A pump assembly includes an electrical drive motor (2) and an impeller which is connected to the drive motor (2) via a shaft (14). The shaft extends between the drive motor (2) and the impeller, through a seal arrangement with a fluid reservoir (22). A method is provided for detecting a concentration change in a fluid reservoir in the seal arrangement in the pump assembly. A concentration sensor (30) detects a concentration change in the fluid reservoir (22), and a second sensor (32) detects at least one further parameter of the fluid reservoir (22). The sensors are arranged on the fluid reservoir (22). The sensors are connected to an evaluation device (22). The evaluation device (34) is configured to carry out an evaluation of at least one reading of the concentration sensor (30), taking into account at least one reading which is detected by the second sensor (32).

A bearing packing according to the invention includes a first packing having an opening portion formed therein, the opening portion allowing a rotary shaft to penetrate through the first packing, and a second packing having an opening portion formed therein, the opening portion allowing the rotary shaft to penetrate through the second packing, and configured to be brought into engagement with the first packing in a direction of the rotary shaft, and a sealed space for sealing a hydrophobic fluid in is defined around a circumference of the rotary shaft that is surrounded by the first packing and the second packing.

The gas seal column pump may comprise a pump drive, a gas seal column, a seal gas control box, and a pump. A drive motor of the pump drive, the gas seal column, and the pump may comprise a hermetically sealed, vertically-oriented, pumping system where the gas seal column is operable to replace mechanical seals around a drive shaft that couples the drive motor to the pump. A pressurized seal gas pumped into the drive motor and the gas seal column may displace corrosive fumes and the product being pumped. A product level may be sensed using a plurality of level sensors. Responsive to inputs from the level sensors, a seal gas control box may regulate the pressure of the seal gas using a plurality of valves. A bearing shaft adapter may be added to provide a special drive shaft of other lengths, diameters, or materials.

The invention provides an autonomous subsea barrier fluid system for a subsea pressure booster, the subsea pressure booster comprising a process fluid compartment, a motor compartment and a rotor assembly extending from the motor compartment into the process fluid compartment with one or several shaft seals separating the process fluid from the barrier fluid in the motor compartment. The subsea barrier fluid system is distinguished in that it comprises: a subsea barrier fluid pump, a barrier fluid delivery line, arranged between the barrier fluid pump and the motor compartment, a pressure controlled regulator, operatively arranged to at least one of the barrier fluid delivery line and the subsea barrier fluid pump, a subsea barrier fluid storage, and a barrier fluid suction line arranged from the subsea barrier fluid storage to the subsea barrier fluid pump.

The pump includes a rotational shaft (1), an impeller (3) fixed to the rotational shaft (1), a casing (2) that houses the impeller (3), a double mechanical seal (20), a seal chamber (25) that houses the double mechanical seal (20), an oil reservoir (30) configured to store oil, an oil supply line (26) providing fluid communication between the oil reservoir (30) and the seal chamber (25), a first oil pump (31) configured to pressurize oil supplied from the oil reservoir (30) and deliver the oil to the seal chamber (25), a second oil pump (42) arranged in parallel with the first oil pump (31), an oil outlet line (27) coupled to the seal chamber (25), and a pressure retaining mechanism for retaining pressure of oil in the seal chamber (25).

In centrifugal pumps and, in particular, pumps for transferring fluids containing abrasive particles such as slurry pumps, wear of wetted areas is a major maintenance issue. The invention provides for the protection of internal surfaces vulnerable to wear from such particles by providing means for adjusting and controlling distribution of gland fluid for flushing vulnerable areas. The invention extends to a method and a retrofit kit, but provides primarily for a centrifugal pump assembly comprising an impeller rotatably mounted therein and support means operatively arranged for supporting the impeller from its suction side in sealing relationship with the housing. The sealing means may be mechanically adjustable for substantially even distribution of gland fluid to both axial sides of the impeller in the pump housing.

A bearing with an integral diverted lantern ring for installation into the seal cavity of a rotary mechanical device to provide a bearing surface and allow for flush fluid to engage the shaft closer to the motor end is provided. The bearing eliminates whip in a rotating shaft and is split to allow easy installation over an installed shaft. The bearing is substantially cylindrical with an inner bore closely approximating the outer diameter of the shaft. The diverted lantern ring includes an outer groove at the impeller end on the outer surface at a flush port and a groove on the inner surface at a location closer to the motor end. Flush fluid channels are provided between the outer groove and inner groove of the bearing. The purpose is to redirect the external flush from the impeller end on the OD to the motor end on the ID, thus repositioning the flush deposit on the sleeve, under the bearing. This allows the throttling characteristic of the close clearance bearing surface to increase.

A shaft seal device is fixed to a container that separates a high-pressure fluid and a low-pressure fluid from each other, and seals a shaft-penetrated portion of the container through which a rotational shaft extends. This shaft seal device includes: a seal casing having a through-hole through which the rotational shaft extends, the seal casing having a seal chamber which communicates with the through-hole and into which the high-pressure fluid flows; and a disk-shaped seal body which is housed in the seal chamber, the seal body being rotatable together with the rotational shaft and having an annular surface perpendicular to an axis of the rotational shaft. An inner surface of the seal casing, which faces the annular surface of the seal body and defines the seal chamber, is a flat surface perpendicular to the axis of the rotational shaft.

A submersible pump assembly includes a seal section connected to a motor, the seal section having a housing with an outboard bearing at a housing pump end in radial supporting engagement with a drive shaft. An inboard bearing is also in the housing pump end, axially spaced from the outboard bearing, and in radial supporting engagement with the shaft. A barrier fluid chamber in the housing pump end contains a barrier fluid. A primary shaft seal is located within the barrier fluid chamber and seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from the motor lubricant. A secondary shaft seal is mounted in the barrier fluid chamber between the primary shaft seal and the outboard bearing. The secondary shaft seal seals the barrier fluid in the barrier fluid chamber from well fluid exterior of the housing pump end.

System and methods are configured to adjust fluid pressure within a barrier fluid system on a subsea fluid processing machine. More specifically, a barrier fluid pressure system is located at the subsea location and includes a barrier fluid pressure regulator module having one input communicating or being pressure matched with a process fluid flowline and a second input communicating with the barrier fluid pressure system. The pressure regulator module is configured to locally adjust the barrier fluid pressure depending upon the fluid process pressure.