Abstract: A method for operating a pump, for conveying a fluid from a low-pressure side to a high-pressure side of the pump includes determining a current rate of change of pump vibrations and comparing the current rate of change with a limit for the rate of change or determining a current vibration of the pump and comparing the current vibration with a vibration amplitude limit for the vibration, storing the limit for the rate of change or the vibration amplitude limit in a surge controller, providing a control signal when the current rate of change reaches the limit or when the current vibration reaches the vibration amplitude limit, and changing a control variable of the pump by the control signal, such that the vibration is reduced and an unstable operating state of the pump is avoided.

Abstract: A process fluid lubricated pump includes a pump having a pump shaft extending from a drive end to a non-drive end, first and last stage impellers, a drive unit exerting torque on the drive end to rotate the pump shaft, a balance drum connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the drive end, the balance drum defining a drum front side facing the pump and a drum back side, a relief passage between the balance drum and a first stationary part configured to be stationary with respect to a housing, the relief passage extending from the drum front side to the drum back side, the pump shaft radially supported in a non-contacting manner during operation of the pump, and a hydrodynamic radial pump bearing supporting the pump shaft, the radial pump bearing arranged at the non-drive end or at the drive end of the pump shaft.

Abstract: A process fluid lubricated pump includes a pump having a pump shaft extending from a drive end to a non-drive end to rotate about an axial direction, a first pump section having a first set of impellers fixedly mounted on the pump shaft to increase the pressure of the process fluid, a drive to exert a torque on the drive end of the pump shaft to drive the rotation of the pump shaft, a first balance drum fixedly connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the drive end of the pump shaft, the first balance drum defining a first front side facing the pump and a first back side, and a second balance drum fixedly connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the non-drive end of the pump shaft, the second balance drum defining a second front side facing the pump and a second back side.

Abstract: A process fluid lubricated pump includes a pump having a pump shaft extending from a drive end to a non-drive end, first and last stage impellers, a drive unit exerting torque on the drive end to rotate the pump shaft, a balance drum connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the drive end, the balance drum defining a drum front side facing the pump and a drum back side, a relief passage between the balance drum and a first stationary part configured to be stationary with respect to a housing, the relief passage extending from the drum front side to the drum back side, the pump shaft radially supported in a non-contacting manner during operation of the pump, and a hydrodynamic radial pump bearing supporting the pump shaft, the radial pump bearing arranged at the non-drive end or at the drive end of the pump shaft.

Abstract: A method for operating a pump, for conveying a fluid from a low-pressure side to a high-pressure side of the pump includes determining a current rate of change of pump vibrations and comparing the current rate of change with a limit for the rate of change or determining a current vibration of the pump and comparing the current vibration with a vibration amplitude limit for the vibration, storing the limit for the rate of change or the vibration amplitude limit in a surge controller, providing a control signal when the current rate of change reaches the limit or when the current vibration reaches the vibration amplitude limit, and changing a control variable of the pump by the control signal, such that the vibration is reduced and an unstable operating state of the pump is avoided.

Abstract: A multistage pump for installation on a sea ground includes a common housing, a pump unit arranged in the common housing, a drive unit arranged in the common housing, and a coupling. The common housing includes a pump inlet and a pump outlet, the pump unit including a plurality of impellers to convey a compressible fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, and a pump shaft, on which each impeller is mounted, each impellepr being a radial or semi-axial impeller. The drive unit includes a drive shaft to drive the pump shaft, and an electric motor configured to rotate the drive shaft about an axial direction. The coupling couples the drive shaft to the pump shaft. The pump unit conveys the fluid in a dense phase at the pump outlet, and at least two impellers of the plurality of impellers have a different specific speed.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for conveying a process fluid, includes a pump unit, a drive unit to drive the pump unit, a pump inlet to receive the process fluid, a pump outlet to discharge the process fluid. The pump unit includes an impeller configured to convey the process fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, and a pump shaft, on which the impeller is mounted. The drive unit includes a drive shaft to drive the pump shaft, and an electric motor to rotate the drive shaft about an axial direction. A plurality of bearings is configured to support the pump shaft and the drive shaft, and a hydrodynamic coupling has a casing and is configured to hydrodynamically couple the drive shaft to the pump shaft by a transmission fluid. At least one of the plurality of bearings is arranged in the casing of the hydrodynamic coupling.

Abstract: A process fluid lubricated pump for conveying a process fluid, includes a common housing, a pump unit arranged in the common housing, a drive unit arranged in the common housing, and a hydrodynamic coupling. The common housing includes a pump inlet and a pump outlet for the process fluid. The pump unit includes at least one impeller configured to convey the process fluid from the pump inlet to the pump outlet, and a pump shaft, on which the impeller is mounted. The drive unit includes a drive shaft configured to drive the pump shaft, and an electric motor configured to rotate the drive shaft about an axial direction. The hydrodynamic coupling is configured to hydrodynamically couple the drive shaft to the pump shaft by a transmission fluid, and is configured to receive the process fluid as the transmission fluid.

