A method of manufacturing a component of a rotary machine, the component has at least one inner passage that extends from a center up to a boundary surface of the component and is at least partly closed, and a blank is provided that includes the boundary surface and a top surface. The Method includes a first subtractive machining step that is carried out in which a part of the passage that at least includes an opening of the passage into the boundary surface as well as a cut-out in the top surface are manufactured by machining production, and subsequently the passage is completed by build-up production on the blank.

An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly bearing is described. A bearing set for an ESP assembly includes a rotatable sleeve, and a bushing outward of the rotatable sleeve, the bushing including a tubular portion, and a radial flange extending around a downstream side of the tubular portion. An ESP assembly includes a rotatable shaft, at least one stage stacked in series on the rotatable shaft, each stage including a diffuser, a stationary bearing member including a tubular portion secured within a working fluid exit of the diffuser, a stationary member flange extending radially outward from a top of the tubular portion, and a rotatable sleeve inward of the stationary bearing member and secured to the rotatable shaft. A bearing set for an ESP assembly includes a bushing including a tubular portion, and an annular retaining ring groove extending around an outer surface of the tubular portion.

A heater pump includes a motor and a pump assembly. The pump assembly includes a pump housing having an inlet and an outlet. An impeller and a heater are disposed within the pump housing. The heater includes a heater housing having an inner wall, an outer wall, a lower wall and an upper wall forming a heating chamber. A heating element is disposed within the heating chamber. The inner wall defines an inlet channel connecting the impeller with the inlet of the water pump. Water flowing through the pump is heated by contact with the heater housing and/or the heating element.

A centrifugal pump to improve the efficiency of fluid flow, and minimize long term wear on the pump by progressively increasing fluid pressure as fluid moves from an eye of an impeller towards diffuser blades, into the volute and out through an outlet. The fluid pressure is increased by progressively increasing the volume through which the fluid travels. A tear-drop shaped volute casing surrounding the diffuser and impeller creates a pocket of maximum pressure just below the outlet. A dampener can be provided to dampen the vibration of the motor. A cylindrical basket strainer can be provided with a flat face abutting against the volute casing to distribute pressure evenly. A clamp ring can be provided to easily seal and access the basket strainer using a plain rod.

A submersible pump assembly has a centrifugal pump with a number of stages, each of the stages having a rotatable impeller and a non rotating diffuser. The diffuser has vanes, each of the vanes curving radially inward from an outer end to an inner end. The vanes define vane passages between adjacent ones of the vanes through which well fluid flows. The vanes have thicknesses between inner and outer sides of each of the vanes that gradually increase from the outer ends toward the inner ends. At least one pocket is formed in each of the inner sides of each of the vanes. The pockets are open cavities to receive a portion of the well fluid flowing from the vane passages to the diffuser outlet.

A technique employs a system and methodology for improving sand control in pumps. The technique may be used in centrifugal pumps by providing uniquely constructed rib feature to facilitate sand control and thus reduction of erosion due to sand in the pumped fluid. The improved sand control is useful in centrifugal pumps employed in a variety of oilfield applications, such as in electric submersible pumping systems positioned downhole in a wellbore to pump oil or other fluids. The rib feature may be used in combination with a shield and arranged along diffuser bowl walls or other diffuser walls within sequential pump stages.

A submersible well pump assembly includes a pump driven by a motor. The pump has a number of stages, each stage including a diffuser having an annular diffuser inlet with an annular outer wall. Diffuser passages lead downstream and inward from the diffuser inlet. An impeller has a circumferential outer edge adjacent the outer wall of the diffuser inlet. Notches are formed in the circumferential outer edge, defining a serrated configuration.

Systems and methods for preventing diffusers in pumps such as electric submersible pumps from bursting or collapsing in over-pressure and/or under-pressure conditions, where one or more diffusers in the pump includes check valves in the exterior diffuser wall. The check valves remain closed when a pressure differential between the diffuser interior and exterior is within a predetermined range, but open when the pressure differential between the diffuser interior and the interstitial space is outside the predetermined range to relieve overpressure and underpressure conditions. When the pressure differential returns to an acceptable range, the check valves close, preventing recirculation of fluid between the diffusers of the different stages. O-rings or other types of seals may be installed between each stage and the pump housing to provide some isolation of the external pressure on the diffuser of each stage.

A volute of a centrifugal pump includes a proximate section. The proximate section includes: an outer peripheral portion having a tapered shape such that, within a range of a rotational trajectory of each of vanes provided on an impeller, the outer peripheral portion gradually spreads out in a direction axially away from the vane; and an inner peripheral portion having a tapered shape such that, within the range of the rotational trajectory of each of the vanes, the inner peripheral portion tapers in the direction axially away from the vane. The inner and outer peripheral portions are spaced apart from each other with a flat proximal opposed surface portion therebetween. The opposed surface portion is opposed to respective axial end surfaces of vanes of the impeller. The volute also includes a peripheral wall surrounding the peripheral surfaces of the vanes.

The present invention is a pump used for applications where a solid is present in wastewater and other liquids that requires cutting and reduction in size so as to pass the solid through the inlet to the outlet of the pump. The pump has a pump casing with an inlet and an outlet formed therein. A drive unit rotates a drive shaft extending axially through the pump casing to an impeller and a cutter bar. The pump is further configured with a radial cutter ring assembly positioned adjacent the cutter bar and the inlet providing a shredding cutting action of solids between the rotating cutter bar sliding past a radial cutter ring assembly held stationary, e.g. cutting blades formed in an edge of the cutter bar rotate across an internal surface of the radial cutter ring assembly. The pump also has an axial cutter ring assembly with one or more blades forming openings adapted for the passage of solids from the inlet to the outlet to provide a shearing cutting action of solids by a rotation of an upper surface of the cutter bar sliding past an axial cutting surface of the blades of the axial cutter ring assembly. The shred and shear pump may be configured with a plurality of slots on the internal surface of the radial cutter ring assembly to hold woven fibrous material for the shredding cutting action. The pump also features improved optimized flow, cutting and reducing solids in the form of woven fibrous materials, and adjustability of the cutter housing for precision and wear adjustment.