Downhole centrifugal pumps including axial support features and related components and methods

A centrifugal pump comprising:

• a bottom impeller;
• a bearing support located below the bottom impeller;
• a bushing fixedly coupled to the bearing support;
• a flanged bearing positioned at least partially within the bushing, the flanged bearing having a flange extending radially over at least a portion of an upper surface of the bushing;
• and
• a shaft passing through the bottom impeller, the bearing support, the bushing, and the flanged bearing, the shaft rotationally coupled to the bottom impeller and the flanged bearing and configured to impart rotation to the bottom impeller and the flanged bearing relative to the bearing support and the bushing;
• and
• wherein the flange of the flanged bearing extends radially beyond an outer diameter of the bushing.

A downhole centrifugal pump comprising:

• a housing;
• a plurality of diffusers fixedly coupled to the housing;
• a plurality of impellers alternatingly interspersed between the plurality of diffusers;
• a bearing support located below the plurality of impellers and fixedly coupled to the housing, the bearing support comprising a central opening having a shoulder in a lower portion of the central opening;
• a bushing positioned within and fixedly coupled to the central opening of the bearing support, with a bottom surface of the bushing positioned adjacent to the shoulder, and the shoulder sized relative to the bushing to prevent downward axial movement of the bushing beyond the shoulder;
• a flanged bearing with an annular portion and a flange portion, the annular portion of the flanged bearing positioned at least partially within the bushing and at least a portion of the flange portion extending radially over an upper surface of the bushing, the upper surface of the bushing sized relative to the flange portion to prevent downward axial movement of the flange portion beyond the upper surface of the bushing;
• and
• a shaft passing through the plurality of diffusers, the plurality of impellers, the bearing support, the bushing, and the flanged bearing, the shaft rotationally coupled to the impellers and the flanged bearing and configured to impart rotation to the impellers and the flanged bearing relative to the housing;
• and
• wherein the flange portion of the flanged bearing extends radially beyond an outer diameter of the bushing.