Centrifugal pump impeller support system and apparatus

A centrifugal pump comprising:

• a diffuser fixedly secured within a housing of a centrifugal pump, the diffuser comprising a portion defining a flow exit;
• an impeller keyed to a shaft of the centrifugal pump, the impeller comprising a skirt extending inward of the portion defining the flow exit and axially from a portion of the impeller defining an eye;
• a sleeve affixedly coupled around an outer diameter of the skirt;
• and
• a bushing secured circumferentially about an inner diameter of the portion defining the flow exit outward of the sleeve, wherein the sleeve further comprises a flange extending radially from the sleeve on a downstream side of the sleeve.

A centrifugal pump comprising:

• a plurality of centrifugal pump stages, wherein each of the plurality of centrifugal pump stages comprise:
• a rotatable impeller inward of a stationary diffuser;
• an impeller support insert fixedly attached to a top of the impeller such that the impeller support insert rotates with the impeller, wherein the impeller support insert is fixedly coupled to a balance ring skirt, and
• a bushing pressed into a portion defining a diffuser flow entrance and extending circumferentially about the impeller support insert such that the bushing and impeller support insert form a hydraulic bearing set;
• and
• wherein the impeller support insert is keyed to the balance ring skirt, the impeller is keyed to a pump shaft and the impeller support insert moves with respect to the pump shaft during operation of the plurality of centrifugal pump stages.