Pump assembly

Abstract

The present embodiments relate to a pump assembly comprising a pump which in turn comprises a low side and a high side. The pump assembly comprises a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with the low side and the pump assembly is adapted to provide a first operation condition in which first operation condition fluid is transported in the first inlet conduit towards the low side at a first flow rate. The pump assembly is further adapted to provide a second operation condition in which second operation condition fluid is transported in the first inlet conduit towards the low side at a second flow rate, wherein the first flow rate is lower than the second flow rate.

1 ) A pump assembly comprising a pump which in turn comprises a low side and a high side, said pump assembly comprising a first inlet conduit in fluid communication with said low side, said pump assembly being adapted to provide a first operation condition in which first operation condition fluid is transported in said first inlet conduit towards said low side at a first flow rate, said pump assembly further being adapted to provide a second operation condition in which second operation condition fluid is transported in said first inlet conduit towards said low side at a second flow rate, wherein said first flow rate is lower than said second flow rate characterized in that said pump assembly further comprises a recirculation conduit assembly adapted to provide a fluid transport from said high side to said low side during at least said first operation condition. 
   
   
       2 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said recirculation conduit assembly comprises a separator, preferably a cyclone separator. 
   
   
       3 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said recirculation conduit assembly comprises an ejector which in turn comprises a motive fluid inlet, an entrained suction fluid inlet and an ejector outlet, wherein said recirculation conduit assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between said high side and said motive fluid inlet during at least a part of said first operating condition. 
   
   
       4 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said pump assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between said first inlet conduit assembly and said entrained suction fluid inlet during at least a part of said first operating condition. 
   
   
       5 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said pump assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between said ejector outlet and said low side during at least a part of said first operating condition. 
   
   
       6 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said pump assembly further comprises a coupling arrangement comprising an inner conduit and an outer conduit wherein both said inner conduit and said outer conduit are in fluid communication with said low side, said outer conduit substantially enclosing said inner conduit, said first inlet conduit assembly being in fluid communication with said outer conduit and said ejector outlet being in fluid communication with said inner conduit. 
   
   
       7 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said inner conduit has an inner conduit inlet and an inner conduit outlet, wherein said outer conduit comprises a tapered portion at the location of said inner conduit outlet. 
   
   
       8 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said pump assembly further comprises a second inlet conduit assembly, wherein said pump assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between said second inlet conduit assembly and said low side during at least a part of said first operating condition. 
   
   
       9 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein said pump assembly is adapted to provide a fluid communication between said second inlet conduit assembly and said entrained suction fluid inlet. 
   
   
       10 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first inlet conduit assembly comprises an inlet separator, said inlet separator being adapted to be in fluid communication with said ballast tank as well as said low side. 
   
   
       11 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said pump assembly further comprises an outlet conduit assembly which is adapted to be in fluid communication with said inlet separator. 
   
   
       12 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said outlet conduit assembly further comprises a priming ejector comprising a priming ejector motive fluid inlet, a priming ejector entrained suction fluid inlet and a priming ejector outlet, said priming ejector entrained suction fluid inlet being adapted to be in fluid communication with said inlet separator. 
   
   
       13 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said priming motive fluid inlet is adapted to be in fluid communication with said high side. 
   
   
       14 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein said pump assembly further comprises a restoring conduit assembly comprising a restoring separator and a liquid seal, wherein said liquid seal is in fluid communication with said inlet separator and said restoring separator, said priming ejector outlet being in fluid communication with said restoring separator. 
   
   
       15 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said pump assembly further comprises a cut-off conduit assembly providing a fluid communication between said liquid seal and said outlet conduit assembly. 
   
   
       16 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said restoring conduit further comprises an outlet conduit providing a fluid communication between said separator and the environment ambient of said pump assembly. 
   
   
       17 ) The pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said first inlet conduit is located at a first elevation, said low side being located at an elevation below said first elevation. 
   
   
       18 ) A method for transporting fluid from first inlet conduit assembly of a pump assembly to a first outlet conduit assembly of said pump assembly, said pump assembly further comprising a pump which in turn comprises a low side and a high side, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a fluid communication between said first inlet conduit assembly and said low side;   providing a fluid communication between said high side and said first outlet conduit assembly; and   providing that said pump is in an operating condition such that fluid is pumped from said low side to said high side.   
   
   
       19 ) The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of:
 determining a quality measure indicative of at least one property of said fluid pumped through said pump;   comparing said quality measure with a predetermined interval, and   if said quality measure falls within said predetermined interval, conveying at least a portion of said fluid at said high side back to said low side when said pump is in said operating condition.   
   
   
       20 ) The method according to  claim 19 , wherein said step of determining said quality measure comprises a step of determining the amount of gas (AC) in an inlet separator.