Multi-fluid cargo pumps

Abstract

A submerged electrical pump for liquefied hydrocarbon gasses that is adapted for use encompassing a range of different temperatures and viscosities is disclosed. Notable elements of some embodiments of multiple fluid pumps include bearings and bearing liners made from the same material, a motor larger enough to pump the most vicious and dense fluid, extra thick bearing liners, and a trial-and-error process for choosing other pump design specifications, such as impeller wear rings, bushings, and other critical radial clearances.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . Turbomachinery for multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses, comprising:
 a bearing at an interface between a rotor and a stator;   an inner bearing liner affixed to the rotor;   an outer bearing liner affixed to the stator; and   wherein the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner all consist of the same material; the bearing is disposed between the inner bearing liner and the outer bearing liner; and the bearing is lubricated with one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses.   
     
     
         2 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , wherein the inner bearing liner and outer bearing liner each comprise a thickness that is thick enough to prevent at least one of the inner bearing liner or the outer bearing liner from yielding under pressure applied to an outer liner surface at a coldest potential operating temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a thickness of at least one of the inner bearing liner or the outer bearing liner, or a size of the bearing is determined based on expansion or contraction of the same material under varying temperature conditions or varying pressure conditions associated with the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. 
     
     
         4 . The turbomachinery of  claim 3 , wherein the varying temperature conditions are based on different boiling points of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. 
     
     
         5 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , wherein the same material of the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner reduces variation in gaps between the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner due to temperature variation of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. 
     
     
         6 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thrust equalizing mechanism that directs the one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses to flow around and lubricate the bearing.   
     
     
         7 . The turbomachinery of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a lower wear ring disposed on the stator; and   an upper wear ring disposed on the stator;   wherein the thrust equalizing mechanism is disposed between the lower wear ring and the upper wear ring; and wherein at least one of a thickness of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring, or a material of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring is selected based on the same material of the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner.   
     
     
         8 . The turbomachinery of  claim 7 , wherein at last one of the thickness of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring, or the material of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring is selected based on a temperature tolerance associated with the same material of the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner. 
     
     
         9 . The turbomachinery of  claim 7 , wherein the material of the lower wear ring and the upper wear ring comprises the same material of the bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner. 
     
     
         10 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , wherein the bearing comprises at least one of a ball bearing, a hydrostatic bearing, or a hydronamic bearing. 
     
     
         11 . Turbomachinery for use with multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses, comprising:
 a liquid chamber configured to direct flow of one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses within a stator of the turbomachinery; and   one or more bearing assemblies at an interface between a rotor and the stator, wherein the one or more bearing assemblies consist of a first material, and wherein the one or more bearing assemblies contact the liquid chamber, such that the one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses lubricates the one or more bearing assemblies.   
     
     
         12 . The turbomachinery of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more bearing assemblies each comprise:
 a bearing;   an inner bearing liner affixed to the rotor; and   an outer bearing liner affixed to the stator, wherein the bearing is disposed between the inner bearing liner and the outer bearing liner.   
     
     
         13 . The turbomachinery of  claim 12 , wherein the inner bearing liner and outer bearing liner each comprise a thickness that is thick enough to prevent at least one of the inner bearing liner or the outer bearing liner from yielding under pressure applied to an outer liner surface at a coldest potential operating temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The turbomachinery of  claim 11 , wherein a thickness of the one or more bearing assemblies is configured to withstand expansion or contraction of the first material under varying temperature conditions or varying pressure conditions associated with the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. 
     
     
         15 . The turbomachinery of  claim 14 , wherein the varying temperature conditions are based on different boiling points of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses. 
     
     
         16 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thrust equalizing mechanism that directs the one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses to flow around and lubricate the one or more bearing assemblies.   
     
     
         17 . The turbomachinery of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a lower wear ring disposed on the stator; and   an upper wear ring disposed on the stator;   wherein the thrust equalizing mechanism is disposed between the lower wear ring and the upper wear ring; and wherein at least one of a thickness of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring, or a material of the lower wear ring or the upper wear ring is selected based on the first material of the one or more bearing assemblies.   
     
     
         18 . The turbomachinery of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more bearing assemblies each comprise at least one of a ball bearing, a hydrostatic bearing, or a hydronamic bearing. 
     
     
         19 . A method for designing a turbomachinery for use with multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses, comprising:
 selecting a motor or a generator capable of providing a torque, wherein the torque is determined based on a highest density of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses, and wherein the motor or the generator is rotationally connected to a rotor; and   selecting at least one bearing, an inner bearing liner, and an outer bearing liner for placement between the rotor and a stator based on the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses, wherein the at least one bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner are made of the same material, and wherein the at least one bearing is lubricated by one of the multiple liquefied hydrocarbon gasses.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 selecting a material of at least one of a wear ring or a bushing disposed on an interior of the stator of the turbomachinery based on the same material of the at least one bearing, the inner bearing liner, and the outer bearing liner.