Restrictive Flow Area Section in Well Pump Intake
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submersible well pumps face vapor lock issues due to gas entrainment in the fluid, where the applied forces compress gas rather than lifting the fluid to the surface, hindering efficient fluid extraction.
Innovation Solution
A well pump assembly with a converging orifice passage in the intake member, which creates a pressure change and increases fluid velocity, separating gas from the liquid by reducing the flow area, allowing gas to be pushed back into the annulus and facilitating efficient fluid lifting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If gas is entrained in the well fluid, then the pump can handle higher gas volumes, but vapor lock occurs and forces compress gas instead of lifting fluid
Solution Approach 1:
The intake passage is segmented into different sections with varying flow areas. The restrictive flow area section creates a localized constriction that separates gas and liquid phases by causing gas to accumulate in the expansion section while liquid flows through the restrictive section, enabling phase separation within the intake passage
Solution Approach 2:
The intake passage has non-uniform cross-sectional area along its length, with a restrictive flow area section that creates localized high velocity and a subsequent expansion section that creates localized low velocity and high pressure. This local variation in flow characteristics enables gas to be pushed into the expansion section while liquid continues forward
2Reliability
If forces are applied to the liquid to lift it to surface, then fluid lifting is achieved, but gas is compressed instead of being separated
Solution Approach 1:
The restrictive flow area section performs preliminary gas separation before the fluid moving mechanism applies lifting forces. By creating a high velocity zone followed by an expansion section, gas is pushed into the expansion area and separated from liquid ahead of time, so that subsequent compression forces act primarily on liquid rather than compressing gas
3Reliability
If the flow area in the intake passage is reduced, then gas separation is improved, but the pumping capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from uniform one-dimensional flow to two-dimensional flow patterns by creating a restrictive section followed by an expansion section. This dimensional change in flow area allows gas to be redirected into the expansion zone while liquid maintains forward momentum, achieving separation without significantly reducing overall pumping capacity
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 effectively separates gas from the liquid, enhancing the pumping efficiency by ensuring that the applied forces compress the fluid rather than the gas, thereby improving the lifting of fluids to the surface.
Implementation Method 1
A well pump assembly with a converging orifice passage in the intake member, which creates a pressure change and increases fluid velocity, separating gas from the liquid by reducing the flow area
Data Source
AI summary
A well pump assembly has a pump housing with an intake member. A barrel has a barrel head secured to and extending downward from the intake member. A plunger is reciprocally carried in the barrel bore. An intake passage extends coaxially in the intake member and the barrel head into the barrel bore above the plunger. An intake port extends from an exterior of the intake member to the intake passage. A nozzle is secured within in the intake passage. The nozzle has an orifice passage with a downward converging section extending downward to a constant diameter section. The constant diameter section has a smaller diameter than the intake passage.