Sealless integral-motor pump with regenerative impeller disk

Abstract

A fluid pump comprises a housing having a fluid passage extending circumferentially between at least one fluid inlet port and at least one fluid discharge port. The ports are separated by an interruption of the fluid passage located upstream of the inlet and downstream of the discharge. At least one regenerative rotor disk is rotatably supported within the housing and having a plurality of radially oriented impeller vanes situated about the periphery thereof within the fluid passage and also having a plurality of permanent magnets embedded therein in a circular locus about an axis of rotation of the disk, the magnets being sealed against pumped fluid. At least one set of motor windings is encased in at least one wall of the housing axially adjacent the permanent magnets in the regenerative rotor disk and also sealed against pumped fluid. Means is provided for controlling a flow of electricity through the motor windings to rotatably drive the rotor disk. A shaft may be supported in the housing in product lubricated bearings or in magnetic bearings, or alternatively, the rotor disk may be rotatably supported on a stationary shaft on product lubricated bearings or on magnetic bearings. It may also be supported on such bearings without a shaft.