In oil refineries and petrochemical plants, after causing raw materials to react or decompose in high-pressure tanks, it is common to return the products of these processes to lower-pressure tanks. When transferring fluids to a high-pressure tank, pumps add energy, yet that same energy is wasted when a pressure-reducing valve or other restriction mechanism is used afterward in the transfer. In contrast, hydraulic power recovery turbines (HPRTs) can employ that same pressure differential to turn a rotor and effectively recover energy.

The only difference between an HPRT and a pump is the direction of fluid flow; structurally, they are identical. In the case of an HPRT, high-pressure fluid goes in the outlet nozzle, pushing the impellers in the opposite direction to recover power. For this reason, most process pumps may be used without alteration as HPRTs. Through manufacturing and offering a full lineup of HPRTs, SNM is helping companies around the world conserve energy and combat global warming.