Bearingless turbine

Abstract

A vertical pump characterized by a fixed bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, an impeller and a bottom wear ring bearing. The fixed bowl assembly includes a bowl, each bowl having a corresponding bowl bottom inner surface. The rotating power transmission shaft is configured to extend through the fixed bowl assembly. The impeller is arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and pump material through the fixed bowl assembly, each impeller having a corresponding impeller bottom outer surface. Each bottom wear ring bearing is arranged between the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface of each bowl, each bottom wear ring bearing is made of a non-wear-prone bearing material and is configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft relative to the fixed bowl assembly.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 854,038, filed May 29, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a vertical pump; and more particularly to a vertical turbine pump. Background Art

[0004] Figure 1 A vertical turbine pump known in the prior art is shown. The pressure generating portion of a vertical turbine pump is often referred to as a bowl assembly and utilizes bearings of different materials (such as bronze) including, for example, a bowl bearing located above each impeller and a suction bearing located below the bottom impeller in the suction bell or suction bowl of the bowl assembly. Figure 1 In, the bowl bearing located above each impeller is arranged between the inner portion of each bowl of the bowl assembly and the power transmission shaft, and the suction bearing located below the bottom impeller is arranged between the suction bell or the suction bearing retainer of the suction bowl and the power transmission shaft. The primary function of these bearings is to maintain the power transmission shaft aligned with the centerline of the static pressure containment element. An additional function is to increase the resonant frequency of the bowl assembly to ensure that lateral vibrations of the power transmission shaft are not observed. In Figure 1 In, the vertical turbine pump includes a wear ring for each impeller, the wear ring being located between the impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller and the bowl bottom inner surface of each bowl. The wear ring is primarily used as a replaceable ablative wear surface between two elements that translate relative to each other, such as, for example, the case of a rotating impeller element and a fixed bowl element. The wear ring also allows for a reduction in circulation between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the rotating impeller, thereby improving the mechanical efficiency of the pump. This is achieved by reducing the running clearance between the rotating impeller and the fixed bowl, this reduction in area increases the pressure drop from the high pressure side to the low pressure side of the rotating impeller, and with the potential reduction, there is a corresponding reduction in undesirable recirculation flow.

[0005] Some disadvantages of the above devices:

[0006] The suction bearing and its corresponding suction bearing retainer are partially located in the suction bell / bowl of the pump, obscuring the bottom impeller eyelet and thereby increasing the ambient pressure of the surrounding fluid required to prevent cavitation of the pump. This increase in required suction pressure correspondingly increases the required submersion in open applications and increases the required suction line pressure in closed loop applications. Less obviously, the overall efficiency of the pump is reduced due to this increase in pump inlet losses.

[0007] Including a suction bearing retainer in the suction bell requires a certain degree of material strength compared to not having a suction bearing retainer. This increases product weight and cost.

[0008] The primary driver of vibration in a pump is the imbalance of the rotating impeller. By using bearings above and below the rotating impeller, the driving imbalance is equidistant between the two bearing supports. This configuration maximizes the deflection of the drive shaft when the most desired result is to minimize the deflection of the drive shaft.

[0009] Hydraulic thrust is generated by the difference in fluid pressure on the top side of the rotating impeller relative to the bottom side of the rotating impeller. This hydraulic thrust may cause the power transmission shaft to be oversized, thereby increasing strength in some applications, or reducing deflection (stretch) in other applications. Alternatively, a hydraulically balanced impeller may be used to reduce the effect of the pressure difference, but this can introduce undesirable flow recirculation, thereby reducing the hydraulic efficiency of the pump.

[0010] When using wear rings comprising materials susceptible to wear, special care must be taken. Although desirable for corrosion resistance reasons, these materials may cause premature pump failure if the clearance is not increased, thereby increasing undesirable recirculation and a corresponding loss of pump efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0011] Vertical pumps with top or bottom wear ring bearings

[0012] By way of example, and in accordance with some embodiments, the present invention may include or take the form of a vertical pump featuring a stationary bowl assembly, a rotating power drive shaft, an impeller, and top or bottom wear ring bearings.

[0013] The fixed bowl assembly may include bowls, each bowl having a respective bowl top or bottom inner surface.

