System, method and apparatus for two-phase homogenizing stage for centrifugal pump assembly

Abstract

A two-phase, homogenizing or mixing stage for a centrifugal pump assembly homogenizes the fluids being circulated therethrough. The mixing stage produces high shut-in head pressure and a very high maximum flow rate. The mixing stage has a diffuser with fixed diffuser vanes that extend radially or tangentially at acute angles. The vanes may be curved in both the axial and radial directions to force fluids impinging thereon to have a radially inward component to create turbulence. The turbulence mixes and homogenizes the gas and liquid fluids to improve the overall performance of centrifugal pump assemblies that operate in two-phase fluids. The mixing stage also has an impeller adjacent the diffuser. The impeller vanes likewise extend radially and tangentially therefrom at acute angles and may be curved.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.