BEARING-LESS TURBINE

Abstract

A vertical pump features stationary bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, impellers and bottom wear-ring bearings. The stationary bowl assembly includes bowls, each bowl having a respective bowl bottom inside surface. The rotating power transmission shaft is configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly. The impellers are arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller bottom outside surface. Each bottom wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl bottom inside surface of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.

Claims

1. A vertical pump comprising: a stationary bowl assembly having bowls, each bowl having a respective top or bowl bottom inside surface; a rotating power transmission shaft configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly; impellers arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller top or bottom outside surface; and top or bottom wear-ring bearings, each top or bottom wear-ring bearing arranged between the respective impeller top or bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl top or bottom inside surface of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.

2. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the top or bottom wear-ring bearings comprises bottom wear-ring bearings; each bowl has a respective bowl bottom inside surface; each impeller has a respective impeller bottom outside surface; and each bottom wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl bottom inside surface of each bowl, and the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against a respective bottom wear-ring bearing.

3. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the top or bottom wear-ring bearings comprises top wear-ring bearings; each bowl has a respective bowl top inside surface; each impeller has a respective impeller top outside surface; and each top wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller top outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl top inside surface of each bowl, and the respective impeller top outside surface of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against a respective top wear-ring bearing.

4. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the wear-ring bearings comprises top and bottom wear-ring bearings; each bowl has respective bowl top and bottom inside surfaces; each impeller has respective impeller top and bottom outside surfaces; and each top and bottom wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller top and bottom outside surfaces of each impeller and the respective bowl top and bottom inside surfaces of each bowl, and the respective impeller top and bottom outside surfaces of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against the respective top and bottom wear-ring bearing.

5. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the non-galling bearing material is a non-metallic material, including Vesconsite.

6. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the respective impeller outside surface of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against a respective wear-ring bearing.

7. A vertical pump according to claim 3, wherein top and bottom wear-ring bearings are configured to expose a top side of at least one of the impellers to a low pressure side of preceding material being pumped through the stationary bowl assembly.

8. A vertical turbine pump according to claim 3, wherein the top wear-ring bearings are configured to isolate a top side of at least one of the impellers from pressure generated by the at least one of the impellers.

9. A vertical pump according to claim 4, wherein the top and bottom wear-ring bearings are configured to provide substantially reduced running clearances between the at least one impeller and the at least one bowl of the stationary bowl assembly.

10. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the vertical turbine pump comprises a suction bell configured to guide flow of the material being pumped into an eye of a bottom impeller.

11. A vertical pump according to claim 10, wherein the suction bell is made of a non-metallic material, including a non cast iron material.

12. A vertical pump according to claim 11, wherein the non-metallic material is plastic.

13. A vertical pump comprising: a stationary bowl assembly having bowls, each bowl having a respective bowl bottom inside surface; a rotating power transmission shaft configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly; impellers arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller bottom outside surface; and bottom wear-ring bearings, each bottom wear-ring bearing arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl bottom inside surface of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.

14. A vertical pump according to claim 6, wherein the non-galling bearing material is a non-metallic material, including Vesconsite.

15. A vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein the vertical turbine pump comprises top wear-ring bearings; each bowl has a respective bowl top inside surface; each impeller has a respective impeller top outside surface; and each top wear-ring bearing is arranged between the respective impeller top outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl top inside surface of each bowl, and the respective impeller top outside surface of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against a respective top wear-ring bearing.

16. A vertical turbine pump comprising: a stationary bowl assembly having at least one bowl with bowl top and bottom inside surfaces; a rotating power transmission shaft configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly; at least one impeller arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly, and having impeller top and bottom outside surfaces; and top and bottom wear-ring bearings arranged respectively between the impeller top and bottom outside surfaces of each impeller and the bowl top and bottom inside surfaces of each bowl, made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly.

17. A vertical turbine pump according to claim 16, wherein the non-galling bearing material is a non-metallic material, including Vesconsite.

18. A vertical turbine pump according to claim 16, wherein the impeller top and bottom outside surface of the at least one impeller are configured to rotate directly against the top and bottom wear-ring bearings.

19. A vertical turbine pump according to claim 16, wherein the stationary bowl assembly comprises multiple bowls; and the at least one impeller comprises multiple impellers arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft.

20. A vertical turbine pump according to claim 11, wherein the vertical turbine pump comprises a suction bell configured to guide flow of the material being pumped into an eye of a bottom impeller; and the suction bell is made of a non-metallic material, including a non cast iron material such as a plastic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0034] The drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale, includes the following Figures:

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a vertical turbine pump that is known in the art, e.g., having a bowl bearing above each impeller, a suction bearing below a bottom impeller in a suction bell/bowl of a stationary bowl assembly, and a suction bearing retainer coupling the suction bearing to the suction bell/bowl of the stationary bowl assembly.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a vertical turbine pump according to some embodiments of the present invention, having indications of removed material (e.g., the bowl bearing above each impeller like that shown in FIG. 1), of no suction bearing below the bottom impeller in the suction bell/bowl, and of no suction bearing retainer, by implementating of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the vertical turbine pump in FIG. 2 without showing the bowl bearing above each impeller that is removed in embodiments according to the present invention.

[0038] Similar parts or components in Figures are labeled with similar reference numerals and labels for consistency. Every lead line and associated reference label for every element is not included in every Figure of the drawing to reduce clutter in the drawing as a whole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] By way of example, and according to some embodiments, FIGS. 2 and 3 show a vertical pump according to the present invention and generally indicated as 10, featuring a stationary bowl assembly 20, a rotating power transmission shaft 30, impellers 40, bottom wear-ring bearings 50 and top wear-ring bearings 60.