[0014] The rotary power transmission shaft may be configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly.

[0015] Impellers may be disposed on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the fixed bowl assembly, each impeller having a corresponding impeller top or bottom outer surface.

[0016] Each top or bottom wear ring bearing can be arranged between the corresponding impeller top or bottom outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl top or bottom inner surface of each bowl, can be made of a non-wear-prone bearing material, and is configured to maintain the rotating power transmission shaft aligned relative to the fixed bowl assembly.

[0017] As a further example, the pump may also include one or more of the following features:

[0018] The top or bottom wear ring bearing may include a bottom wear ring bearing; each bowl may include a corresponding bowl bottom inner surface; each impeller may include a corresponding impeller bottom outer surface; each bottom wear ring bearing may be arranged between the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface of each bowl; and the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller may be configured to rotate directly against the corresponding bottom wear ring bearing.

[0019] The wear ring bearing may include a top wear ring bearing; each bowl may have a corresponding bowl top inner surface; each impeller may have a corresponding impeller top outer surface; each top wear ring bearing may be arranged between the corresponding impeller top outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl top inner surface of each bowl; and the corresponding impeller top outer surface of each impeller may be configured to rotate directly against the corresponding top wear ring bearing.

[0020] The wear ring bearing may include both top and bottom wear ring bearings; each bowl may include corresponding bowl top inner surface and bottom inner surface; each impeller may include corresponding impeller top outer surface and bottom outer surface; each top and bottom wear ring bearing may be arranged between the corresponding impeller top outer surface and bottom of each impeller and the corresponding bowl top inner surface and bottom inner surface of each bowl; and the corresponding impeller top outer surface and bottom outer surface of each impeller may be configured to rotate directly against the corresponding top and bottom wear ring bearings.

[0021] Non-wear bearing materials can be non-metallic materials, including

[0022] The top and bottom wear ring bearings may be configured to expose a top side of the at least one impeller to a low pressure side of the previous material being pumped through the stationary bowl assembly.

[0023] The top wear ring bearing may also be configured to isolate a top side of the at least one impeller from pressure generated by the at least one impeller.

[0024] The top and bottom wear ring bearings may be configured to provide a substantially reduced running clearance between the at least one impeller and the at least one bowl of the stationary bowl assembly.

[0025] The vertical turbine pump may include a suction bell configured to direct the flow of material being pumped into the bottom impeller eye.

[0026] The suction bell may be made of non-metallic materials, including non-cast iron materials. The non-metallic material may be plastic.

[0027] Vertical pump with bottom wear ring bearing

[0028] As a further example, and in accordance with some embodiments, the present invention may include or take the form of a vertical pump, characterized by a fixed bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, an impeller, and a bottom wear ring bearing. The fixed bowl assembly includes a bowl, each bowl having a corresponding bowl bottom inner surface. The rotating power transmission shaft can be configured to extend through the fixed bowl assembly. The impeller can be arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and pump material through the fixed bowl assembly, each impeller having a corresponding impeller bottom outer surface. Each bottom wear ring bearing can be arranged between the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface of each bowl, can be made of a non-wear-prone bearing material, and is configured to maintain the rotation The power transmission shaft is aligned relative to the fixed bowl assembly.

[0029] Vertical pump with top wear ring bearing

[0030] As a further example, and in accordance with some embodiments, the present invention may include or take the form of a vertical pump, characterized by a fixed bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, an impeller, and a top wear ring bearing. The fixed bowl assembly includes a bowl, each bowl having a corresponding bowl top inner surface. The rotating power transmission shaft can be configured to extend through the fixed bowl assembly. The impeller can be arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and pump material through the fixed bowl assembly, each impeller having a corresponding impeller top outer surface. Each top wear ring bearing can be arranged between the corresponding impeller top outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl top inner surface of each bowl, made of a non-wear-prone bearing material, and configured to maintain the rotation The power transmission shaft is aligned relative to the fixed bowl assembly.

