Downhole sand trap

A solids trap module for an electrical submersible pump (ESP) of a wellbore, comprising:

• a body;
• a flow modifier configured to be a solid obstruction positioned axially within the body and statically affixed to the body via one or more ribs or spokes,
• wherein an uphole-facing surface of the flow modifier forms a solids buffer,
• wherein the flow modifier is in the form of a rounded cone, an apex of the rounded cone having a spherical cap positioned downhole and a base of the rounded cone forming the solids buffer;
• and
• a fluid passage defined by an inner surface of the body and an outer surface of the flow modifier, the fluid passage comprising:
• a first segment configured to redirect a fluid flowing through the solids trap module in a first angular direction relative to an axial axis of the solids trap module to form a redirected fluid flow;
• and
• a second segment, fluidly connected to the first segment, configured to redirect at least a portion of the redirected fluid flow in a second angular direction different than the first angular direction to pass over at least a portion of the solids buffer,
• wherein, when the ESP is not operating, the first segment, the second segment, the body, and the flow modifier are configured to cooperate to cause settling of solids entrained by the fluid onto the solids buffer of the flow modifier as the fluid flows downhole through the solids trap module, and
• wherein, when the ESP is operating, the first segment, the second segment, the body, and the flow modifier are configured to cooperate to cause the solids settled on the solids buffer to be re-entrained into the fluid as the fluid flows uphole through the solids trap module.