is Concentric Pumps based in Birmingham. The firm designs and manufactures oil, water and fuel transfer pumps for a range of industries mainly the truck, agricultural and construction equipment industries. The company's CEO Ian Dugan told Eureka: "The VFP [variable flow pump] has demonstrated savings for heavy duty [diesel] engines of between 3 and 4hp at rated speed and more than 1hp at cruise speed. Further benefits can be achieved if the oil system is optimised to allow the pump to provide only the pressure necessary at that point in the operating range." The pump certainly has a unique design. While other variable flow oil pump manufacturers have similar designs, none uses Concentric's novel 'split' rotor set principle. The design was derived from the variable flow pump design pioneered by Concentric more than a decade ago and . The principle is to align the oil flow to demand, therefore limiting the power needed to drive the pump and hence fuel consumption. Paul Evans, director of technology at Concentric explained: "Two rotor sets control oil flow output. The driving rotor operates in the traditional, fixed arrangement while the offset position and therefore resulting flow of the second, eccentrically-mounted rotor is controlled mechanically by a rack and pinion, but is equally appropriate for electronic management." The design is very durable, compact and cost effective. As Evans continued: "The VFP pump was originally designed to combine low cost and robustness with fuel savings of around 1%. However, even greater savings are possible in a system where oil supply is matched to demand. The pump is able to take advantage of the differing oil requirements for each point in the engine operating cycle." Evans explained that, in the truck market, given today's emphasis on high speed-part load, caused by driving styles on congested UK roads, the technology could also lead to significant savings in medium and light duty engines, offering benefits to the passenger car market. According to Evans, in a typical duty cycle, light and medium duty engines often do not reach a stable 80°C for long periods and the regulating valve can operate prematurely, providing the opportunity for further energy saving. A British company has developed a unique design of variable flow pump for diesel engines which uses significantly less power than conventional fixed flow pumps, provides impressive savings in fuel consumption and even offers the potential for a more energy efficient oil system on vehicles, construction and agricultural equipment. The company responsible for the new pump is Concentric Pumps based in Birmingham. The firm designs and manufactures oil, water and fuel transfer pumps for a range of industries mainly the truck, agricultural and construction equipment industries. The company's CEO Ian Dugan told Eureka: "The VFP [variable flow pump] has demonstrated savings for heavy duty [diesel] engines of between 3 and 4hp at rated speed and more than 1hp at cruise speed. Further benefits can be achieved if the oil system is optimised to allow the pump to provide only the pressure necessary at that point in the operating range." The pump certainly has a unique design. While other variable flow oil pump manufacturers have similar designs, none uses Concentric's novel 'split' rotor set principle. The design was derived from the variable flow pump design pioneered by Concentric more than a decade ago and . The principle is to align the oil flow to demand, therefore limiting the power needed to drive the pump and hence fuel consumption. Paul Evans, director of technology at Concentric explained: "Two rotor sets control oil flow output. The driving rotor operates in the traditional, fixed arrangement while the offset position and therefore resulting flow of the second, eccentrically-mounted rotor is controlled mechanically by a rack and pinion, but is equally appropriate for electronic management."