[0031] Vertical pump with top and bottom wear ring bearings

[0032] As a further example, and in accordance with some embodiments, the present invention may include or take the form of a vertical turbine pump, characterized by a fixed bowl assembly, a rotating power transmission shaft, at least one impeller, and top and bottom wear ring bearings. The fixed bowl assembly may include at least one bowl having a bowl top and bottom inner surface. The rotating power transmission shaft may be configured to extend through the fixed bowl assembly. At least one impeller may be arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and pump material through the fixed bowl assembly and have an impeller top and bottom outer surface. The top and bottom wear ring bearings may be arranged between the impeller top and bottom outer surfaces of each impeller and the bowl top and bottom inner surfaces of each bowl, respectively, may be made of a non-wear-prone bearing material, and are configured to keep the rotating power transmission shaft aligned relative to the fixed bowl assembly.

[0033] A vertical turbine pump may include one or more of the features described above, including, for example, where the stationary bowl assembly includes a plurality of bowls and the at least one impeller includes a plurality of impellers disposed on a rotating power transmission shaft.

[0034] advantage

[0035] By transferring all functions of the suction bearing to the bottom wear ring / bearing, all of its associated retainer structure can be removed from the stationary bowl assembly. This removes all obstructions from the inlet to the eyelet of the bottom impeller. Eliminating the obstruction ultimately minimizes the required pressure in the ambient fluid for open-air applications or in the suction line for closed-loop applications. This directly translates into a reduction in the required Net Positive Suction Head (NPSHr). Additionally, with minimized inlet losses, the overall efficiency of the pump is improved.

[0036] Since the suction bell no longer has to serve as a support for the loads associated with the suction bearing retainer, its only remaining function is to direct the flow into the eye of the bottom impeller. This function can be performed with a lower strength material (such as plastic), thereby reducing the weight and cost of traditional cast iron construction.

[0037] The upper and lower wear rings are each made of a non-wear bearing material such as ) makes it possible to combine all the functions of the bearing in the wear ring. Since the impeller now rotates directly against the effective bearing of the pump, instead of being suspended between two bearing supports as in other works of the prior art, the deflections in the power transmission shaft are eliminated and the corresponding vibrations are significantly reduced.

[0038] The bowl bearing relocation acts on the wear ring and the associated bearing retainer material now exposing the top of the impeller to the low pressure side of the previous material. Additionally, the presence of the top wear ring now isolates the top of the impeller from the pressure generated by the impeller. This reduces the hydraulic load on the impeller, and therefore reduces the load on the shaft, and the corresponding shaft deflection (stretch).

[0039] Now, with the use of special corrosion resistant materials subject to wear, the inclusion of upper and lower wear rings eliminates the need to increase running clearances. This further reduces field wear issues and also improves product hydraulic efficiency as opposed to the observed reduction in hydraulic efficiency associated with previous methods of increasing running clearances of wear-prone parts.

[0040] The inclusion of the present invention does not change the way the product operates. On the contrary, by removing the suction bearing and its associated housing, and removing the now redundant bowl bearing and associated retainer, the operating efficiency and NPSHr of the pump are improved. The inclusion of non-metallic wear rings eliminates wear in harsh environments, and the operating life of the pump is extended as product vibration is reduced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, include the following:

[0042] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a vertical turbine pump known in the art is shown, for example, having a bowl bearing above each impeller, a suction bearing below the bottom impeller in the suction bell / bowl of the stationary bowl assembly, and a suction bearing retainer coupling the suction bearing to the suction bell / bowl of the stationary bowl assembly.

[0043] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a vertical turbine pump according to some embodiments of the present invention is shown, with indications of material removed by implementing the present invention (e.g., Figure 1 bowl bearings above each impeller shown), an indication of no suction bearings below the bottom impeller in the suction bell / bowl, and an indication of no suction bearing retainer.

[0044] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 0026] A cross-sectional view of a vertical turbine pump of FIG. 1, not showing the bowl bearings above each impeller which are removed in an embodiment according to the invention.

[0045] For consistency, similar parts or components in the figures are labeled with similar reference numbers and labels. Every wire of every component and its related reference number are not included in every figure of the drawings to reduce overall clutter of the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] As an example, and according to some embodiments, Figure 2 and Figure 3 A vertical pump according to the present invention is shown, generally designated 10 , and is characterized by a stationary bowl assembly 20 , a rotating power transmission shaft 30 , an impeller 40 , a bottom wear ring bearing 50 , and a top wear ring bearing 60 .

