Inverted closed bellows with lubricated guide ring support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing submersible pumping systems face challenges in maintaining fluid impermeability and durability of metal bellows under high temperatures and repeated flexing, which can lead to mechanical failure and contamination from wellbore fluids.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an inverted bellows assembly with lubricated guide rings, where the guide rings are in contact with clean motor lubricant to reduce friction and improve durability, and the bellows are designed to safely compress and expand within a housing that isolates wellbore fluids, using a metal bellows with a corrugated structure and exchange ports for fluid communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If metal bellows are used to accommodate fluid expansion and contraction, then fluid impermeability under high temperatures is improved, but mechanical durability deteriorates due to repeated flexing and friction
Solution Approach 1:
A lubricant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the metal bellows and the wellbore fluid. The lubricant reduces direct contact and friction between the bellows and wellbore fluid, thereby reducing wear and improving mechanical durability while maintaining the bellows' fluid impermeability property under high temperature conditions
2Reliability
If seal bags are used to accommodate volumetric changes, then mechanical durability is improved, but fluid impermeability under high temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a metal bellows that can be designed with sufficient durability for the application, rather than relying on seal bags that may degrade under high temperature. The bellows is protected by the lubricant to extend its service life and maintain reliability under thermal conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If bellows are exposed to wellbore fluids, then fluid isolation is maintained, but friction increases leading to abrasion and barrier compromise
Solution Approach 1:
The lubricant serves as a protective intermediary layer between the bellows and wellbore fluid. This layer maintains the bellows' ability to isolate fluids while simultaneously reducing friction and preventing abrasion that would otherwise compromise the barrier integrity
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 enhances fluid impermeability and durability, reducing the risk of mechanical failure and contamination by utilizing clean motor lubricant to lubricate guide rings, ensuring effective isolation and accommodation of fluid expansion and contraction without compromising the seal.
Implementation Method 1
The guide rings are lubricated by the clean motor fluid surrounding the exterior of the metal bellows
Implementation Method 2
As the temperature of the lubricant fluid increases, the volumetric expansion of the fluid forces the bellows to expand
Implementation Method 3
The bellows may expand and contract many times during the operation of the electric submersible pump
Data Source
AI summary
A pumping system deployed in a wellbore has a motor, a pump driven by the motor, and a volumetric compensator connected to the motor to accommodate the expansion and contraction of fluids contained within the motor. The volumetric compensator has a head connected to the motor, a base that includes a fluid exchange port that extends to the wellbore, and a housing extending between the head and the base. The volumetric compensator further includes an inverted bellows assembly contained within the housing. The inverted bellows assembly includes a metal bellows that has an interior, an exterior, a proximal end and a distal end. The interior of the metal bellows is in fluid communication with the wellbore. The inverted bellows assembly may also include one or more guide rings connected to the exterior of the metal bellows. The guide rings are lubricated by the clean motor fluid surrounding the exterior of the metal bellows.