[0040] The stationary bowl assembly 20 may include three bowls 22, a top member 23 and a lower suction bell 70, e.g., coupled together using fasteners, one of which is labeled 80. The present invention is not intended to be limited to the number of bowls in the stationary bowl assembly 20, e.g., which may include more than three bowls 22 or fewer than three bowls 22.

[0041] Each bowl 22 may include a respective bowl bottom inside surface 24 and a respective bowl top inside surface 26, e.g., designated and corresponding to impeller top and bottom outside surfaces described below. Each bowl 22 may include an inner circumferential rim 25 that protrudes inwardly perpendicular to the rotational axis A of the rotating power transmission shaft 30. The bowl top inside surface 26 is configured to extend circumferentially around the inner circumferential rim 25 inside the bowl 22. The respective bowl bottom inside surface 24 is configured on a corresponding bowl portion 27 of an adjacent lower bowl 22 or a corresponding bell portion 72 of the suction bell 70, e.g., consistent with that shown in FIG. 3.

[0042] The rotating power transmission shaft 30 is configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly 20 along the rotational axis A.

[0043] The impellers 40 may include three impellers 40 arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft 30 and configured in relation to the three bowls 22 to rotate and draw material through the stationary bowl assembly 20. Each impeller 40 may include a respective impeller bottom outside surface 42 and/or a respective impeller top outside surface 44, e.g., corresponding to the bowl bottom and top inside surfaces 24, 26 described above. Each impeller 40 has a respective impeller vane 41 configured to draw the material, and includes a respective impeller upper vane portion 43 and a respective impeller lower vane portion 45. The respective impeller top outside surface 44 is configured to extend circumferentially around the respective impeller upper vane portion 43, and the respective impeller bottom outside surface 42 is configured to extend circumferentially around the respective impeller lower vane portion 45, e.g., consistent with that shown in FIG. 3.

[0044] Each bottom wear-ring bearing 50 may be arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface 42 of each impeller 40 and the respective bowl bottom inside surface 24 of each bowl 22, may be made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft 30 in relation to the stationary bowl assembly 20. By way of example, each bottom wear-ring bearing 50 may be arranged, coupled or fastened to the respective bowl bottom inside surface 24 of each bowl 22, e.g., using adhesive, fasteners, etc. The respective impeller bottom outside surface 42 of each impeller 40 may be configured to rotate directly against the respective bottom wear-ring bearing 50.

[0045] Similarly, each top wear-ring bearing 60 may be arranged between the respective impeller top outside surface 44 of each impeller 40 and the respective bowl top inside surface 26 of each bowl 22, may be made from a corresponding non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft 30 in relation to the stationary bowl assembly 20. By way of example, each top wear-ring bearing 60 may be arranged, coupled or fastened to the respective bowl top inside surface 26 of each bowl 22. The respective impeller top outside surface 44 of each impeller 40 may be configured to rotate directly against the respective top wear-ring bearing 60.

[0046] By way of example, the scope of the invention is intended to include, and embodiments are envisioned, using bottom wear-ring bearings 50 alone, top wear-ring bearings 60 alone, and some combination of bottom and top wear-ring bearings 50, 60.

[0047] According to some embodiments, the top and bottom wear-ring bearings 50, 60 may be configured to expose a top side 46 of at least one of the impellers 40 to a low pressure side of preceding material being pumped through the stationary bowl assembly 20.

[0048] According to some embodiments, the top wear-ring bearings 60 may be configured to isolate the top side 46 of at least one of the impellers 40 from pressure generated by the at least one of the impellers 40.

[0049] According to some embodiments, the top and bottom wear-ring bearings 50, 60 may be configured to provide substantially reduced running clearances between the at least one impeller 40 and the at least one bowl 22 of the stationary bowl assembly 20.

The Suction Bell 70

[0050] The suction bell 70 may be configured to guide flow of the material being pumped into an eye of a bottom impeller 40. The suction bell 70 may be made of a non-metallic material, including a non cast iron material. The non-metallic material may be plastic.

Vesconite

[0051] By way of example, the non-galling bearing material may include a non-metallic material such as Vesconsite.

[0052] Vesconite is a specialized hard-wearing thermopolymer/thermoplastic made from internally lubricated polymers and designed for challenging operating conditions that is manufactured by a company having the name, Vesconite Bearings (see vesconite@vesconite.com), and that may provide up to 10 times the life of traditional bronze or nylon bushings. By combining its high load-bearing strength, internal lubrication, low friction coefficient and low wear rate, Vesconite does not require external lubrication, even in harsh, dry and dirty working environments.

Fastening of the Wear-Ring Bearings 50, 60

[0053] By way of further example, the scope of the invention is intended to include coupling or fastening the bottom wear-ring bearing 50 to the respective impeller bottom outside surface 42 of each impeller 40.

[0054] By way of further example, the scope of the invention is intended to include coupling or fastening the top wear-ring bearing 50 to the respective impeller top outside surface 44 of each impeller 40.

Possible Applications

[0055] The present invention can be used in all applications supported by the unmodified vertical turbine pump, but is particular advantage in cases where corrosion materials, higher product efficiency and low NPSHr is required. Some typical examples include, but are not limited to the following: [0056] Cooling towers [0057] Fire suppression [0058] Power Plants [0059] Process water [0060] Municipal water transport

The Scope of the Invention

[0061] The embodiments shown and described in detail herein are provided by way of example only; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations, dimensionalities, and/or design details of these parts or elements included herein. In other words, one skilled in the art would appreciate that design changes to these embodiments may be made and such that the resulting embodiments would be different than the embodiments disclosed herein, but would still be within the overall spirit of the present invention.

[0062] It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein.

[0063] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.