PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for electric submersible pumps

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the field of bearing technology. One embodiment of this disclosure provides a PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump, which includes: a base, a sliding plate disposed on the base, a counterweight monitoring component disposed on the base, and an assembly connection component disposed on the base; the counterweight monitoring component includes a plug cover, and a counterweight block is disposed inside the counterweight cavity. The above technical solution solves the following problems faced by traditional thrust bearings (such as metal sliding bearings and rolling bearings) in long-term operation: insufficient wear resistance of the metal material, especially prone to abrasive wear in sand-containing oil, leading to increased bearing clearance, intensified vibration, and even shaft instability; significant frictional heat generation at high speeds, which traditional lubrication methods (such as oil bath lubrication) cannot dissipate quickly, easily causing bearing overheating failure; and the fixed pad structure cannot dynamically adjust the oil film thickness, making the oil film prone to rupture when the axial load fluctuates, resulting in shortened bearing life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of bearing technology, and more specifically, to a PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump. Background Technology

[0002] Submersible electric pumps (SAPs), as core equipment in oilfield development, are mainly used for lifting crude oil in deep and ultra-deep wells. Their operating environment is characterized by high rotational speeds (typically 3000-6000 r / min), large axial loads (up to several thousand Newtons), and strong corrosiveness (the oil contains H2S, Cl). - Due to its characteristics such as the presence of various media, the thrust bearing, as a key component of the submersible electric pump, plays a crucial role in balancing the axial force of the rotor and ensuring the stable operation of the shaft system. Traditional thrust bearings (such as metal sliding bearings and rolling bearings) face the following problems during long-term operation: insufficient wear resistance of the metal material, especially in oil containing sand, easily leads to abrasive wear, resulting in increased bearing clearance, intensified vibration, and even shaft instability; significant frictional heat generation at high speeds, which is difficult to dissipate quickly using traditional lubrication methods (such as oil bath lubrication), easily causing bearing overheating and failure; and the fixed bearing structure cannot dynamically adjust the oil film thickness, making the oil film prone to rupture when the axial load fluctuates, leading to a shortened bearing life.

[0003] PCD (polycrystalline diamond) material is valued for its ultra-high hardness (HV≥8000), excellent wear resistance (more than 100 times higher than cemented carbide), and good thermal conductivity (2000W / m). With its characteristics such as K), it has become an ideal choice for solving the above problems. The tilting pad structure, through the flexible support of multiple pads, can automatically adjust the tilt angle according to the load change, forming the optimal load-bearing oil film, which significantly improves the stability and life of the bearing. Therefore, the development of tilting pad thrust bearings based on PCD material is an inevitable trend for submersible electric pumps to develop towards higher efficiency and longer life. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above-mentioned defects, embodiments of this disclosure provide a PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for submersible electric pumps, which solves the following problems faced by traditional thrust bearings (such as metal sliding bearings and rolling bearings) in long-term operation: insufficient wear resistance of metal materials, especially in sand-containing oil, which easily leads to abrasive wear, resulting in increased bearing clearance, aggravated vibration, and even shaft instability; significant frictional heat generation at high speeds, which is difficult to dissipate quickly using traditional lubrication methods (such as oil bath lubrication), easily causing bearing overheating failure; and the fixed pad structure cannot dynamically adjust the oil film thickness, which easily leads to oil film rupture when axial load fluctuates, resulting in shortened bearing life.

[0005] According to one aspect, at least one embodiment of this disclosure provides a PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump, comprising: A base, on which a sliding plate is provided; A counterweight monitoring component, wherein the counterweight monitoring component is disposed on the base; An assembly connection component is disposed on the base; The counterweight monitoring component includes a plug cover, which is opened on the slide plate. A plug sleeve is provided inside the plug cover. An angle sensor is provided on the inner side wall of the plug sleeve. A counterweight cavity is provided inside the plug sleeve. A counterweight cover is provided at the upper end of the counterweight cavity. A counterweight block is provided inside the counterweight cavity.

