A pump with high performance and cleanability includes a casing having a smaller volute and a larger volute; a space between an outer circumference of an impeller and a starting end of the smaller volute being greater than that of the larger volute, generating a circulating flow of self-priming water from the smaller volute to the larger volute; and a diffusing part of the larger volute being formed into an upright, cylindrical self-priming water separating chamber guiding the self-priming water from the smaller volute to flow in for air-water separation. An inner circumference part of the casing is formed concentric with the outer circumference of the impeller with a predetermined space therebetween; defining members are protrusively disposed on the inner circumference part of the casing so as to define the shapes of the two volutes; and the self-priming water separating chamber is made attachable to and detachable from the casing.

A quick no-water startup apparatus for a centrifugal pump includes, from top to bottom in sequence, one-way passages (1), a self-priming chamber housing (41), sliding devices (5), a self-priming chamber (4), chamber partition plates (2) a concave-convex impeller (3), inlet channels (6) connected on two sides of the self-priming chamber (4), a spring device (7) of an upper-side x-shaped gas-liquid separation device, the upper-side x-shaped gas-liquid separation device (8), upper and middle-side gas-liquid separation device connecting shafts (9), a middle-side gas-liquid separation device (10), lower-side backflow-type gas-liquid separation devices (11), v-shaped backflow channels (122), an inverted v-shaped inlet channel (121), and an inlet. The quick no-water startup apparatus of the present invention enables the centrifugal pump to directly enter a normal operating condition after no-water startup, and 36 times of air exhaust can be completed while the concave-convex impeller (3) in the self-priming chamber (4) rotates by a circle in the early stage. Besides, the apparatus is provided with the upper, middle, and lower gas-liquid separation devices to fully realize separation of gas and liquid, so that gas can be exhausted more quickly and the chamber is filled with water. Therefore, the working efficiency is significantly improved and the operation process is greatly simplified.

A self-priming apparatus for quick no-water startup includes a front-stage inlet chamber, a middle-stage gas-liquid separation chamber, and a rear-stage gas-liquid separation chamber. A plurality of two-stage chamber gas-liquid separation one-way channels are symmetrically arranged between adjacent chambers of the front-stage inlet chamber, the middle-stage gas-liquid separation chamber and the rear-stage gas-liquid separation chamber. A plurality of one-way outlets are symmetrically arranged in an inner cavity of the rear-stage gas-liquid separation chamber. By decreasing or increasing the volumes of an outer cavity and an inner cavity of the front-stage inlet chamber, water is sucked in due to pressure difference and water intake and preliminary gas-liquid separation are carried out. The middle-stage gas-liquid separation chamber is configured for gas-liquid separation. By decreasing or increasing the volume of the inner cavity of the rear-stage gas-liquid separation chamber, water is rapidly expelled due to pressure difference and gas-liquid separation is carried out.

Systems and apparatuses for regulating a multi-phase fluid stream flowing from a subterranean geological formation, and related methods are described herein. The system and apparatus generally include a conduit defining a flow path for the fluid stream, the conduit further defining a first restriction having a throat portion, and the conduit further defining a first return path including an inlet positioned downstream of the first restriction and an outlet positioned upstream of the inlet of the first return path. Related methods include placing the apparatus or system within a wellbore conduit defined by a wellbore.

There is provided a centrifugal pump comprising a pumping chamber (106). The pumping chamber (106) has an inner surface (108) defining a pump cavity (110); a pump inlet (112) defined in a first side of the pumping chamber (106); a shaft opening (116) defined substantially centrally in a second side of the pumping chamber (106), the second side substantially opposing the first side and arranged to be above the first side, in use; and a pump outlet (114). The centrifugal pump further comprises an impeller (120) retained within the pump cavity (110); and a shaft member (140) mechanically connected to the impeller (120) through the shaft opening (116), whereby rotation of the shaft member (140) causes rotation of the impeller (120) about a shaft axis (157) passing through the shaft opening (116) and movement of a pumping liquid from the pump inlet (112) towards the pump outlet (114). The centrifugal pump further comprises a flow modifier (150) provided adjacent to an outer surface (107) of the pumping chamber (106) at the shaft opening (116) to substantially prevent ingress of air into the pump cavity (110) through the shaft opening (116) during operation of the pump even when a water level in a liquid tank (104) surrounding the pumping chamber (106) drops below a level of the shaft opening (116). The flow modifier (150) comprises an annular portion (152) having defined therein a further shaft opening (156) spaced from the shaft opening (116) and having the shaft member (140) passing therethrough. The centrifugal pump comprises a spacing member (154) spacing the annular portion (152) from the outer surface (107). The flow modifier (150) defines a liquid overflow outlet (164) for liquid flow from the shaft opening (116) in a direction substantially transverse to the shaft axis (157). In one example, the liquid overflow outlet (164) is sized to substantially prevent the ingress of air into the pump cavity (110) through the shaft opening (116) during operation of the pump, even when the water level in the liquid tank (104) surrounding the pumping chamber (106) drops below the level of the shaft opening (116). In the same or an alternative example, the annular portion (152) comprises a first portion (158) having defined therein the further shaft opening (156) and a second portion (160) extending towards the outer

