Abstract: A pump includes a housing, a process stream input, a process stream output, a power stream inlet, and a rotor. The rotor comprises an impeller, a shroud, and a turbine. The impeller comprises fluid motive elements positioned about a central axis of the rotor and extending outward to the shroud. The turbine comprises runners formed on an outwardly facing surface of the shroud of the rotor. The shroud extends radially about the fluid motive elements of the impeller. The rotor is rotatably supported within the housing. The runners cause the rotor to rotate when the power stream flows through a fluid path impinging the runners thereby transferring energy from the flow of the power stream received through a power stream inlet into rotational energy of the fluid motive elements of the impeller to propel the process stream from a process stream input out a process stream output.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing, a process stream input, a process stream output, a power stream inlet, and a rotor. The rotor comprises an impeller, a shroud, and a turbine. The impeller comprises fluid motive elements positioned about a central axis of the rotor and extending outward to the shroud. The turbine comprises runners formed on an outwardly facing surface of the shroud of the rotor. The shroud extends radially about the fluid motive elements of the impeller. The rotor is rotatably supported within the housing. The runners cause the rotor to rotate when the power stream flows through a fluid path impinging the runners thereby transferring energy from the flow of the power stream received through a power stream inlet into rotational energy of the fluid motive elements of the impeller to propel the process stream from a process stream input out a process stream output.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump with a rotating impeller and a rotating diffuser. The diffuser may be rotated with a controlled speed to broaden the operational range of the pump. Such control may be done independently of the rotational speed of the impeller to tailor pump operation to a particular NPSH, efficiency, fluid flow or related requirement. In one preferred form, the impeller and diffuser are made to counter-rotate relative to one another, while the independent rotational speed of each may be provided by one or more motors, as well as a variable-speed transmission coupled to such motor or motors. Such a pump is optimized for specific speed operating ranges beneath those associated with axial flow pump configurations.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump with a rotating impeller and a rotating diffuser. The diffuser may be rotated with a controlled speed to broaden the operational range of the pump. Such control may be done independently of the rotational speed of the impeller to tailor pump operation to a particular NPSH, efficiency, fluid flow or related requirement. In one preferred form, the impeller and diffuser are made to counter-rotate relative to one another, while the independent rotational speed of each may be provided by one or more motors, as well as a variable-speed transmission coupled to such motor or motors. Such a pump is optimized for specific speed operating ranges beneath those associated with axial flow pump configurations.