Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a gas accumulation reduction system to reduce the risk of gas locking caused by the accumulation of gas at the inlet of the impeller. The gas accumulation reduction system includes: (i) one or more diffuser ports extending through the hub of a diffuser; and (ii) one or more recirculation passages extending through the hub of an impeller. The recirculation passages are in fluid communication with the one or more diffuser ports to permit the recirculation of a portion of pumped fluid through the stage. Additionally, a centrifugal pump that includes at least one turbomachinery stage. The stage includes a rotatable impeller that has an impeller hub with a centrally disposed eye and a plurality of impeller vanes. The impeller is variously configured to encourage mixing of two-phase fluids at the eye of the impeller hub.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump has a gas accumulation reduction system to reduce the risk of gas locking caused by the accumulation of gas at the inlet of the impeller. The gas accumulation reduction system includes: (i) one or more diffuser ports extending through the hub of a diffuser; and (ii) one or more recirculation passages extending through the hub of an impeller. The recirculation passages are in fluid communication with the one or more diffuser ports to permit the recirculation of a portion of pumped fluid through the stage. Additionally, a centrifugal pump that includes at least one turbomachinery stage. The stage includes a rotatable impeller that has an impeller hub with a centrally disposed eye and a plurality of impeller vanes. The impeller is variously configured to encourage mixing of two-phase fluids at the eye of the impeller hub.

Abstract: A centrifugal liquid-gas separator apparatus which is particularly adapted for use downhole with a submergible pump comprises an elongated hub having disposed on its periphery helical blades defining a screw-type inducer for pressurizing a liquid-gas fluid mixture entering the apparatus, axially extending vanes defining a centrifugal separator for separating the liquid and gas components of the fluid mixture, and smoothly curved blade segments disposed intermediate the blades and the vanes for providing a smooth transition for the fluid mixture flowing from the inducer to the centrifugal separator. The apparatus is capable of maintaining a substantially constant flow rate over a large range of volumetric ratios of gas to liquid.