Abstract: A centrifugal separator and pitot pump has a rotatable hollow casing for separating contaminants such as suspended solids from an inlet fluid delivered to the interior of the casing. Inside the casing a stationary inner pitot tube has an outlet opening relatively nearer the rotational axis of the casing, and a separate rotatable outer pitot tube has an outlet opening relatively nearer the periphery of the casing. The outer pitot tube is rotated in the same direction of rotation as the casing, but at a slower speed, and the rotating casing forces separated solids outwardly toward the periphery of the casing where the solids are withdrawn in a fluid carrier through the outer pitot tube. Rotation of the outer pitot tube greatly reduces particle erosion of the tube caused by impingement of abrasive solid particulate material when compared with erosion produced on a fixed pitot tube. Clean fluid is withdrawn from an intermediate region of the casing through the stationary inner pitot tube.

Abstract: A centrifugal separator and pitot pump has a rotor driven in rotation within a casing with fluid to be cleansed of solid material entering a separation chamber of the rotor. Under a rotor imposed, centrifugal force field, solids in the fluid separate from the fluid and exit in a liquid carrier through a pitot tap close to the outer radial rotor wall. Radially interiorly of this tap, a pitot pickup intercepts cleansed production fluid and exits that fluid from the rotor. A head of a scoop of the pitot tap has an inlet in a blunt leading face and a top at the maximum radial limit of the scoop that is relieved from the leading face of the scoop to a trailing end. An inlet passage from the inlet generally parallels the line of the relief. In profile, the leading face of a scoop neck below the head curves in relief from the inlet face to a scoop base and has a relatively large radius of curvature.

Abstract: A high-speed pitot pump has a system for self-cooling the lubricant for the bearings supporting the rotatable casing of the pump. The lubricant is contained in a reservoir which is continuously cooled during operation of the pump. The pump has a rotatable casing cantilevered on a shaft in the pump housing. The lubricant cooling system includes blower means which rotate with the casing to draw cool air into the housing and force it through a discharge opening which directs the flow of cool air toward a heat exchanger, preferably a series of cooling fins projecting from an exterior wall of the reservoir.