Pump comprising a balance arrangement and a related method

Abstract

A pump (110) is disclosed comprising: an inlet (114) being in fluid communication with an inlet cavity (115); an outlet (118) being in fluid communication with an outlet cavity (119); a motor (120) being arranged in a motor cavity (121); a pump axis (122) being rotatably drivable by the motor: impellers (124) being positioned between the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity and being actuatable by the pump axis to cause a differential pressure across the inlet cavity and the outlet cavity; and a balance arrangement (126) configured to at least partially offset an axial thrust affected upon the axis by the impellers when the pump is in operation, the balance arrangement comprising: a balance cavity (132); a balance drum (128) arranged between the outlet cavity and the balance cavity; and a balance line (134) extending between and fluidly connecting the balance cavity and the inlet cavity. The inlet is in fluid communication with the inlet cavity via the balance cavity and the balance line. A related method is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.