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 centrifugal pump apparatus is provided for pumping fluids which includes a cylindrical housing rotatable about its central axis and defining a main pumping chamber. A stationary fluid intake passage extends radially outwardly of the central axis of the housing into the main pumping chamber and has a fluid pickup opening facing in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the housing and communicating with an outlet conduit. A substantially unobstructed radially extending annular inlet passage is defined and has a radially inner portion communicating with a fluid inlet and the radially outer portion communicating with the pumping chamber of the housing.

Abstract: A pitot pump having a stationary vane containing a pitot tube mounted inside a rotating housing. Fluid is delivered to the interior of the housing through a plurality of radial ducts in the walls of the casing which discharge fluid by centrifugal force into the housing. Means is provided in the casing for distributing fluid discharged from the ducts in a manner to reduce impact of the fluid against the stationary vane.

Abstract: A combination pitot pump and centrifugal separator for pumping contaminated fluids and for separating contaminants from the pumped fluid includes a rotatable hollow casing. Contaminated fluid is delivered to the interior of the casing and a pumped fluid discharge duct is provided coaxially from the casing. A stationary pitot tube is supported within the casing for collecting, by a ram effect, cleaned fluid from the interior of the casing at a selected location between the casing axis and its outer periphery, and for converting the velocity head of the collected fluid to pressure in the course of supplying the collected fluid to the discharge duct. A plurality of orifices are formed through the outer periphery of the casing for discharging from the casing contaminant matter in fluid introduced into the casing and separated centrifugally therefrom within the casing.

Abstract: A system is provided for pumping high pressure power liquid for a downhole hydraulic pump for producing fluids from an oil well. The power liquid is mixed in the well with the produced well fluid and is conveyed to a phase separation vessel at the surface where gas, oil and water are gravity separated. Power liquid is withdrawn from this vessel to the inlet of a combined pitot pump and centrifugal cleaner. This combined pump and cleaner has a stationary housing and a rotatable cleaning chamber. A stationary pitot tube in the rotatable housing provides pressurized clean power liquid for the suction inlet of a high pressure multiplex piston pump that feeds power liquid to the downhole pump. The rotating chamber has passages at its periphery for discharging dirty liquid which drains from the housing and is pumped to a production flow line. Fluids from the phase separation vessel are also recovered through the production flow line.