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US 2022/0065266 A1Published application
Downhole centrifugal pump diffuser with protuberant vanes and related pumps and methods
AssigneeApergy Esp Systems, LLC
InventorsBaojun Song, David S. Baillargeon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Stationary diffusers, downhole centrifugal pumps, and methods of pressurizing a fluid may include vanes configured to direct fluid flow through fluid passageways, where at least some of the vanes include a bulge or protrusion extending axially beyond the fluid passageways into an open rotational volume of the diffuser in a direction toward an impeller.
Claims20
A stationary diffuser for use in a downhole centrifugal pump, the stationary diffuser comprising:
- a first axial side for receiving fluid from a first impeller rotationally coupled to the stationary diffuser at the first axial side;
- a second axial side for transferring the fluid to a second impeller rotationally coupled to the stationary diffuser at the second axial side;
- an inner shaft housing defining a central axis cavity extending from the first axial side to the second axial side, the inner shaft housing configured to accept a rotational shaft passing through the central axis cavity to impart rotation to the first impeller and the second impeller;
- and
- vanes positioned radially outward from and at least partially around the inner shaft housing, the vanes configured to direct fluid flow through fluid passageways defined by the vanes from the first axial side to the second axial side, at least some of the vanes comprising:
- a first upstream end for receiving the fluid output by the first impeller;
- and
- a second downstream end comprising a bulge extending axially beyond the fluid passageways into an open rotational volume of the stationary diffuser in a direction toward the second impeller, the open rotational volume of the stationary diffuser configured to be defined between the stationary diffuser and the second impeller.
5 more elements
A downhole centrifugal pump comprising:
- impellers;
- a rotational shaft passing to impart the impellers;
- and
- stationary diffusers positioned between two of the impellers, at least some of the stationary diffusers comprising:
- a first axial side for receiving fluid from a first impeller of the impellers coupled to a stationary diffuser of the stationary diffusers at the first axial side;
- a second axial side for transferring the fluid to a second impeller of the impellers coupled to the stationary diffuser at the second axial side;
- an inner shaft housing defining a central axis cavity defined by the stationary diffuser from the first axial side to the second axial side, the rotational shaft extending through the inner shaft housing;
- and
- vanes positioned radially outward from and at least partially around the inner shaft housing, the vanes configured to direct fluid flow from the first axial side to the second axial side through fluid passageways defined by the vanes that are configured at least partially radially encompass the fluid, at least some of the vanes defining a protrusion extending axially beyond the fluid passageways defined by the vanes into an open rotational volume defined between the stationary diffuser and the second impeller.
6 more elements
A method of pressurizing a fluid with a downhole centrifugal pump, the method comprising:
- imparting kinetic energy to the fluid by passing the fluid through a first rotating impeller;
- outputting the fluid into a diffuser positioned between the first rotating impeller and a second rotating impeller;
- directing the fluid through fluid channels defined in by vanes in the diffuser;
- outputting the fluid from the fluid channels in the diffuser proximate protuberances defined by terminal ends of the vanes that extend axially past the fluid channels in a direction toward the second impeller in an open section defined between an outlet of the fluid channels and an inlet of vanes of the second impeller;
- and
- imparting potential energy to the fluid with the protuberances of the vanes;
- and
- imputing the fluid into the vanes of the second impeller.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.