Vertical turbine pump with roller bearing support

A vertical turbine pump comprising:

• a bowl assembly configured to be positioned in a fluid source;
• an impeller assembly disposed in the bowl assembly;
• a shaft coupled to the impeller assembly and extending upwardly therefrom;
• a column assembly extending upwardly from the bowl assembly;
• a bearing housing positioned above the bowl assembly and defining a dry column through which the shaft extends;
• an upper roller bearing and a lower roller bearing positioned within the dry column and spaced from one another along the shaft, the upper roller bearing and the lower roller bearing being configured to rotatably support the shaft;
• and
• a mechanical seal positioned between the bowl assembly and the dry column and disposed about the shaft, the mechanical seal being configured to inhibit pumped fluid from entering the dry column;
• wherein rotation of the shaft drives the impeller assembly to pump fluid upwardly through the bowl assembly while the upper roller bearing and the lower roller bearing support the shaft within the dry column in a substantially dry condition.

A method of operating a vertical turbine pump, the method comprising:

• positioning a bowl assembly and an impeller assembly in a fluid source;
• rotating a shaft coupled to the impeller assembly to drive the impeller assembly and thereby pump fluid upwardly through the vertical turbine pump;
• rotatably supporting the shaft with at least one roller bearing positioned within a bearing region of the vertical turbine pump;
• and
• inhibiting pumped fluid from entering the bearing region with a seal assembly arranged between the bearing region and the bowl assembly such that the at least one roller bearing remains in a substantially dry condition during operation of the vertical turbine pump.