A quick no-water startup apparatus for a centrifugal pump includes, from top to bottom in sequence, one-way passages (1), a self-priming chamber housing (41), sliding devices (5), a self-priming chamber (4), chamber partition plates (2) a concave-convex impeller (3), inlet channels (6) connected on two sides of the self-priming chamber (4), a spring device (7) of an upper-side x-shaped gas-liquid separation device, the upper-side x-shaped gas-liquid separation device (8), upper and middle-side gas-liquid separation device connecting shafts (9), a middle-side gas-liquid separation device (10), lower-side backflow-type gas-liquid separation devices (11), v-shaped backflow channels (122), an inverted v-shaped inlet channel (121), and an inlet. The quick no-water startup apparatus of the present invention enables the centrifugal pump to directly enter a normal operating condition after no-water startup, and 36 times of air exhaust can be completed while the concave-convex impeller (3) in the self-priming chamber (4) rotates by a circle in the early stage. Besides, the apparatus is provided with the upper, middle, and lower gas-liquid separation devices to fully realize separation of gas and liquid, so that gas can be exhausted more quickly and the chamber is filled with water. Therefore, the working efficiency is significantly improved and the operation process is greatly simplified.

There is provided a centrifugal pump comprising a pumping chamber (106). The pumping chamber (106) has an inner surface (108) defining a pump cavity (110); a pump inlet (112) defined in a first side of the pumping chamber (106); a shaft opening (116) defined substantially centrally in a second side of the pumping chamber (106), the second side substantially opposing the first side and arranged to be above the first side, in use; and a pump outlet (114). The centrifugal pump further comprises an impeller (120) retained within the pump cavity (110); and a shaft member (140) mechanically connected to the impeller (120) through the shaft opening (116), whereby rotation of the shaft member (140) causes rotation of the impeller (120) about a shaft axis (157) passing through the shaft opening (116) and movement of a pumping liquid from the pump inlet (112) towards the pump outlet (114). The centrifugal pump further comprises a flow modifier (150) provided adjacent to an outer surface (107) of the pumping chamber (106) at the shaft opening (116) to substantially prevent ingress of air into the pump cavity (110) through the shaft opening (116) during operation of the pump even when a water level in a liquid tank (104) surrounding the pumping chamber (106) drops below a level of the shaft opening (116). The flow modifier (150) comprises an annular portion (152) having defined therein a further shaft opening (156) spaced from the shaft opening (116) and having the shaft member (140) passing therethrough. The centrifugal pump comprises a spacing member (154) spacing the annular portion (152) from the outer surface (107). The flow modifier (150) defines a liquid overflow outlet (164) for liquid flow from the shaft opening (116) in a direction substantially transverse to the shaft axis (157). In one example, the liquid overflow outlet (164) is sized to substantially prevent the ingress of air into the pump cavity (110) through the shaft opening (116) during operation of the pump, even when the water level in the liquid tank (104) surrounding the pumping chamber (106) drops below the level of the shaft opening (116). In the same or an alternative example, the annular portion (152) comprises a first portion (158) having defined therein the further shaft opening (156) and a second portion (160) extending towards the outer

Gas lock resolution during operation of an electric submersible pump is provided. An example method, module, or computing hardware with software product, detects a gas lock during current operation of an electric submersible pump (ESP) and intervenes to relieve the gas lock without stopping the ESP. After sensing a gas lock condition, an example module calculates a pump speed for attempting gas lock resolution. The example module may decrease the speed of the ESP to flush the gas lock, and then reaccelerate the ESP to check that the gas lock has been eliminated. The example module may apply one or more stored motor speed patterns that iteratively seek a pump speed that succeeds in clearing the gas lock, without stopping the ESP. The example module has built-in protections to protect the ESP from thermal overload and other damage.

Systems and apparatuses for regulating a multi-phase fluid stream flowing from a subterranean geological formation, and related methods are described herein. The system and apparatus generally include a conduit defining a flow path for the fluid stream, the conduit further defining a first restriction having a throat portion, and the conduit further defining a first return path including an inlet positioned downstream of the first restriction and an outlet positioned upstream of the inlet of the first return path. Related methods include placing the apparatus or system within a wellbore conduit defined by a wellbore.

A system for maintaining a prime of a pump includes a suction line, a discharge line, a pump line, a bypass line, and a pressure tank connected to the bypass line. The pump line includes a pump, an inlet in communication with the suction line, and a discharge in communication with the discharge line. The pump is operable to propel fluid from the suction line to the discharge line through the pump line. The bypass line extends from the suction line to the discharge line. The bypass line includes a control valve operable to selectively permit fluid to flow through the bypass line from the discharge line to the suction line.