A method includes placing an apparatus in a subsea wellbore (102), and hydraulically connecting the apparatus with an external hydraulic fluid source (107). The apparatus of this method includes a pump (103), a motor (105), a pressure intensifier (109), and a hydraulic fluid port (110). The motor (105) is configured to drive the pump (103). The pressure intensifier (109) is configured to maintain pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the motor at a predetermined level. The hydraulic fluid port (110) is configured to provide hydraulic fluid to the pressure intensifier (109) by mating with the external hydraulic fluid source (107) when the apparatus is in a hydrocarbon producing wellbore. The apparatus is dimensioned for lowering and retrieving through the string of production tubing (112).

The present invention relates to kits and methods for calibrating a pump through performance of a thermal knockdown process including demagnetization of an impeller of the pump where the impeller is separate from the pump. By heat treating the impeller, a property of magnetic interaction of the pump is reduced in a repeatable manner. A kit includes a pump with impeller, a controller and an oven. The method generally involves an iterative process of testing the pump for a property related to magnetic interaction of the elements of the pump, removing the impeller from the pump, heating the impeller under controlled conditions, then placing the impeller back into the pump to repeat the test performed initially.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a rotor for a molten metal pump and a molten metal pump including the rotor. The rotor has a main body and a top comprised of a material that is at least twice as hard as the main body. The top, among other things, may form a first portion of each rotor blade wherein the first portion directs molten metal into a pump chamber or other structure in which the rotor is mounted.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a rotor for a molten metal pump and a molten metal pump including the rotor. The rotor has a main body and a top comprised of a material that is at least twice as hard as the main body. The top, among other things, may form a first portion of each rotor blade wherein the first portion directs molten metal into a pump chamber or other structure in which the rotor is mounted.

A molten metal pump assembly and method to fill complex molds with molten metal, such as aluminum. The pump assembly includes an elongated shaft connecting a motor to an impeller. The impeller is housed within a chamber of a base member such that rotation of the impeller draws molten metal into the chamber at an inlet and forces molten aluminum through an outlet. A first bearing is adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a first radial edge and a second bearing adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a second radial edge. A bypass gap is interposed between the second bearing and the second radial edge. Molten metal leaks through the bypass gap at a predetermined rate to manipulate a flow rate and a head pressure of the molten metal such that precise control of the flow rate is achieved.

A molten metal pump assembly and method to fill complex molds with molten metal, such as aluminum. The pump assembly includes an elongated shaft connecting a motor to an impeller. The impeller is housed within a chamber of a base member such that rotation of the impeller draws molten metal into the chamber at an inlet and forces molten aluminum through an outlet. A first bearing is adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a first radial edge and a second bearing adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a second radial edge. A bypass gap is interposed between the second bearing and the second radial edge. Molten metal leaks through the bypass gap at a predetermined rate to manipulate a flow rate and a head pressure of the molten metal such that precise control of the flow rate is achieved.

A pump assembly comprising a stator and a rotor having vanes of opposite handed thread arrangements is described. A radial gap is located between the stator vanes and the rotor vanes such that rotation of the rotor causes the stator and rotor to co-operate to provide a system for moving fluid longitudinally between them. The operation of the pump results in a fluid seal being is formed across the radial gap. The described apparatus can also be operated as a motor assembly when a fluid is directed to move longitudinally between the stator and rotor. The presence of the fluid seal results in no deterioration of the pump or motor efficiency, even when the radial gap is significantly greater than normal working clearance values. Furthermore, the presence of the radial gap makes the pump/motor assembly ideal for deployment with high viscosity and/or multiphase fluids.

A pump assembly comprising a stator and a rotor having vanes of opposite handed thread arrangements is described. A radial gap is located between the stator vanes and the rotor vanes such that rotation of the rotor causes the stator and rotor to co-operate to provide a system for moving fluid longitudinally between them. The operation of the pump results in a fluid seal being is formed across the radial gap. The described apparatus can also be operated as a motor assembly when a fluid is directed to move longitudinally between the stator and rotor. The presence of the fluid seal results in no deterioration of the pump or motor efficiency, even when the radial gap is significantly greater than normal working clearance values. Furthermore, the presence of the radial gap makes the pump/motor assembly ideal for deployment with high viscosity and/or multiphase fluids.

A liquid pumping vehicle has: a platform rotatably mounted on a frame; an articulated boom mounted on the platform; a first liquid pump mounted on the boom; a second liquid pump mounted on the platform on the engine-side, the second liquid pump in fluid connection with a fluid conduit through which the first liquid pump pumps the liquid, and an engine mounted on the platform, so that a rotation axis of the platform is between the boom and the engine and so that a weight of the engine, the second liquid pump and other components on an engine-side of the platform acts as a counterbalance to a weight of the boom and other components on a boom-side of the platform; and, The vehicle is better balanced for greater stability when in use for pumping a liquid, e.g., liquid manure.

A liquid pumping vehicle has: a platform rotatably mounted on a frame; an articulated boom mounted on the platform; a first liquid pump mounted on the boom; a second liquid pump mounted on the platform on the engine-side, the second liquid pump in fluid connection with a fluid conduit through which the first liquid pump pumps the liquid, and an engine mounted on the platform, so that a rotation axis of the platform is between the boom and the engine and so that a weight of the engine, the second liquid pump and other components on an engine-side of the platform acts as a counterbalance to a weight of the boom and other components on a boom-side of the platform; and, The vehicle is better balanced for greater stability when in use for pumping a liquid, e.g., liquid manure.