Systems and Methods for Preventing Damage to Pump Diffusers

A diffuser for a pump comprising:

• an outer wall;
• one or more diffusion passageways through the diffuser, wherein the passageways are configured to diffuse fluids flowing through the diffuser;
• and
• one or more check valves in pressure relief passageways through outer wall, wherein the check valves selectively open and close the pressure relief passageways in response to overpressure and underpressure conditions within the diffuser, wherein the check valves are further configured to return from open positions to closed positions when the overpressure and underpressure conditions within the diffuser have been relieved.

A method for preventing pressure damage to a pump diffuser comprising:

• beginning operation of a pump system having one or more stages, each stage having an impeller and a diffuser, wherein the diffuser incorporates one or more valves that are configured to open and close in response to pressure differential conditions, and wherein the pump initially produces a pressure differential in the diffuser that falls within an acceptable pressure differential range;
• determining whether the pressure differential exceeds a first threshold level and controlling the one or more valves to allow fluid to flow from an interior of the diffuser to an exterior of the diffuser in response to detecting an overpressure condition and subsequently closing the valves when the pressure differential returns to the acceptable pressure differential range;
• and
• determining whether the pressure differential falls below a second threshold level and controlling the one or more valves to allow fluid to flow from the exterior of the diffuser to the interior of the diffuser in response to detecting an underpressure condition and subsequently closing the valves when the pressure differential returns to the acceptable pressure differential range.