Intake for vertical wet pit pump

Abstract

A pump intake apparatus for directing fluid flow to a pump. The pump intake assembly includes a pump intake column having a pump bell and a pump intake pit. The intake pit includes an upper intake pit encircling the pump intake column and has a tapered inner surface providing the upper intake pit with a decreasing cross-sectional area to accelerate the fluid flow toward the pump bell. The upper intake pit may include at least one vane extending inwardly from the inner surface of the upper intake pit to suppress rotation of a fluid flowing through the upper intake pit. The intake pit further includes a lower intake pit floor positioned substantially below the pump bell and including a projection member upwardly extending from a central region of the lower intake pit floor toward the pump bell. The lower intake pit floor has a substantially curvilinear surface interconnecting the upper intake pit to the projection member to redirect and accelerate fluid flow toward the pump bell. The intake assembly may include a shroud extending from the lower end of the pump intake column to also facilitate acceleration of fluid flow toward the bell portion of the pump. A method of using the pump intake is also disclosed.