Abstract: A pump arrangement, in particular a magnetic clutch pump arrangement, is provided. The pump arrangement includes a pump housing containing an impeller shaft, an impeller, a casing cover adjacent to the impeller and supporting a plain bearing arrangement. The pump arrangement also includes a containment shell which seals an enclosed chamber within the inner chamber of the pump housing. The plain bearing arrangement includes first and second bearing sleeves connected to the impeller shaft, a first bearing bush which cooperates with the first bearing sleeve via a radial bearing surface and is connected to the pump housing or to a component secured to the pump housing a second bearing bush which cooperates with the second bearing sleeve via a radial bearing surface and is connected to the pump housing or to a component secured to the pump housing, and a retainer ring mounted between the first and second bearing sleeves.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for starting a variable-speed electric motor, wherein upon detection of locking of the motor shaft a positive torque is applied to the motor shaft, and wherein the positive torque is continuously modified with different frequencies to overcome the locking.

Abstract: A rotor for a reluctance machine is provided. The rotor includes a cylindrical soft-magnetic element having cutouts for forming magnetic flux barriers. Some or all of the flux barriers are divided by one or more webs, with the profile of the individual webs forming a closed line which divides the rotor in the radial direction into an inner and an outer region. The cut-outs may be partially or fully filled with a a paramagnetic or diamagnetic filler material.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a synchronous reluctance electric machine wherein the machine has no speed and/or residual magnetization voltage sensor and includes power terminals and rotating masses whose mechanical rotation frequency is subjected to speed transients caused by power cut-off conditions. The method includes at least one step of applying a control voltage with predetermined amplitude and duration to the terminals after the transients, and one step of detecting the electric current induced by the control voltage, the current induced by the voltage having a harmonic spectrum variable according to the frequency differential between the frequency of the control voltage and the mechanical rotation frequency of the rotating masses, to restore power and synchronous rotation control of the machine.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting deposits (9) on walls (2) that are covered by a medium, in which as sensor (1) is integrated in the wall (2). A component (3) of the sensor (1) locally heats the medium in a region (4), and the temperature of the medium around the component (3) is detected. The sensor (1) relays temperature measurement signals to an analysis unit (8), where the degree of deposit formation is determined, e.g., by comparison with stored reference data.

Abstract: In a method or system for controlling a process fluid stream within an industrial process plant, a pump is provided in series with a control valve having an associated positioner to control the fluid stream. A required fluid passage quantity for the process fluid stream is set by positioning the control valve with the positioner into a respective valve position and capturing an actual position of the valve. A physically sensible actual property value related to passage of the process fluid through the control valve is determined. The actual property value as well as the actual valve position are evaluated by an evaluation routine with respect to a predetermined optimization parameter specific to the valve with its associated positioner. If a deviation occurs from the optimization parameter, a pump drive value for the pump and control valve position drive value for the valve positioner are tuned to each other in such a way that the optimization parameter is approached.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining the filling level of a liquid in a container is provided. The apparatus includes at least one element coupled with a body at least partially immersed in the liquid, the at least one element transmitting and/or receiving acoustic signals. The at least one element may include an element that both transmits and receives acoustic signals, and may include elements that have a transmitting-only element and a receiving-only element. The acoustic signals generated by the at least one element propagate along a surface of the body, which may be solid or hollow. The body is arranged in such a manner that at least one part of a surface can be wetted by the liquid. The body has, at different container heights, regions which reflect the acoustic signals that may be detected and analyzed by a unit to determine the container liquid level.

Abstract: A rotor (11) with a squirrel cage and permanent magnets (19) mounted on and distributed around the circumference of the rotor, including a core stack extending over the entire rotor region with longitudinally continuous rotor slots extending over the length of the core stack. The squirrel cage is constructed with cage bars disposed, and preferably cast, in the rotor slots; short circuit rings connect the cage bars at both end faces of the core; and the radius of the rotor region is reduced by at least the radial thickness of the magnets. The radius of rotor (11) is reduced over the entire length between short circuit rings (17) such that the radial height of cage bars (15, 29) or cage webs (27) connected thereto is reduced. Also an electric motor or a radial pump having such a rotor, and methods of producing or operating such devices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing biogas from organic matter including a container (1) which is charged with fermentation substrate by a delivery system (13), and at least two stirring mechanisms (2) arranged in the container, the stirring mechanisms having propellers (3) which are rotated and generate mostly horizontal currents of the fermentation substrate in the container. The propeller diameters, the propeller geometries, and the positions of the propellers in the container are selected such that a shared mixing zone of the medium is generated in the container. Data for determining the mean speed and/or the viscosity of the medium in the mixing zone are detected and transmitted to a control unit (4) which varies actuating variables which modify the power input of the stirring mechanism into the mixing zone and/or the composition and/or the flow behavior of the container contents.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for delivering hot fluids, having a contacting shaft seal, a seal housing (13) for the shaft seal (14), and a return line (8) for a partial flow of the delivered fluid, in which no delivered fluid is discharged out of the seal housing (13); a separate housing cover (9) is disposed between the seal housing (13) and the pump housing (1); there is a contact surface which minimizes heat transfer between the seal housing (13) and the housing cover (9); and the return line (8) is connected to the housing cover (9) and/or to the pump housing (1).

Abstract: An energy generating unit for generating electric energy from water power is provided. At least one turbine system is installed in a conventional standard container in a channel which rungs in the standard container. The channel is arranged in the flow direction of a surrounding body of water. A fishway is provided on or in the standard container.

