Integrated open impeller and diffuser for use with an electrical submersible pump

Abstract

An electrical submersible pump having a pump section with a stack diffusers and a stack of impellers mounted on a rotatable shaft. Flow paths extends through the pump section directed axially and radially within the impellers and diffusers. Vanes define the flow path through each impeller that provide fluid communication with an upstream side of each impeller and an outer circumference. An annular flow diverting hub is provided on a downstream side of each impeller. The hub has an outer surface that curves radially inward, and having a minimum radius proximate its middle portion. The diffusers are annular members coaxially mounted in a housing of the pump section. Passages define the flow path through each diffuser that extend axially along the pump section and radially between an outer and inner circumference of each diffuser. The outer surface of each hub makes up a portion of an associated passage.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.