Lateral Isolation Chamber for Subsea Motor Protector Length Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric submersible pumps (ESPs) face challenges when deployed subsea, particularly due to their length, which complicates handling and increases operational costs, as they require larger vessels for intervention operations and are more complex to manage.
Innovation Solution
A motor protector for ESPs is designed with a housing, radial bearings, thrust bearings, and shaft seals, along with an isolation chamber that reduces the length of the ESP by allowing pressure equalization between extracted fluids and motor oil, thereby protecting the motor from contamination and enabling thermal expansion, and absorbing shaft thrust.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional ESP design is used for subsea deployment, then motor protection from contamination is achieved, but ESP length increases making handling more complex and requiring larger vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation chamber is positioned laterally adjacent to the motor housing rather than extending axially, transforming the pressure equalization function from a longitudinal arrangement to a lateral one. This dimensional change reduces the axial length of the ESP while maintaining the isolation and pressure equalization functions, thereby improving handling ease without compromising motor protection.
2Reliability
If conventional ESP design is used for subsea deployment, then motor protection from contamination is achieved, but larger vessels are required for intervention operations
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the isolation chamber laterally adjacent to the motor housing rather than extending axially, the overall length of the ESP assembly is reduced. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the same motor protection functionality to be achieved with a more compact device that can be handled by smaller vessels, reducing operational costs and resource requirements.
3Length of moving object
If isolation chamber is positioned laterally, then ESP length is reduced, but pressure equalization between extracted fluid and motor oil must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation chamber acts as an intermediary pressure equalization zone positioned laterally between the extracted fluid environment and the motor oil. It includes a fluid communication path with the suction chamber and an expansion space that allows pressure equalization through thermal expansion and contraction, maintaining pressure balance without requiring axial extension of the ESP.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation chamber is designed to accommodate pressure variations through thermal expansion and contraction of the motor oil. By allowing temperature-induced volume changes in the isolation chamber, the system dynamically adjusts pressure equalization between the extracted fluid and motor oil, maintaining equilibrium without compromising the compact lateral design.
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 results in a shorter ESP length, reducing operational costs and simplifying handling, as ESPs can be managed with smaller vessels, while maintaining protection from contaminants and facilitating easier subsea deployment.
Implementation Method 1
The isolation chamber is configured to equalize a pressure of the second fluid with a pressure of the first fluid by allowing thermal expansion of the second fluid
Data Source
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AI summary
A motor protector 142 includes a housing 210 and a rotatable shaft 318 disposed within the housing 210 and a plurality of radial bearings 308,310 coupled to the rotatable shaft 318, for supporting the rotatable shaft 318 against the housing 210. The motor protector 142 further includes a thrust bearing 322 coupled to the rotatable shaft 318, for supporting the rotatable shaft 318 against the housing 210. The motor protector 142 also includes a shaft seal 302 coupled to the rotatable shaft 318, and configured to seal a first portion from a second portion of the housing. The motor protector 142 also includes an isolation chamber 208, coupled substantially lateral to the housing 210 and configured to separate a first fluid and a second fluid via the housing 210.