Abstract: A radial turbocompressor having at least two compressor stages is provided. A motor is co-axially located on a shaft with radial impellers of the compressor stages, and the motor and the compressor stages are arranged in a common, vertically-split housing. The medium to be compressed enters the housing through an intake opening in the housing, flows past and/or through the motor, and then is compressed in the compressor stages. The medium leaves the housing through an discharge opening that is arranged co-axially with the shaft, thereby minimizing axial forces in the turbocompressor.

Abstract: A fitting for changing liquid paths, in particular for systems with a pressure exchanger, is provided. The pressure exchanger has pipes having alternating flow direction. The casing of the fitting includes an inlet piece, an outlet piece and a connection piece and at least one shut-off member connected to an actuator. The actuator is connected to a control device that controls the actuator to control a liquid flow between the inlet piece and the connection piece, or between the connection piece and the outlet piece. An actuator displaces a respective shut-off member arranged in each of the inlet piece and the outlet piece, with the shut-off members being axially displaceable to vary the size of flow openings that permit flow between the inlet piece and the connection piece or between the connection piece and the outlet piece.

Abstract: A solar array is provided with a first heat-transfer fluid transporting line (parabolic trough loop) for transporting a first heat transfer fluid, and at least one further heat-transfer fluid transporting line for transporting a further heat transfer fluid arranged to receive solar energy from, for example, a parabolic-trough solar array. The first heat-transfer fluid transporting line and the further heat-transfer fluid transporting line are coupled to form an overall heat-transfer fluid transporting line (for example, as a parabolic trough loop). The first heat-transfer fluid transporting line is connected to at least one main line pump for pumping the first heat transfer fluid through the heat-transfer-fluid transporting line and the further heat-transfer fluid transporting line is connected to at least one further main line pump for pumping the further heat transfer fluid through the further heat-transfer-fluid transporting line. The first and further heat-transfer fluids may be the same fluid.

Abstract: A rotor (11) with a squirrel cage and permanent magnets (19) mounted on and distributed around the circumference of the rotor, including a core stack extending over the entire rotor region with longitudinally continuous rotor slots extending over the length of the core stack. The squirrel cage is constructed with cage bars disposed, and preferably cast, in the rotor slots; short circuit rings connect the cage bars at both end faces of the core; and the radius of the rotor region is reduced by at least the radial thickness of the magnets. The radius of rotor (11) is reduced over the entire length between short circuit rings (17) such that the radial height of cage bars (15, 29) or cage webs (27) connected thereto is reduced. Also an electric motor or a radial pump having such a rotor, and methods of producing or operating such devices.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining an operating point of a work machine and/or asynchronous motor driving the same, the operating point being characterized by the power consumed by and/or output rate of the machine, in which one or more operating point-dependent measurement variables of the machine are detected by sensors, and the measured values are evaluated and/or stored during operation of the machine. The operating point is determined without using electric measurement variables of the motor by determining a frequency linearly proportional to the fundamental tone of the machine through signal analysis, especially frequency analysis of a measured mechanical variable selected from pressure, differential pressure, power, vibration, and solid-borne or air-borne sound.

Abstract: An immersion pump is provided, the pump having an integral housing with an inlet opening on an intake side, an outlet opening on a delivery side, a passage for electrical lines, an electronic unit for processing power and optionally information signals, an electric motor, a pressure chamber and a pump unit. The electronic unit, the electric motor, the pressure chamber and the pump unit may be pre-assembled to an insert, with the pre-assembled insert being supported on one end of the housing. An axial clamping and/or fastening system, in particular a tapered locking arrangement, is provided on the opposite end of the housing.

Abstract: A flow-ducting system with a combined pump-drive module, the pump-drive module including a drive module, and a pump module having an impeller that can be driven by the drive module, the unit including a casing having at least one inlet side and at least one outlet side and a moveable shut-off device arranged between them, a flow path between the inlet side and the outlet side being formed in at least one position of the shut-off device, and the pump module being arranged in the flow path between the inlet side and the outlet side. In at least one further position of the shut-off device (10, 10?), the unit (1) is capable of shutting off the flow path (9) in such a way that the shut-off device (10, 10?) and the unit casing (2) form an area (20), which is separated from the flow path (9) and which is sealed off from the inlet side (5) and the outlet side (6), and the pump-drive module (11, 11?) is arranged at least partially inside this area (20).

Abstract: An impeller of a centrifugal pump is provided. The impeller includes at least two blades (4) for conveying media containing solids. An impeller blade leading angle (?1) is smaller than 0°. The blade angle (?) increases in a first section (9) until a value of 0° is reached. In a second section (10), another increase occurs until a maximum value is reached. In a third section (11), the blade angle (?) decreases again.

Abstract: An engine pump assembly (1), particularly a main coolant pump, composed of a housing (4) of a rotary pump with delivery elements arranged therein, a heat barrier part (6), a motor part (5) which drives the delivery elements, and force transmitting connecting elements (7) between a housing flange (8) of the housing (4) of the rotary pump and a flange (21) of the engine part (5). For faster and more reliable assembly and disassembly, the housing flange (8) is provided with receptacles (12) over at least half of its periphery for the arrangement of screw heads (13, 15) of the connecting elements (7), which screw heads (13, 15) are held in a bayonet-like manner in the receptacles (12).