Centrifugal pump

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure include a centrifugal pump assembly including a pump housing defining a cavity and an impeller disposed within the cavity, the impeller being affixed to a shaft. The pump housing includes an inner surface having a geometric pattern configured in increase a turbulence of a fluid flow over the inner surface. The impeller includes one or more blades and a shroud. The inner surface of the pump housing and the shroud of the impeller define a leakage path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An centrifugal pump assembly comprising:
 a pump housing defining a cavity, wherein the pump housing comprises an interior surface having a geometric pattern configured in increase a turbulence of a fluid flow over the inner surface;   an impeller disposed in the cavity, wherein the impeller comprises one or more blades and a shroud; and   a shaft affixed to the impeller;   wherein the interior surface of the pump housing and the shroud of the impeller define a leakage path.   
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a series of concentric ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a series of concentric labyrinth rings. 
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a plurality of protrusions that project towards the shroud. 
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of protrusions have a hemi-spherical shape, a pyramid shape, or a conical shape. 
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the geometric pattern is configured to maximize a turbulence of a fluid flow in the leakage path, wherein an increase in the turbulence of the fluid flow in the leakage path results in a reduction of a volume of the fluid flow. 
     
     
         7 . An centrifugal pump assembly comprising:
 a pump housing defining a cavity, wherein the pump housing comprises an interior surface;   an impeller disposed in the cavity, wherein the impeller comprises one or more blades and a shroud;   a shaft affixed to the impeller;   wherein the interior surface of the pump housing and an exterior surface of the shroud of the impeller define a leakage path; and   wherein at least one of the interior surface of the pump housing and the exterior surface of the shroud include a geometric pattern configured to maximize a turbulence of a fluid flow in the leakage path, wherein an increase in the turbulence of the fluid flow in the leakage path results in a reduction of a volume of the fluid flow.   
     
     
         8 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a series of concentric ribs. 
     
     
         9 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a series of concentric labyrinth rings. 
     
     
         10 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the geometric pattern includes a plurality of protrusions that project towards the shroud. 
     
     
         11 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pump housing is formed by casting aluminum and the geometric pattern is formed during the casting process. 
     
     
         12 . The centrifugal pump assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pump housing is formed by casting aluminum and the geometric pattern is formed by machining the pump housing.