[0006] As a further technical solution, the counterweight cover is provided with a positioning slot, which corresponds to the position of the counterweight block.

[0007] As a further technical solution, the assembly connection component includes a support plate, which is disposed on the base. A tile is disposed on the front side of the support plate, and the tile fits against the base. A sliding bearing is disposed on the side wall of the slide plate.

[0008] As a further technical solution, the base is provided with an insert groove, the insert groove is provided with a threaded hole, the support plate is provided with a fixing bolt, and the fixing bolt is inserted into the threaded hole.

[0009] As a further technical solution, the number of counterweights is several, and the multiple counterweights are evenly arranged in the counterweight cavity.

[0010] As a further technical solution, the inner sidewall of the plug cover is provided with a limiting groove, and the outer sidewall of the plug sleeve is provided with a positioning slip ring, which is embedded inside the limiting groove.

[0011] As a further technical solution, the base, the slide plate, the support plate and the central part of the sliding bearing are all provided with through holes, and the positions of the multiple through holes are corresponding.

[0012] As a further technical solution, the monitoring cavity of the angle sensor corresponds to the position of the through hole.

[0013] As a further technical solution, the base, the slide plate, the support plate, and the sliding bearing are sequentially assembled to form a cylindrical structure.

[0014] As a further technical solution, the number of counterweight cavities is two, and the two counterweight cavities are respectively arranged on opposite sides inside the plug sleeve.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the embodiments disclosed herein are as follows: 1. In this disclosure, an angle sensor and a counterweight are installed inside the plug-in cover on the slide plate. When the bearing is subjected to axial load or tilts, the counterweight is displaced due to gravity. The angle sensor can monitor the angle change of the plug-in sleeve (such as tilt angle and offset direction) in real time.

[0016] 2. In this disclosure, the tile is attached to the front of the support plate by fixing bolts and threaded holes of the base. The slide plate is spliced ​​to the base by sliding bearing. The central through holes of each component are aligned to form a cylindrical structure. Each component can be disassembled and replaced independently (such as tile, counterweight module, sliding bearing, etc.). There is no need to disassemble the bearing as a whole, which greatly reduces the maintenance complexity and downtime. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments of this disclosure will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the content of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure and these drawings without any creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a structure in one embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the overall structure of this disclosure; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the skateboard disclosed herein; Figure 4 This is an axonometric view of the counterweight cavity of this disclosure; In the diagram: 1. Base; 2. Slide plate; 3. Counterweight monitoring component; 3-1. Connecting cover; 3-2. Connecting sleeve; 3-3. Angle sensor; 3-4. Counterweight cavity; 3-5. Counterweight cover; 3-6. Counterweight block; 3-7. Positioning slot; 4. Assembly connection component; 4-1. Support plate; 4-2. Tile; 4-3. Sliding bearing; 4-4. Mounting groove; 4-5. Threaded hole; 4-6. Fixing bolt; 5. Limiting slide groove; 6. Positioning slip ring; 7. Through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present disclosure will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0020] To keep the drawings concise, each drawing only schematically shows the parts relevant to the disclosure; these do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some drawings, only one of components with the same structure or function is schematically shown, or only one is labeled. In this document, "one" not only means "only one," but can also mean "more than one," and "several" includes "two" and "more than two."

[0021] In this document, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linkage" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they can refer to mechanical connections or electrical connections; they can refer to direct connections or indirect connections through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this disclosure based on the specific circumstances.

[0022] In this disclosure, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0023] In the description of this embodiment, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of description and simplification of operation, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this disclosure.

[0024] Furthermore, in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0025] like Figures 1-4 As shown, it illustrates a PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to this disclosure, comprising: Base 1, with a sliding plate 2 mounted on base 1; Counterweight monitoring component 3 is mounted on base 1; Assembly and connection component 4 is mounted on base 1; The counterweight monitoring component 3 includes a plug cover 3-1, which is located on the slide plate 2. A plug sleeve 3-2 is provided inside the plug cover 3-1. An angle sensor 3-3 is provided on the inner side wall of the plug sleeve 3-2. A counterweight cavity 3-4 is provided inside the plug sleeve 3-2. A counterweight cover 3-5 is provided at the upper end of the counterweight cavity 3-4. A counterweight block 3-6 is provided inside the counterweight cavity 3-4.

