Pump assembly comprising a plurality of jet pumps

Abstract

A pump assembly includes a housing ( 50 ) and a plurality of jet pumps ( 52 ) arranged within the housing. The housing ( 50 ) includes a HP inlet ( 54 ), a LP inlet ( 58 ) and an outlet ( 56 ) and is divided internally into a HP zone ( 62 ), a LP zone ( 64 ) and an outlet zone ( 66 ). Each jet pump ( 52 ) includes a nozzle assembly ( 80 ), a mixing tube ( 82 ) and a diffuser ( 84 ), and has a HP inlet ( 74 ) located in the HP zone, a LP inlet ( 78 ) located in the LP zone, and an outlet ( 76 ) located in the outlet zone.

1 . A pump assembly comprising a housing and a plurality of jet pumps arranged within the housing, wherein the housing includes a HP inlet, a LP inlet and an outlet and is divided internally by partitions into a HP zone, a LP zone and an outlet zone, said partitions comprising a first partition between the HP zone and the LP zone, and a second partition between the LP zone and the outlet zone, said LP zone being located longitudinally between the HP zone and the outlet zone, and each jet pump includes a nozzle assembly, a mixing tube and a diffuser and comprises an elongate tubular body having an HP inlet at a first end of the body, an outlet at a second end of the tubular body and a LP inlet between the first and second ends, wherein each jet pump is mounted within the housing with the HP inlet located in the HP zone, the LP inlet located in the LP zone, and the outlet located in the outlet zone, and each jet pump extends through and is sealed to the first and second partitions. 
     
     
         2 . A pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is T-shaped comprising a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, the HP inlet being located at one end of the longitudinal axis, the outlet being located at the opposite end of the longitudinal axis and the LP inlet being located on the transverse axis. 
     
     
         3 . A pump assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing comprises a T-section pipe. 
     
     
         4 . A pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the jet pumps have common external dimensions. 
     
     
         5 . A pump assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the jet pumps is substantially cylindrical having a HP inlet at one end, an outlet at an opposite end and a LP inlet in a side thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A pump assembly according to  claim 5 , further including isolation means for isolating at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         7 . A pump assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the isolation means comprises means for stopping the HP inlet, the LP inlet and/or the outlet of at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         8 . A pump assembly according to  claim 7 , further including an actuator for actuating the isolation means. 
     
     
         9 . A pump assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulically-driven valve. 
     
     
         10 . A pump assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the jet pumps have common external dimensions. 
     
     
         11 . A pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the jet pumps have common external dimensions. 
     
     
         12 . A pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the jet pumps is substantially cylindrical having a HP inlet at one end, an outlet at an opposite end and a LP inlet in a side thereof. 
     
     
         13 . A pump assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the jet pumps is substantially cylindrical having a HP inlet at one end, an outlet at an opposite end and a LP inlet in a side thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the jet pumps is substantially cylindrical having a HP inlet at one end, an outlet at an opposite end and a LP inlet in a side thereof. 
     
     
         15 . A pump assembly according to  claim 4 , further including isolation means for isolating at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         16 . A pump assembly according to  claim 3 , further including isolation means for isolating at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         17 . A pump assembly according to  claim 2 , further including isolation means for isolating at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         18 . A pump assembly according to  claim 1 , further including isolation means for isolating at least one of the jet pumps. 
     
     
         19 . A pump assembly according to  claim 6 , further including an actuator for actuating the isolation means.