Back to results
US 8,616,863 B2Granted
ESP with offset laterally loaded bearings
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorMichael A. Forsberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a pump, a pump motor, a seal section, a shaft coupling the pump motor to the pump, and bearing assemblies for radially retaining the shaft in place that are offset with respect to an axis of the shaft. The offset bearing assemblies produce side loads in the shaft that reduce shaft vibration during use. The bearing assemblies can be a combination of symmetric and asymmetric assemblies set in an alternating pattern along the length of the shaft.
Claims16
A method of controlling the loading of bearings in a submersible pumping system comprising:
- providing a submersible pumping system comprising a pump section, a motor section, a shaft extending between the pump and motor sections, a housing around the shaft and the pump and motor sections;
- mounting at least one coaxial bearing in an annular space between the shaft and the housing, the coaxial bearing having a bore through which the shaft passes, the bore being coaxial with an axis of the shaft;
- mounting at least one lateral force bearing in the annular space, the lateral force bearing having a bore through which the shaft passes, the bore of the lateral force bearing having an axis offset from the axis of the shaft, and fixing the lateral force bearing so as to prevent any radial movement of the lateral force bearing relative to the shaft;
- and
- filling the motor section with a lubricant liquid, immersing the pump section in well liquid and operating the pumping system so that when the shaft rotates within the coaxial and lateral force bearings, a liquid film occurs between the bearings and the shaft, and a lateral force is generated against the shaft by the lateral force bearing, which is reacted by the coaxial bearing in an opposite direction to the lateral force to reduce vibration of the shaft.
2 more elements
A submersible pumping system comprising:
- a pump section adapted to be immersed in a well liquid for pumping the well liquid;
- a motor section filled with a lubricant liquid;
- a shaft extending between and within the pump and motor sections;
- a housing encircling the shaft and the pump and motor sections;
- at least one coaxial bearing set in an annular space between the housing and the shaft, the coaxial bearing having a bore positioned substantially coaxial with the shaft;
- at least one lateral force bearing axially spaced from the coaxial bearing and positioned in the annular space, the lateral force bearing being fixed against radial movement relative to the housing, the lateral force bearing having a bore with an axis offset from an axis of the shaft, so that when the shaft is rotated, a lateral force is generated between the shaft and the lateral force bearing assembly in a direction lateral to the axis of the shaft to reduce vibration of the shaft;
- and
- wherein during operation, a liquid film from at least one of the liquids occurs between the coaxial bearing and the shaft and between the lateral force bearing and the shaft.
5 more elements
A submersible pumping system comprising:
- a pump section;
- a motor section;
- a shaft extending between and within the pump and motor sections;
- a housing encircling the shaft and the pump and motor sections;
- a coaxial bearing having a cylindrical bore that circumscribes the shaft and has a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft to create an annular clearance of uniform radius between the shaft and an inner surface of the bore;
- a lateral force bearing having a cylindrical bore that circumscribes the shaft and has a diameter larger than a diameter of the shaft to create an annular clearance between the shaft and an inner surface of the bore of the lateral force bearing, the annular clearance of the lateral force bearing varying around the shaft and being lesser on one side of the shaft than on an opposite side of the shaft;
- wherein during operation, a liquid film is in the annular clearances of each of the coaxial and lateral force bearings, the lateral force bearing creating a laterally directed force that is reacted by the coaxial bearing-to reduce vibration;
- and
- wherein the lateral force bearing is mounted within the housing so as to prevent radial movement of the lateral force bearing relative to the housing.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.