System for moving fluid with opposed axial forces

A system, comprising:

• a pumping assembly having:
• a housing;
• a first rotor portion configured to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the first rotor portion comprises a first radially inner rotor section and a first radially outer rotor section rotatably mounted in the housing radially between a first radially inward stator section and a first radially outward stator section relative to the rotational axis, wherein the first radially inner rotor section, the first radially outer rotor section, the first radially inward stator section, and the first radially outward stator section axially overlap with one another over a first axial portion of the rotational axis, wherein the first radially inward stator section and the first radially outward stator section are configured to generate rotating electromagnetic fields to cause rotation of the first radially inner and the first radially outer rotor sections about the rotational axis, wherein the first rotor portion is coupled with a rotatable outlet section and has first pumping features oriented to move fluid through the housing toward the rotatable outlet section in a first direction generally parallel with the rotational axis, and the first radially inner rotor section and the first radially outer rotor section being are rotatable about the rotational axis;
• and a second rotor portion separate from the first rotor portion and configured to rotate about the rotational axis, wherein the second rotor portion comprises a second radially inner rotor section and a second radially outer rotor section rotatably mounted in the housing radially between a second radially inward stator section and a second radially outward stator section relative to the rotational axis, wherein the second radially inner rotor section, the second radially outer rotor section, the second radially inward stator section, and the second radially outward stator section axially overlap with one another over a second axial portion of the rotational axis, wherein the first and second axial portions of the rotational axis are disposed on axially opposite sides of the rotatable outlet section relative to the rotational axis, wherein the second radially inward stator section and the second radially outward stator section are configured to generate rotating electromagnetic fields to cause rotation of the second radially inner and the second radially outer rotor sections, wherein the second rotor portion is coupled with the rotatable outlet section and has second pumping features oriented to move fluid through the housing toward the rotatable outlet section in a second direction generally parallel with the rotational axis, wherein the first and second directions are opposite from one another, and the second radially inner rotor section and the second radially outer rotor section are rotatable about the rotational axis;
• wherein the first and second radially inner rotor sections, the first and second radially outer rotor sections, the first and second radially inward stator sections and the first and second radially outward stator sections are arranged in the housing in a direction generally parallel to the rotational axis.

A method, comprising:

• mounting pumping features on first and second radially inner rotor sections and on first and second radially outer rotor sections;
• rotatably positioning the first and second radially inner rotor sections and the first and second radially outer rotor sections for rotation about a rotational axis and radially between respective first and second radially inner stator sections and respective first and second radially outer stator sections, the first and second radially inner stator sections and the first and second radially outer stator sections being configured to generate rotating electromagnetic fields to cause rotation of the first and second radially inner and radially outer rotor sections;
• and providing the pumping features with orientations which cause respective fluid flows in a housing in opposite axial directions along the rotational axis when the first and second radially inner rotor sections are counter rotated with respect to the first and second radially outer rotor sections under the influence of electromagnetic fields created via the first and second radially inner and outer stator sections;
• wherein the first and second radially inner rotor sections, the first and second radially outer rotor sections, the first and second radially inner stator sections and the first and second radially outer stator sections are arranged in the housing in a direction generally parallel to the rotational axis and the fluid flows;
• wherein the first radially inner rotor section, the first radially outer rotor section, the first radially inner stator section, and the first radially outer stator section axially overlap with one another over a first axial portion of the rotational axis to define a first fluid flow path between a first port and a second port;
• wherein the second radially inner rotor section, the second radially outer rotor section, the second radially inner stator section, and the second radially outer stator section axially overlap with one another over a second axial portion of the rotational axis to define a second fluid flow path between the first port and a third port;
• wherein the first and second axial portions of the rotational axis are disposed on axially opposite sides of the first port relative to the rotational axis, wherein the second and third ports are disposed on axially opposite sides of the first port relative to the rotational axis.