Particulate restriction for fluid pumps
AssigneesBaker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited, Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
InventorsUday Meduri, Carlo Maria Martini, Manuele Bigi, Saminathan Mani, Subrata Pal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pump for use with fluids having particulates has an inlet to allow the fluids into a chamber of the pump. The chamber has a direct flow path of at least one larger width than a side flow path, and has a movable blade and diffuser stack within the chamber. Power features of the pump cause the movable blade to impart a centrifugal force on the fluids within the chamber, while at least one protrusion located circumferentially with respect to the chamber causes the particulates of a direct flow path to gather or causes the particulates to divert from a direction associated with at least one cavity of the chamber.
Claims20
A system for use with a fluid having particulates, the system comprising:
- an inlet to allow the fluid into a chamber of the system, the chamber having a side flow path comprising a smaller width than a main flow path and located between at least one movable blade and at least one diffuser;
- power features to cause the at least one movable blade to impart a centrifugal force to the fluid within the chamber;
- at least one protrusion comprising a fin or vane located on an inner surface of the side flow path and between the at least one movable blade and the at least one diffuser, the at least one protrusion being a separate structure than the inner surface and being shaped to fit the inner surface of the side flow path, and the at least one protrusion to cause the particulates to gather or to cause the particulates to divert from a direction associated with the side flow path;
- and
- a cavity on a motor rotor side that is opposite to at least one impeller, the side flow path leading to the cavity, wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to divert gas from the main flow path into the side flow path to provide gas cushioning.
A pump to work with particulates of a fluid, the pump comprising:
- at least one protrusion comprising a fin or vane to be located on an inner surface of a side flow path that is distinct from a main flow path within the pump and further to be located between at least one movable blade and at least one diffuser, the at least one protrusion being a separate structure than the inner surface and being shaped to fit the inner surface of the side flow path, and the at least one protrusion to cause the particulates to gather or to cause the particulates to divert from a first direction associated with the side flow path and into a second direction associated with the main flow path;
- and
- a cavity on a motor rotor side that is opposite to at least one impeller, the side flow path leading to the cavity, wherein the at least one protrusion is configured to divert gas from the main flow path into the side flow path to provide gas cushioning.
A method for a pump to be used with a fluid having particulates, the method comprising:
- providing an inlet to allow the fluid into a chamber of the pump, the chamber having a side flow path comprising a smaller width than a main flow path and located between at least one movable blade and at least one diffuser;
- enabling, using power features associated with the pump, the at least one movable blade to impart a centrifugal force to the fluid within the chamber;
- enabling at least one protrusion as a separate structure than an inner surface of the side flow path, the at least one protrusion comprising a fin or vane and being shaped to fit the inner surface of the side flow path and to cause the particulates to gather or to cause the particulates to divert from a direction associated with the side flow path, the at least one protrusion to be located on the inner surface of the side flow path and between the at least one movable blade and the at least one diffuser;
- providing a cavity on a motor rotor side that is opposite to at least one impeller, the side flow path leading to the cavity;
- and
- effecting gas cushioning by the at least one protrusion diverting gas from the main flow path into the side flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.