[0026] The assembly connection component 4 includes a support plate 4-1, which is set on the base 1. A tile 4-2 is provided on the front side of the support plate 4-1, and the tile 4-2 is attached to the base 1. A sliding bearing 4-3 is provided on the side wall of the slide plate 2.

[0027] In some examples, the position of the plug sleeve 3-2 is fixed by the locking screw at the end of the slide to prevent circumferential rotation. An angle sensor 3-3 (such as a high-precision MEMS tilt sensor) is attached to the inner wall of the plug sleeve 3-2. The sensor output is calibrated using standard angle blocks (such as 0°, 45°, 90°) to ensure that the angle monitoring error is ≤ ±0.5°. In the two symmetrical counterweight cavities 3-4 of the plug sleeve 3-2, the counterweight block 3-6 is made of stainless steel with an anti-slip treatment (such as knurling).

[0028] Connect to an external data acquisition module (such as a PLC analog input module); use shielded cables for signal lines to reduce electromagnetic interference.

[0029] Apply thermally conductive adhesive to the back of tile 4-2 (PCD material) and attach it to the pre-set area on the front of support plate 4-1.

[0030] like Figures 1-4 As shown in the figure, this embodiment proposes that the counterweight cover 3-5 is provided with a positioning slot 3-7, and the positioning slot 3-7 corresponds to the position of the counterweight block 3-6.

[0031] In some examples, the counterweight cover 3-5 is aligned with the upper end of the counterweight cavity 3-4, so that the positioning slot 3-7 is precisely aligned with the top protrusion of the counterweight block 3-6. The counterweight cover 3-5 is fixed to the plug sleeve 3-2 by countersunk screws to ensure that the counterweight block 3-6 does not wobble after assembly.

[0032] For example, such as Figure 1 As shown, the base 1 is provided with an insert groove 4-4, and the insert groove 4-4 is provided with a threaded hole 4-5. The support plate 4-1 is provided with a fixing bolt 4-6, which is inserted into the threaded hole 4-5.

[0033] In some examples, the support plate 4-1 is placed in the mounting groove 4-4 of the base 1, and the fixing bolt 4-6 is aligned with the threaded hole 4-5 of the base 1 (thread specification M6×1.0). The bolts are then tightened in a diagonal sequence using a torque wrench.

[0034] For example, such as Figure 4 As shown, there are several counterweights 3-6, and multiple counterweights 3-6 are evenly arranged in the counterweight cavity 3-4.

[0035] In some examples, the counterweights 3-6 are stacked sequentially according to a preset weight, with the weight gradient of each counterweight 3-6 being 50g, 100g, and 200g.

[0036] For example, such as Figure 3 As shown, the inner wall of the plug cover 3-1 is provided with a limiting groove 5, and the outer wall of the plug sleeve 3-2 is provided with a positioning slip ring 6, which is embedded in the inside of the limiting groove 5.

[0037] In some examples, the positioning slip ring 6 on the outside of the plug sleeve 3-2 is aligned with the limiting slide groove 5 inside the plug cover 3-1 of the slide plate 2 and slowly pushed in axially until the positioning slip ring 6 is fully embedded in the slide groove (fitting clearance ≤ 0.01mm).

[0038] For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the center parts of the base 1, the slide plate 2, the support plate 4-1 and the sliding bearing 4-3 are all provided with through holes 7, and the positions of the multiple through holes 7 are corresponding.

[0039] In some examples, the angle sensor 3-3 signal line is led out through the through hole 7 of the base 1.

[0040] For example, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, the monitoring cavity of the angle sensor 3-3 corresponds to the position of the through hole 7. The base 1, the slide plate 2, the support plate 4-1 and the sliding bearing 4-3 are sequentially spliced ​​to form a cylindrical structure. There are two counterweight cavities 3-4, which are respectively set on opposite sides inside the plug sleeve 3-2.

