Coupling an electric machine and fluid-end
AssigneeFMC Technologies, Inc.
InventorsChristopher E. CUNNINGHAM, Co Si HUYNH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end that has a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and includes a hermetically sealed cavity. An electric machine, such as a motor and/or generator, is disposed entirely within the cavity of the electric machine housing. The electric machine includes an electric machine stator and an electric machine rotor. A magnetic coupling couples the electric machine rotor and the fluid rotor.
Claims23
A submersible fluid system for operating submersed in a body of water, the system comprising:
- a fluid-end comprising a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing;
- an electric machine housing coupled to the fluid-end housing and comprising a hermetically sealed cavity;
- an electric machine disposed entirely within the cavity of the electric machine housing, the electric machine comprising an electric machine stator and an electric machine rotor;
- and
- a magnetic coupling that couples the electric machine rotor and the fluid rotor.
A method of coupling an electric machine to a fluid-end in a submersible fluid system, the method comprising:
- maintaining a rotor of the electric machine in an area of a first pressure hermetically sealed from a fluid rotor of the fluid-end in an area of a second, different pressure;
- and
- coupling the rotor of the electric machine to the fluid rotor with a magnetic coupling through a stationary wall between the rotor of the electric machine and the fluid rotor.
A fluid system, comprising:
- a pump shaft contained in a submersible pump housing, the pump shaft having a pump permanent magnet;
- a rotor extending from an end of an electric machine housing, the rotor having a rotor permanent magnet and residing in a hermetically sealed cavity defined by the electric machine housing;
- and
- the pump permanent magnet residing proximate to the rotor permanent magnet communicating magnetic flux between the rotor permanent magnet and the pump permanent magnet and coupling the pump shaft with the rotor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.