[0047] The fixed bowl assembly 20 may include, for example, three bowls 22 coupled together with fasteners (one of which is labeled 80), a top member 23, and a lower suction bell 70. The present invention is not limited to the number of bowls in the fixed bowl assembly 20, for example, the fixed bowl assembly 20 may include more than three bowls 22 or less than three bowls 22.

[0048] Each bowl 22 may include a corresponding bowl bottom inner surface 24 and a corresponding bowl top inner surface 26, for example designated and corresponding to the impeller top and bottom outer surfaces described below. Each bowl 22 may include an inner circumferential rim 25 that projects inwardly perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the rotating power transmission shaft 30. The bowl top inner surface 26 is configured to extend circumferentially around the inner circumferential rim 25 within the bowl 22. The corresponding bowl bottom inner surface 24 is configured on the corresponding bowl portion 27 of the adjacent lower bowl 22 or on the corresponding bell portion 72 of the suction bell 70, for example with Figure 3 The same as shown.

[0049] The rotary power transmission shaft 30 is configured to extend along the rotation axis A through the stationary bowl assembly 20 .

[0050] The impeller 40 may include three impellers 40, which are arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft 30 and are configured to rotate relative to the three bowls 22 and to draw material through the fixed bowl assembly 20. Each impeller 40 may include a corresponding impeller bottom outer surface 42 and / or a corresponding impeller top outer surface 44, for example corresponding to the above-mentioned bowl bottom and top inner surfaces 24, 26. Each impeller 40 has a corresponding impeller blade 41, which is configured to draw material, and each impeller 40 includes a corresponding impeller upper blade portion 43 and a corresponding impeller lower blade portion 45. The corresponding impeller top outer surface 44 is configured to extend circumferentially around the corresponding impeller upper blade portion 43, and the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface 42 is configured to extend circumferentially around the corresponding impeller lower blade portion 45, for example Figure 3 The same as shown.

[0051] Each bottom wear ring bearing 50 may be disposed between the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface 42 of each impeller 40 and the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface 24 of each bowl 22, each bottom wear ring bearing 50 may be made of a non-wear-prone bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft 30 relative to the fixed bowl assembly 20. For example, each bottom wear ring bearing 50 may be disposed, coupled or fastened to the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface 24 of each bowl 22, for example using adhesives, fasteners, etc. The corresponding impeller bottom outer surface 42 of each impeller 40 may be configured to rotate directly against the corresponding bottom wear ring bearing 50.

[0052] Similarly, each top wear ring bearing 60 can be disposed between the corresponding impeller top outer surface 44 of each impeller 40 and the corresponding bowl top inner surface 26 of each bowl 22, each top wear ring bearing 60 can be made of a corresponding non-wear-prone bearing material, and is configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft 30 relative to the fixed bowl assembly 20. As an example, each top wear ring bearing 60 can be disposed, coupled or fastened to the corresponding bowl top inner surface 26 of each bowl 22. The corresponding impeller top outer surface 44 of each impeller 40 can be configured to rotate directly against the corresponding top wear ring bearing 60.

[0053] As examples, the scope of the present invention is intended to include and contemplates embodiments that utilize only the bottom wear ring bearing 50 , only the top wear ring bearing 60 , and certain combinations of bottom and top wear ring bearings 50 , 60 .

[0054] According to some embodiments, the top and bottom wear ring bearings 50 , 60 may be configured to expose the top side 46 of the at least one impeller 40 to the low pressure side of the previous material being pumped through the stationary bowl assembly 20 .

[0055] According to some embodiments, the top wear ring bearing 60 may be configured to isolate the top side 46 of the at least one impeller 40 from pressure generated by the at least one impeller 40 .

[0056] According to some embodiments, the top and bottom wear ring bearings 50 , 60 may be configured to provide a substantially reduced running clearance between the at least one impeller 40 and the at least one bowl 22 of the stationary bowl assembly 20 .

[0057] Suction bell 70

[0058] The suction bell 70 may be configured to direct the flow of material pumped into the eyelet of the 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 a plastic.

