Non-Metallic Vertical Turbine Pump

Abstract

A turbine pump and a method of manufacturing same are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, the turbine pump can include a casing with a diffuser including a diffuser hub and diffuser vanes that project out from the diffuser hub, and an impeller configured to rotatably fit inside the casing, having an impeller hub, impeller vanes, extending from the hub, and a front and a back shroud connected to opposing ends of the impeller vanes. At least one of the impeller and the diffuser can be made of a nonmetallic material and is a singular homogenous component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a casing defining an inner surface;   a diffuser comprising a diffuser hub that is spaced from the inner surface of the casing, the diffuser further comprising a plurality of diffuser vanes that project out from the diffuser hub towards the inner surface of the casing and are twisted so as to define a surface that is curved in a direction that includes a directional component in both the longitudinal direction and a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and   an impeller configured to rotatably fit inside the casing, the impeller having an impeller hub and impeller vanes extending from the hub along a direction that includes directional components in both the longitudinal direction and a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction,   wherein the diffuser hub and the diffuser vanes are made of a non-metallic material that is a singular monolithic component formed in a singular mold cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising: a motor, and a drive shaft rotatably coupled to the motor such that rotation of the motor causes the drive shaft to rotate. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2  wherein the pump includes a discharge head including a discharge column, an elbow and a stuffing box holder that extends into the elbow at a joint; and a second non-metallic material that is fiberglass reinforced and that covers the joint. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller comprises a front shroud and a back shroud connected to opposed ends of the impeller vanes. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 4 , wherein the singular mold cavity is a first singular mold cavity and the impeller hub, impeller vanes, and front and back shrouds are made of a fiberglass reinforced singular monolithic component formed in a second singular mold cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a fiberglass reinforced material. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 6 , wherein the fiberglass is oriented so as to bond to the non-metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the non-metallic material comprises a resin. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 8 , wherein the resin comprises vinyl-ester or epoxy. 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser vanes extend from the diffuser hub to respective tips that are made of the nonmetallic material that is fiberglass reinforced and the tips are integral with the casing. 
     
     
         11 . An impeller for a pump, comprising:
 an impeller hub configured to rotate about an axis of rotation;   a plurality of impeller vanes extending out from the hub, each of the impeller vanes twisted so as to be curved about an axis that is defined by a first directional component and a second directional component, wherein the first directional component is defined by the axis of rotation and the second directional component is defined by a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and   wherein the impeller vanes and the hub are integral with each other so as to define a singular monolithic component formed in a singular mold cavity, and made of a resin and reinforcing fibers.   
     
     
         12 . The impeller of  claim 11 , wherein the impeller vanes are mixed flow impeller vanes. 
     
     
         13 . The impeller of  claim 11 , wherein the fibers are oriented so as to bond to the resin. 
     
     
         14 . The impeller of  claim 11 , wherein the resin comprises vinyl-ester or epoxy. 
     
     
         15 . A pump component, comprising:
 a diffuser hub; and   a casing having an inner surface that is spaced radially out from the diffuser hub;   a plurality of diffuser vanes that project out from the diffuser hub towards the inner surface of the casing, each of the diffuser vanes twisted so as to be curved about an axis that is defined by a first directional component and a second directional component that is substantially perpendicular to the first directional component,   wherein the diffuser hub and the diffuser vanes, in combination, are made of a singular monolithic component made of resin and reinforcing fibers formed in a singular mold cavity.   
     
     
         16 . The pump component of  claim 15 , wherein the fibers are oriented so as to bond to the resin. 
     
     
         17 . The pump component of  claim 15 , wherein the resin comprises vinyl-ester or epoxy. 
     
     
         18 . The pump component of  claim 15 , wherein the diffuser vanes extend from the diffuser hub to respective tips that are made of the resin and reinforcing fibers and the tips are integral with the casing. 
     
     
         19 . The pump component of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of diffuser vanes are mixed flow diffuser vanes. 
     
     
         20 . The pump component of  claim 15 , wherein the fibers are oriented so as to bond to the resin.