Turbine pumps

Abstract

Embodiments of pumps are disclosed along with systems and methods relating thereto. In an embodiment, the pump includes a casing assembly that includes a central axis, an upstream connector that is configured to engage with a first connector on a fluid line, and a downstream connector that is configured to engage with a second connector on the fluid line. In addition, the pump includes an impeller rotatably disposed within the casing assembly. Further, the pump includes a driver assembly coupled to the casing assembly and annularly disposed about the impeller. The driver assembly is configured to rotate the impeller about the central axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump comprising:
 a casing assembly, wherein the casing assembly includes a central axis and comprises:
 an upstream connector that is configured to engage with a first connector on a fluid line; and 
 a downstream connector that is configured to engage with a second connector on the fluid line; 
   an impeller rotatably disposed within the casing assembly; and   a driver assembly coupled to the casing assembly and annularly disposed about the impeller; wherein the driver assembly is configured to rotate the impeller about the central axis.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller comprises an outer housing, a central hub, and a plurality of vanes engaged with and extending between the central hub and the outer housing. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the outer housing, the central hub, and the plurality of vanes of the impeller are formed as a monolithic member. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 3 , wherein the impeller comprises fiberglass. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the outer housing is cylindrical in shape and includes a radially inner cylindrical surface and a radially outer cylindrical surface, and wherein each of the plurality of vanes is engaged with the radially inner cylindrical surface. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the casing assembly comprises a suction casing and a discharge casing, wherein the suction casing comprises a throughhore that is flush with the radially inner cylindrical surface of the outer housing of the impeller. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 5 , wherein the central hub includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the first end of the central hub includes a hemispherical surface. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 5 , comprising a plurality of magnets coupled to the radially outer cylindrical surface of the outer housing of the impeller, wherein the driver assembly is configured to induce a varying magnetic field to rotate the impeller and the plurality of magnets about the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermal transfer assembly comprising:
 a body annularly disposed about the driver assembly; and   a cooling coil disposed about the body, wherein the cooling coil comprises an elongate tube that is configured to receive a flow of cooling fluid therethrough.   
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9 , wherein the casing assembly comprises a suction casing and a discharge casing, wherein the body of the thermal transfer assembly is disposed axially between the suction casing and the discharge casing. 
     
     
         11 . A system, comprising:
 a first pipe section;   a second pipe section; and   a pump mounted between the first pipe section and the second pipe section, wherein the pump comprises:
 a casing assembly including a central axis; 
 an impeller rotatably disposed within the casing assembly; and 
 a driver assembly coupled to the casing assembly and annularly disposed about the impeller; wherein the driver assembly is configured to rotate the impeller about the central axis to pump fluid from the first pipe section to the second pipe section. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the impeller comprises:
 a cylindrical outer housing;   a central hub disposed within the outer housing; and   a plurality of impeller vanes engaged with and extending between the central hub and the outer housing.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a diffuser disposed within the casing assembly, axially adjacent the impeller, wherein the diffuser is configured to straighten a flow of fluid flowing from the impeller; and   wherein the diffuser comprises:
 a cylindrical outer housing; 
 a central hub disposed within the outer housing of the diffuser; and 
 a plurality of diffuser vanes engaged with and extending between the central hub of the diffuser and the outer housing of the diffuser. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a thermal transfer assembly comprising:
 a body mounted to the casing assembly and disposed annularly about the driver assembly; and   a cooling coil disposed about the body, wherein the cooling coil comprises an elongate tube that is configured to receive a flow of cooling fluid therethrough.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cooling coil is fluidly coupled to the first pipe section and the second pipe section. 
     
     
         16 . A method of pumping a fluid through a fluid line, the method comprising:
 mounting a pump between a pair of pipe sections of the fluid line, wherein the pump comprises:
 a casing assembly including a central axis; 
 an impeller rotatably disposed within the casing assembly; and 
 a driver assembly coupled to the casing assembly and annularly disposed about the impeller; 
   rotating the impeller about the central axis with the driver assembly; and   flowing a fluid through the pair of pipe sections and the pump while rotating the impeller   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 straightening a flow of the fluid with a diffuser disposed axially adjacent the impeller   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the impeller comprises:
 inducing a varying magnetic field with the driver assembly; and   attracting a plurality of magnets with the varying magnetic field.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 flowing a cooling fluid through a coil that is wrapped about a body of a thermal transfer assembly, wherein the body is mounted to the casing assembly and is disposed annularly about the driver assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein flowing the cooling fluid through the coil comprises:
 flowing a stream of fluid from a downstream section of the pair of pipe sections to the coil; and   flowing the stream of fluid through the coil after; and   flowing the stream of fluid from the coil to an upstream section of the pair of pipe section after flowing the stream through the coil.