US 12,006,946 B2
Process fluid lubricated pump and pumping system
Karel De Raeve, Winterthur (CH); and Thomas Welschinger, Radolfzell (DE)
Assigned to SULZER MANAGEMENT AG, Winterthur (CH)
Filed by Sulzer Management AG, Winterthur (CH)
Filed on Nov. 9, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/454,072.
Claims priority of application No. 20212543 (EP), filed on Dec. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0178381 A1, Jun. 9, 2022
Int. Cl. F04D 29/06 (2006.01); F04D 1/08 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01); F04D 29/041 (2006.01); F04D 29/047 (2006.01); F16C 17/02 (2006.01); F16C 17/08 (2006.01); F16C 17/14 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/061 (2013.01) [F04D 1/08 (2013.01); F04D 13/086 (2013.01); F04D 29/0413 (2013.01); F04D 29/0416 (2013.01); F04D 29/0473 (2013.01); F16C 17/02 (2013.01); F16C 17/08 (2013.01); F16C 17/14 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process fluid lubricated pump for conveying a process fluid, comprising:
a pump housing with an inlet configured to receive the process fluid having a suction pressure, and an outlet configured to discharge the process fluid having a discharge pressure;
a pump shaft extending from a drive end to a non-drive end of the pump shaft and configured to rotate about an axial direction, the drive end of the pump shaft arranged outside the pump housing;
a hydraulic unit with a plurality of impellers fixedly mounted on the pump shaft;
a collection chamber configured to be at ambient pressure and to collect leaking process fluid, the collection chamber comprising a shaft exit, through which the pump shaft passes from the inside to the outside of the pump housing, and a fluid exit configured to discharge the process fluid from the collection chamber,
the pump being a seal-less pump without a mechanical seal, and a throttle device arranged with respect to the axial direction between the hydraulic unit and the collection chamber, the throttle device comprising a stationary throttle part having a first axial face and a second axial face delimiting the stationary throttle part with respect to the axial direction, the first axial face facing the collection chamber, and the throttle device comprising a throttle gap surrounding the pump shaft and extending from the first axial face to the second axial face to enable a leakage of the process fluid along the pump shaft into the collection chamber.