[0059]

[0060] As an example, non-wear bearing materials may include non-metallic materials such as

[0061] A specialized wear-resistant thermopolymer / thermoplastic made of an internally lubricated polymer manufactured by Vesconite Bearings (see vesconite@vesconite.com) that is designed for challenging operating conditions and can provide up to 10 times the life of traditional bronze or nylon bushings. By combining its high load-bearing strength, internal lubrication, low coefficient of friction and low wear rate, No external lubrication is required, even in harsh, dry and dirty working environments.

[0062] Fastening of wear-resistant ring bearings 50 and 60

[0063] As a further example, the scope of the present invention is intended to include coupling or securing a bottom wear ring bearing 50 to the respective impeller bottom outer surface 42 of each impeller 40 .

[0064] As a further example, the scope of the present invention is intended to include coupling or securing a top wear ring bearing 50 to the respective impeller top outer surface 44 of each impeller 40 .

[0065] Possible applications:

[0066] The present invention can be used in all applications supported by unmodified vertical turbine pumps, but is particularly advantageous where corrosion resistant materials, high product efficiency and low NPSHr are required. Some typical examples include, but are not limited to:

[0067] Cooling tower

[0068] Fire extinguishing

[0069] ·power plant

[0070] Process water

[0071] ·Tap water delivery

[0072] Scope of the Invention

[0073] The embodiments shown and described in detail herein are provided by way of example only; and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific configuration, dimensions and / or design details of these parts or elements contained herein. In other words, those skilled in the art will understand that design changes can be made to these embodiments and make the resulting embodiments different from the embodiments disclosed herein, but still fall within the overall spirit of the present invention.

[0074] It should be understood that any features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described with respect to a specific embodiment herein may also be applied, used or combined with any other embodiment described herein, unless otherwise stated herein.

[0075] While the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference 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.

Claims

1. A vertical pump having a top end and a bottom end, the top end having a top member, the bottom end having a suction bell, the vertical pump comprising: a fixed bowl assembly having a bowl disposed between the top member and the suction bell, each bowl having a respective bowl top inner surface and a bowl bottom inner surface, each bowl further having a respective bowl bearing portion having a respective top opening and a respective bottom opening but without a respective bowl bearing disposed therein; a rotary power transmission shaft configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly and through a respective top opening and a respective bottom opening of a respective bowl bearing portion of each bowl; impellers disposed on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the bowl of the fixed bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller top portion and also having a respective impeller bottom portion, the respective impeller top portion having a respective impeller top outer surface and the respective impeller bottom portion having a respective impeller bottom outer surface; as well as A top or bottom wear ring bearing, each top wear ring bearing is arranged between the corresponding impeller top outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl top inner surface of each bowl and is configured to isolate the corresponding impeller top portion from the pressure generated by each impeller, each bottom wear ring bearing is arranged between the corresponding impeller bottom outer surface of each impeller and the corresponding bowl bottom inner surface of each bowl, and each top or bottom wear ring bearing is made of a non-wear-prone bearing material and is configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft relative to the fixed bowl assembly, and the top or bottom wear ring bearings are also combined to eliminate the need for any corresponding bowl bearings in the bowl bearing portion of each bowl between the top member and the suction bell and any bottom suction bearing in the suction bell.

2. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The non-wear bearing material is a non-metallic material including a thermopolymer.

3. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The non-wear bearing material is a non-metallic material, including thermoplastics.

4. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The respective impeller outer surface of each impeller is configured to rotate directly against a respective wear ring bearing.

5. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The top wear ring bearing is configured to expose a top side of at least one of the impellers to a low pressure side of previous material being pumped through the stationary bowl assembly.

6. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The top and bottom wear ring bearings are configured to provide substantially reduced running clearances between the impeller and the bowl of the stationary bowl assembly.

7. The vertical pump according to claim 1, wherein: The vertical pump includes a suction bell configured to direct the flow of material pumped into the bottom impeller eye.

8. The vertical pump according to claim 7, wherein: The suction bell is made of non-metallic material, including non-cast iron material.

9. The vertical pump according to claim 8, wherein: The non-metallic material is plastic.

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