Coiled Envelope Bladder for Submersible Pump Seal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Submersible pumping systems face challenges with seal bags that allow water permeation at high temperatures, requiring expensive metal barriers that are prone to mechanical failure due to repeated flexing, necessitating an improved seal bag that is both water-impermeable and durable.

Innovation Solution

A volumetric compensator assembly featuring a flat envelope bladder secured to a bladder support tube, constructed with impermeable metal materials and a coiled configuration to accommodate fluid expansion and contraction, allowing the use of high-temperature metallic materials while maintaining durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If metal barrier materials are used in seal bags to prevent water permeation at high temperatures, then water impermeability is improved, but mechanical reliability deteriorates due to repeated flexing causing mechanical failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater impermeabilityVSAvoidmechanical durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The seal bag employs a composite structure combining a polymer barrier material with an embedded metal mesh reinforcement. The polymer layer provides water impermeability at high temperatures, while the metal mesh embedded within the polymer provides mechanical strength and flexibility to withstand repeated flexing without failure. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If conventional polymer seal bags are used, then mechanical flexibility and durability are maintained, but water impermeability deteriorates at high temperatures due to water permeation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical durabilityVSAvoidwater impermeability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal bag employs a composite structure combining a polymer barrier material with an embedded metal mesh reinforcement. The polymer layer provides water impermeability at high temperatures, while the metal mesh embedded within the polymer provides mechanical strength and flexibility to withstand repeated flexing without failure. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If metal barrier materials are used to replace polymer materials in seal bags, then water impermeability at high temperatures is improved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewater impermeabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The seal bag employs a composite structure combining a polymer barrier material with an embedded metal mesh reinforcement. The polymer layer provides water impermeability at high temperatures, while the metal mesh embedded within the polymer provides mechanical strength and flexibility to withstand repeated flexing without failure. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by integrating the advantages of both materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a flexible and durable fluid isolation mechanism that prevents water permeation at high temperatures, enhancing the longevity and performance of submersible pumping systems by using metallic materials effectively.

Implementation Method 1

a flexible envelope bladder secured to a support tube... accommodate the expansion and contraction of the dielectric motor lubricant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

At high temperatures, water can permeate through the polymeric barrier materials that are used in modern seal bags. In such high temperature applications, metal barrier materials must be used.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation barrier: Diffusion Barrier

Data Source

PatentEP3642486B1Volumetric compensator for electric submersible pump
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 BAKER HUGHES ESP INC
  • EP3642486B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3642486B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3642486B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

A volumetric compensator assembly for use in the seal section of a pumping system includes an envelope bladder that in turn includes a flexible top sheet and a bottom sheet connected to the top sheet along a pair of side seams and an end seam. The top sheet and bottom sheet together define a bladder interior that has a variable capacity. The volumetric compensator assembly also has a bladder support tube and the envelope bladder is coiled around the bag support tube.