Hollow Rotor Progressive Cavity Pump for Low-Pressure Well Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric submersible pumps (ESPs) experience inefficiencies and mechanical issues due to reduced well pressure and fluid volume, leading to limited operating capacity and increased vibrations, which are not addressed by low flow systems.
Innovation Solution
A hollow rotor configured within a stator of an electric submersible progressive cavity pump (ESPCP) reduces vibrations and increases operating capacity by allowing rotation over a wide range of speeds, from 0 to 1500 RPM, using a composite stator and hollow rotor design with a spiral or helical shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional ESP is used to pump subterranean fluid, then fluid transfer is achieved, but efficiency is reduced and mechanical problems increase when pressure and fluid volume are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters by enabling the pump to operate efficiently across a wide rotational speed range (0-1500 RPM). The progressive cavity pump design with hollow rotor allows adaptation to varying pressure and fluid volume conditions, maintaining efficiency where conventional ESPs fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow rotor design enables dynamic operation at variable speeds, allowing the pump to adapt to changing well conditions. The rotor can rotate at different speeds to optimize performance for low pressure/volume or high pressure/volume scenarios, providing mechanical advantage over fixed-speed ESPs.
2Reliability
If low flow systems are used to accommodate lower pressure and volume, then mechanical problems are reduced, but operating speed is limited resulting in reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables operation across a wide speed range (0-1500 RPM) by using a progressive cavity pump with hollow rotor design. This allows the system to maintain mechanical stability at lower speeds while also achieving high speeds when needed, unlike low flow systems that are limited in their operating range.
3Reliability
If ESP operates at limited speeds due to reduced pressure and volume, then mechanical stability is maintained, but productivity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow rotor in the progressive cavity pump enables dynamic speed adjustment, allowing the system to operate stably at various speeds including high speeds up to 1500 RPM. This dynamic capability maintains operational stability while significantly improving fluid capture efficiency compared to limited-speed operations.
4Productivity
If different pumps are used for low and high-speed operations, then optimal performance is achieved for each condition, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The progressive cavity pump with hollow rotor is designed as a universal pump capable of operating efficiently across the entire speed range from 0 to 1500 RPM. This single pump design replaces the need for multiple specialized pumps, reducing system complexity while maintaining optimal performance for both low and high-speed operations.
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 ESPCP system operates efficiently with reduced vibrations and increased durability, enabling higher production and reduced maintenance, allowing seamless transitions between low and high-speed operations without requiring different pumps.
Implementation Method 1
a hollow rotor configured to rotate within the stator. The rotor is configured to pump the fluid via a plurality of progressive cavities
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes an electric submersible progressive cavity pump (ESPCP). The ESPCP includes a stator having an internal bore, and a hollow rotor disposed in the internal bore of the stator, where the hollow rotor is configured to rotate within the internal bore to pump a fluid via a plurality of progressive cavities.