Thermal probe for motor lead extension
AssigneeBaker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC
InventorSpencer Wilcox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric submersible pumping system is configured to produce fluids from a well. The submersible pumping system includes a motor drive, an electric motor driven by the motor drive, a sensor module and a power cable. An upper end of the power cable is connected to the motor drive. The electric submersible pumping system further includes a pothead connected to the motor and a motor lead extension, where an upper end of the motor lead extension is connected to the power cable and a lower end of the motor lead extension is connected to the motor through the pothead. The electric submersible pumping system includes a motor lead extension temperature sensor located in the pothead.
Claims16
An electric submersible pumping system configured to produce fluids from a well, the submersible pumping system comprising:
- a motor drive;
- an electric motor driven by the motor drive, wherein the motor comprises a stator assembly that includes:
- a stator core formed by a plurality of laminates that each include a plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of laminates are aligned and stacked to produce a series of continuous stator slots;
- and
- magnet wire that extends through the continuous stator slots to form stator windings;
- a terminal junction on an upper end of the electric motor;
- a sensor module connected to a lower end of the electric motor;
- a power cable, wherein an upper end of the power cable is connected to the motor drive;
- a motor lead extension, wherein an upper end of the motor lead extension is connected to the power cable;
- a pothead connected between the motor lead extension and the upper end of the electric motor;
- a motor lead extension temperature sensor connected directly to the terminal junction, wherein the motor lead extension temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the motor lead extension and output a motor lead extension temperature signal to the sensor module;
- and
- a sensor wire that extends between the motor lead extension temperature sensor and the sensor module through one of the series of continuous stator slots.
An electric submersible pumping system configured to produce fluids from a well, the submersible pumping system comprising:
- a motor drive;
- an electric motor driven by the motor drive;
- a sensor module connected to a lower end of the electric motor;
- a power cable, wherein a first end of the power cable is connected to the motor drive;
- a terminal junction on an upper end of the electric motor;
- a pothead connected to the motor;
- a motor lead extension, wherein a first end of the motor lead extension is connected to a second end of the power cable, and wherein a second end of the motor lead extension comprises a plurality of conductors connected to the terminal junction through the pothead;
- and
- a motor lead extension temperature sensor connected directly into the plurality of conductors within the terminal junction.
A method for operating an electric submersible pumping system that includes an electric motor, a motor drive, a power cable connected to the motor drive, and a motor lead extension connected to a terminal junction in the electric motor through a pothead between the electric motor and the power cable, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a motor lead extension temperature sensor connected directly to conductors within the terminal junction on the electric motor;
- measuring a temperature of the motor lead extension with the motor lead extension temperature sensor;
- and
- outputting a motor lead extension temperature signal to a sensor module through a sensor wire connected to the sensor module, wherein the sensor wire passes through one of a series of continuous stator slots in the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.