A pump assembly includes pump casing (2), an impeller (14) rotatably arranged in the pump casing, a two rotation directions (A, B) electrical drive motor connected to drive the impeller and a valve arrangement (28) arranged in the pump casing to switch a flow path downstream of the impeller between two exits (24, 26) of the pump casing, depending on a rotation direction of the impeller. The valve arrangement includes a first movable valve element (34) at a first exit (24) and a second movable valve element (36) at a second exit (26). The first valve element partly closes the first exit in a closed position and is movable into an opened position by flow in the first rotation direction and the second valve element partly closes the second exit in a closed position and is movable into an opened position by flow in the second rotation direction (B).

A pump assembly is disclosed comprising, a pump including a pump housing having a fluid inlet. At least one fluid outlet extends from the pump housing. An impeller driven by a motor is mounted in the pump housing arranged to move a fluid from the fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet. A valve rotatably mounted between the impeller and the at least one fluid outlet selectively controls the flow of fluid through the at least one fluid outlet.

A centrifugal pump assembly includes an electrical drive motor (4, 6), an impeller (14) which is driven by the electrical drive motor (4, 6) as well as with at least one valve element (18) which is directly or indirectly movable along a first movement path between at least two switching positions, by the electrical drive motor (4, 6). At least a part of the valve element (18) is additionally movable along a second movement path which is different to the first movement path, between a released position, in which the valve element is distanced to at least one contact surface and a bearing position, in which the valve element bears on the at least one contact surface.

A pump assembly includes at least one rotatingly driven impeller (14) and at least one valve element (18) which is rotatable about a rotation axis (X) between at least two switching positions. The valve element (18) includes a first face side (22) which extends transversely to the rotation axis of the valve element. A suction opening (24), which is engaged with a suction port (26) of the impeller (14), is formed in this first face side in a central region. The first face side (22) includes a pressure surface which surrounds the suction opening (24) and is adjacent to a delivery chamber (28) which surrounds the impeller (14).

Methods and systems of operating a pump at an efficiency point during an in-line blending operation. In an embodiment, such a method may include transporting a fluid from a tank to a pump through a first pipe. The method may include discharging, via the pump, the fluid at a specified flow rate through a second pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the first portion of the fluid flowing from the main control valve through the mixing pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the second portion of the fluid flowing through the spillback loop. The method may include determining a current pump efficiency point and operating the pump within a range of percentages of the best efficiency point.

Methods and systems of operating a pump at an efficiency point during an in-line blending operation. In an embodiment, such a method may include transporting a fluid from a tank to a pump through a first pipe. The method may include discharging, via the pump, the fluid at a specified flow rate through a second pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the first portion of the fluid flowing from the main control valve through the mixing pipe. The method may include measuring a flow rate of the second portion of the fluid flowing through the spillback loop. The method may include determining a current pump efficiency point and operating the pump within a range of percentages of the best efficiency point.

The disclosed technology relates to a solar water heating system including a tank configured to store heat transfer fluid, a solar collector in fluid communication with the tank, and a pump system in fluid communication with the tank and the solar collector. The pump system can include a first pump, a second pump, and a valve assembly. The valve assembly can direct the heat transfer fluid from an outlet of the first pump to the solar collector when the first pump is operating and can direct the heat transfer fluid from an outlet of the second pump to the solar collector when the second pump is operating. The first pump and the second pump can transfer the heat transfer fluid from the solar collector back to the tank when the first pump and the second pump are not operating.

A hydraulic valve device includes a first inlet port (20) and a second inlet port (22) and a valve element (24) for selectively closing one of the first and the second inlet port. The valve element (24; 24′) is rotatable between two valve positions such that a surface of the valve element is moved in a direction parallel to openings of the inlet ports. The valve element includes two separate sealing portions (72, 74), a first sealing portion (72) for closing the first inlet port and a second sealing portion (74) for closing the second inlet port. The two sealing portions are arranged such that in a first valve position a first sealing portion closes the first inlet port and in a second valve position a second sealing portion closes the second inlet port. A centrifugal pump device includes such hydraulic valve device.

A drain pump for a laundry treating apparatus includes a housing, an impeller, a motor, a circulation outlet, and a drain outlet. The circulation outlet and the drain outlet are defined on an outer circumferential surface of the housing, enable communication of the washing water with the housing, and protrude outward in directions tangential to the outer circumferential surface. The housing includes a rib that protrudes from an inner circumferential surface of the housing, that is located between the circulation outlet and the drain outlet, and that is to configured to guide the washing water to the circulation outlet or to the drain outlet based on a direction of rotation of the impeller.

A centrifugal pump assembly includes an electric drive motor (6, 8), a driven impeller (14) and a pump casing (2) which surrounds the impeller (14). A movable element (24; 24′) is arranged a valve element. A section of the valve element is movable from a released position into a bearing position, fixed on a contact surface (60), by pressure which is produced by the impeller in the pump casing. A control device (64) moves the valve element from one switching position into another switching position and reduces the speed of the drive motor. Upon pressure in the pump casing dropping such that the valve element is no longer fixed on the contact surface and the valve element has been moved into the other switching position, the control device increases the speed of the drive motor again. A method for moving a valve element is provided.