[0041] In some examples, the components are stacked in the order of “base 1 → slide plate 2 → support plate 4-1 → sliding bearing 4-3”, and the mandrel is inserted through the through hole 7. A coordinate measuring machine is used to monitor the coaxiality of the outer circles of each component.

[0042] During use, the counterweight 3-6 in the counterweight cavity 3-4 is kept vertical by gravity. When the bearing is subjected to axial load (such as the axial thrust of the submersible pump) or tilts, the counterweight 3-6 will be displaced due to inertia or gravity, causing the plug sleeve 3-2 to deflect at an angle relative to the plug cover 3-1 of the slide plate 2. The angle sensor 3-3 (such as a gyroscope or tilt sensor) monitors the angle change (θ value) of the plug sleeve 3-2 in real time and transmits the signal to the control system to reflect the force balance state of the bearing.

[0043] By increasing or decreasing the number of counterweights 3-6 in the counterweight cavity 3-4 (multiple counterweights 3-6 are evenly distributed), the overall moment of inertia is changed to adapt to load fluctuations under different working conditions. The two counterweight cavities 3-4 are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the plug sleeve 3-2. By adjusting the mass difference of the counterweights 3-6 on both sides, the bearing misalignment trend is offset, and active balance is achieved (for example, if the load on the left side is too large, the mass of the counterweight 3-6 on the right side is increased to compensate).

[0044] It should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this disclosure and are not intended to limit it. Although this disclosure has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this disclosure, and all such modifications and substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump, characterized in that, include: A base (1), on which a sliding plate (2) is provided; A counterweight monitoring component (3) is disposed on the base (1); Assembly and connection component (4), which is disposed on the base (1); The counterweight monitoring component (3) includes a plug cover (3-1), which is opened on the slide plate (2). A plug sleeve (3-2) is provided inside the plug cover (3-1). An angle sensor (3-3) is provided on the inner side wall of the plug sleeve (3-2). A counterweight cavity (3-4) is provided inside the plug sleeve (3-2). A counterweight cover (3-5) is provided at the upper end of the counterweight cavity (3-4). A counterweight block (3-6) is provided inside the counterweight cavity (3-4).

2. The PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The counterweight cover (3-5) is provided with a positioning slot (3-7), which corresponds to the position of the counterweight block (3-6).

3. The PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The assembly connection component (4) includes a support plate (4-1), which is disposed on the base (1). A tile (4-2) is disposed on the front side of the support plate (4-1), and the tile (4-2) is attached to the base (1). A sliding bearing (4-3) is disposed on the side wall of the slide plate (2).

4. The PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 3, characterized in that, The base (1) is provided with an insert groove (4-4), and the insert groove (4-4) is provided with a threaded hole (4-5). The support plate (4-1) is provided with a fixing bolt (4-6), and the fixing bolt (4-6) is inserted into the threaded hole (4-5).

5. The PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the counterweights (3-6) is several, and the multiple counterweights (3-6) are evenly arranged in the counterweight cavity (3-4).

6. The PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the plug cover (3-1) is provided with a limiting groove (5), and the outer wall of the plug sleeve (3-2) is provided with a positioning slip ring (6), which is embedded in the interior of the limiting groove (5).

7. A PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 3, characterized in that, The base (1), the slide plate (2), the support plate (4-1), and the sliding bearing (4-3) all have through holes (7) in their center portions, and the positions of the multiple through holes (7) are corresponding.

8. A PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 7, characterized in that, The monitoring cavity of the angle sensor (3-3) corresponds to the position of the through hole (7).

9. A PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 3, characterized in that, The base (1), the slide plate (2), the support plate (4-1), and the sliding bearing (4-3) are sequentially assembled to form a cylindrical structure.

10. A PCD tilting pad thrust bearing for a submersible electric pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, There are two counterweight cavities (3-4), and the two counterweight cavities (3-4) are respectively arranged on opposite sides inside the plug sleeve (3-2).

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