Abstract: A process fluid lubricated pump includes a pump having a pump shaft extending from a drive end to a non-drive end to rotate about an axial direction, a first pump section having a first set of impellers fixedly mounted on the pump shaft to increase the pressure of the process fluid, a drive to exert a torque on the drive end of the pump shaft to drive the rotation of the pump shaft, a first balance drum fixedly connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the drive end of the pump shaft, the first balance drum defining a first front side facing the pump and a first back side, and a second balance drum fixedly connected to the pump shaft between the pump and the non-drive end of the pump shaft, the second balance drum defining a second front side facing the pump and a second back side.

Abstract: A rotary machine for conveying a fluid includes a drive unit configured to drive a shaft, an impeller arranged at the shaft, and configured to convey the fluid, at least one mechanical seal configured to seal the shaft, a first and a second heat exchange system configured to cool or heat the mechanical seal, the first heat exchange system configured for direct application of a fluid heat carrier at the mechanical seal and the second heat exchange system comprising a heat exchange jacket capable of having a fluid heat carrier flow therethrough without direct contact with the mechanical seal, the first and the second heat exchange systems forming a common heat exchange system in which a common fluid heat carrier is capable of being circulated, and a fan wheel configured to circulate the common fluid heat carrier in the common heat exchange system.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a wear state of an assembly of a flow machine, in particular, of a bearing arrangement of a pump or turbine. For determining a wear characteristic, a mechanical query signal having a pre-definable signal shape is generated by a signal generator and a response signal generated from the query signal is detected using a sensor in contact with the assembly. The response signal is varied in dependence on a variation of a physical operating value of the assembly in accordance with a characteristic pattern, the wear characteristic is determined from the variation of the response signal and the wear state is evaluated using the wear characteristic.

Abstract: A pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet configured to convey fluid, an impeller configured to convey the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the impeller being arranged on a rotatable shaft, and a balance drum configured to relieve axial thrust. The balance drum includes a rotor rotationally fixedly connected to the shaft, the rotor having a high and low pressure sides, a stator stationary with respect to the housing, a relief passage extending between the rotor and the stator from the high pressure side up to the low pressure side of the rotor, a return passage connecting the low pressure side of the rotor to the inlet. An intermediate passage opens into the relief passage between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the rotor. A blocking member is configured to influence the flow through the intermediate passage.

Abstract: A bearing pad, including a pad body (11) and a tilting element (12), for a support body (2) of a bearing arrangement (3) for taking up an axial thrust, characterized in that the tilting element (12) is provided in an elongated recess (111) of the pad body (11) extending in a radial direction such that a contact body (121) of the tilting element (12) extending in the direction of the recess (111) projecting beyond a surface of the pad body (11) and the pad body (11) has a higher deformability than the tilting element (12).

Abstract: A pump includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet configured to convey fluid, an impeller configured to convey the fluid from the inlet to the outlet, the impeller being arranged on a rotatable shaft, and a balance drum configured to relieve axial thrust. The balance drum includes a rotor rotationally fixedly connected to the shaft, the rotor having a high and low pressure sides, a stator stationary with respect to the housing, a relief passage extending between the rotor and the stator from the high pressure side up to the low pressure side of the rotor, a return passage connecting the low pressure side of the rotor to the inlet. An intermediate passage opens into the relief passage between the high pressure side and the low pressure side of the rotor. A blocking member is configured to influence the flow through the intermediate passage.

Abstract: A rotary machine for conveying a fluid includes a drive unit configured to drive a shaft, an impeller arranged at the shaft, and configured to convey the fluid, at least one mechanical seal configured to seal the shaft, a first and a second heat exchange system configured to cool or heat the mechanical seal, the first heat exchange system configured for direct application of a fluid heat carrier at the mechanical seal and the second heat exchange system comprising a heat exchange jacket capable of having a fluid heat carrier flow therethrough without direct contact with the mechanical seal, the first and the second heat exchange systems forming a common heat exchange system in which a common fluid heat carrier is capable of being circulated, and a fan wheel configured to circulate the common fluid heat carrier in the common heat exchange system.

Abstract: A method of evaluating a wear state of an assembly of a flow machine, in particular, of a bearing arrangement of a pump or turbine. For determining a wear characteristic, a mechanical query signal having a pre-definable signal shape is generated by a signal generator and a response signal generated from the query signal is detected using a sensor in contact with the assembly. The response signal is varied in dependence on a variation of a physical operating value of the assembly in accordance with a characteristic pattern, the wear characteristic is determined from the variation of the response signal and the wear state is evaluated using the wear characteristic.

Abstract: A bearing pad, including a pad body (11) and a tilting element (12), for a support body (2) of a bearing arrangement (3) for taking up an axial thrust, characterized in that the tilting element (12) is provided in an elongated recess (111) of the pad body (11) extending in a radial direction such that a contact body (121) of the tilting element (12) extending in the direction of the recess (111) projecting beyond a surface of the pad body (11) and the pad body (11) has a higher deformability than the tilting element (12).