A rocket engine propulsion system having improved engine performance is described herein. The rocket engine propulsion system includes an axial counterbalance to reduce or eliminate axial thrust exerted on components of a turbopump. The axial counterbalance can allow for a larger range of axial thrust forces while coupling this ability to a rotational speed (e.g., rotations per minute, or RPM) of a shaft. The axial counterbalance includes a rack and pinion system in which the rack can be teeth extending circumferentially around a shaft and the pinon can be teeth extending outwardly from a swing arm perpendicular to the shaft. The swing arm is rotatably attached to a bracket which is constrained by a static support. The swing arm can also include a weight on an end of the swing arm opposite the end of the swing arm including the pinion.

A liquid pressurizing apparatus, comprises a tank provided on a device installation surface for storing liquid so that a fluid level is located above the device installation surface; and a vertical pump including a suction port connected to the tank, multi-stage impellers arranged in a vertical direction, and a discharge port for discharging the liquid passing through the multi-stage impellers. The multi-stage impellers include a first stage impeller positioned at the lowest part of the multi-stage impellers and being configured such that the liquid from the suction port flows into the first stage impeller. The first stage impeller is disposed below the device installation surface.

A pump for conveying a fluid includes a stationary housing, an impeller conveying the fluid from a low pressure region to a high pressure region, a shaft to rotate the impeller about an axial direction, and a separation device to restrict a flow of the fluid from the high pressure region to the low pressure region. The separation device includes a rotary part connected to the shaft, and a stationary part stationary with respect to the housing. The rotary and stationary parts face each other and delimit a gap between the stationary part and the rotary part. The gap is arranged between the high and low pressure regions. A recess is disposed in the stationary part or the rotary part, the recess including a bottom, and a non-metallic insert is disposed in the recess. A relief channel enables fluid communication between the bottom and the low pressure region.

A pump shaft for a multi-stage pump, in particular a centrifugal pump, includes a peripheral groove region for the engagement of a relief device in order to introduce a force acting in the axial direction of the pump shaft. The groove region includes a plurality of grooves which are spaced apart in the axial direction.

A first fluid rotor that has a first fluid intake end and a first fluid discharge end. A second fluid rotor that has a second fluid intake end and a second fluid discharge end. The second fluid rotor is rotatably coupled to the first fluid rotor to rotate in unison with the first fluid rotor along a shared rotational axis. The first fluid intake end and the second fluid intake end are facing opposite directions. A first fluid stator surrounds the first fluid rotor. The first fluid rotor and the first fluid stator form a first fluid stage. The second fluid stator is aligned along the rotational axis. The second fluid stator and the second fluid rotor form a second fluid stage. A flow crossover sub is positioned between the first fluid stage and the second fluid stage.

Extracorporeal circuit devices can be used for on-pump open-heart surgery to support surgical procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting. In some cases, a centrifugal pump is used as part of an extracorporeal circuit. Centrifugal pump heads are described herein that induce flow on two sides of an impeller plate, and that can be conveniently mechanically assembled.

A cylindrical rotor inside of the cylindrical stator, wherein the cylindrical rotor has a screw thread with an opposite direction relating to the stator screw thread, wherein the rotor has a curvilinear external surface shape and a stator having an internal semicircular surface shape wherein rotor external surface shape and the stator has an internal surface shape having rounded shapes without rectangular edges to obtain high speed performance with reduced vortices, wherein a gap between the internal surface of the stator and the external surface of the rotor is 0.1-0.2 millimeters and an unloading thrust bearing attached to the rotor shaft positioned between intake thrust bearing and the intake end of the rotor and a cavity in the unloading thrust bearing configured to receive production fluid from the discharge end of the rotor.

A thrust balancing apparatus for a pump includes a housing, a balancing chamber, a connecting tube, a balancing disk, a bushing, a washer, and a pair of upthrust washers. The balancing chamber defines an upper cavity and a lower cavity. The connecting tube is configured to establish fluid communication between the balancing chamber and an exterior of the housing. A first portion of the balancing disk is disposed within the upper cavity. A second portion of the balancing disk passes through the lower cavity. A third portion of the balancing disk is external to the balancing chamber. The washer is disposed between the balancing disk and the bushing. The pair of upthrust washers are disposed between the balancing disk and the balancing chamber.

A thrust balancing apparatus for a pump includes a housing, a balancing chamber, a connecting tube, a balancing disk, a bushing, a washer, and a pair of upthrust washers. The balancing chamber defines an upper cavity and a lower cavity. The connecting tube is configured to establish fluid communication between the balancing chamber and an exterior of the housing. A first portion of the balancing disk is disposed within the upper cavity. A second portion of the balancing disk passes through the lower cavity. A third portion of the balancing disk is external to the balancing chamber. The washer is disposed between the balancing disk and the bushing. The pair of upthrust washers are disposed between the balancing disk and the balancing chamber.

A thrust balancing mechanism for balancing axial loads on a rotor thrust bearing 3 is described. The mechanism comprises a piston arrangement 6 axially mounted on a stationary structure 2, about a centre axis arranged, in use, in coaxial alignment with a rotating shaft 1 carrying the rotor thrust bearing 3. A hydrodynamic thrust bearing 8 is mounted, in use, between the piston 6 and the rotor thrust bearing 3. The piston 6 is pressurised so as to impart to the rotor thrust bearing 3, via the hydrodynamic thrust bearing 8, an axial load which counters an axial load imparted to the rotor thrust bearing 3 by the rotating shaft 1.