Bearing-less turbine

A vertical pump having a top end with a top member and a bottom end with a suction bell, comprising:

• a stationary bowl assembly having bowls arranged between the top member and the suction bell, each bowl having a respective top inside surface and also having a respective bottom inside surface, each bowl also having a respective bowl bearing portion with a respective top opening and a respective bottom opening, but with no respective bowl bearing arranged therein;
• a rotating power transmission shaft configured to extend through the stationary bowl assembly and pass through the respective top opening and the respective bottom opening of the respective bowl bearing portion of each bowl;
• impellers arranged on the rotating power transmission shaft to rotate and draw material through the bowls of the stationary bowl assembly, each impeller having a respective impeller top portion with a respective impeller top outside surface and also having a respective impeller bottom portion with a respective impeller bottom outside surface;
• and
• top and bottom wear-ring bearings, each top wear-ring bearing arranged between the respective impeller top outside surface of each impeller and the respective bowl top inside surface of each bowl and configured to isolate the respective impeller top portion from pressure generated by each impeller, each bottom wear-ring bearing arranged between the respective impeller bottom outside surface of each impeller and the respective bottom inside surface of each bowl, the top and bottom wear-ring bearings being made from a non-galling bearing material, and configured to maintain the alignment of the rotating power transmission shaft in relation to the stationary bowl assembly, and bearings also combining to eliminate any need for any bottom suction bearing in the suction bell and any respective bowl bearings in the bowl bearing portions of each bowl between the top member and the suction bell.