Radially Split Multiphase Pump Rotor Balance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multiphase pumps face challenges in maintaining rotor balance and controlling vibrations, especially when handling multiphase fluids with varying gas and liquid ratios, leading to efficiency drops and potential damage due to uncontrolled rotor vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A radially split multiphase pump design with stage segments and a sealing support structure, allowing for easier assembly and maintenance while maintaining rotor balance, and incorporating a diffuser split into semi-circular rings to reduce hydraulic instabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the number of compression stages is increased to compress multiphase mixtures with higher gas content to higher pressures, then the pump can handle higher pressure applications, but the rotor becomes longer and more difficult to control in terms of vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is divided into multiple compression stages, each with its own impeller and diffuser sections. This segmentation allows the long rotor to be managed as modular units, reducing vibration control difficulty while achieving high compression pressures through multiple staged compression
Solution Approach 2:
Diffusers are introduced as intermediary components between impeller sections. These diffusers convert kinetic energy to pressure energy and serve as vibration-damping elements, reducing the transmission of vibrations along the long rotor while maintaining compression efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ratio of gaseous phase in the multiphase mixture increases, then the pump can handle higher gas content fluids, but the rotor balance becomes more difficult to maintain and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed with dynamic balancing capabilities that allow adjustment of rotor characteristics. The rotor balance can be optimized for different gas content conditions, enabling the pump to maintain stable operation across a wide range of gas volume fractions from 0% to 100%
Solution Approach 2:
The pump design allows changing operational parameters such as rotational speed and stage activation to adapt to varying gas content. By adjusting these parameters, the rotor balance can be maintained even when handling multiphase mixtures with different gas proportions
3Power
If more compression stages are added to the pump, then higher pressures can be achieved, but the rotor length increases making vibration control more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is segmented into modular compression stages that can be configured in different arrangements. This modular structure achieves high compression capability while managing rotor length and complexity through standardized, repeatable units
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple impeller and diffuser sections are nested along the rotor shaft in a compact arrangement. This nesting optimizes the use of space, achieving high compression stages without proportionally increasing rotor length and complexity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A multiphase pump is proposed for conveying a multiphase process fluid a low pressure side (LP) to a high pressure side (HP), comprising an outer housing and a casing (10), the casing (10) having a pump inlet (2) and a pump outlet (3) for the process fluid, the multiphase pump (1)further comprising a pump rotor (4) for rotating about an axial direction (A) arranged within the casing (1), with the pump rotor (4) being designed for conveying the process fluid from the pump inlet (2) to the pump outlet (3). The multiphase pump is characterized in that the casing comprises a plurality of stage segments (51, 52, 71, 72, 73), and the plurality of stage segments (51, 52, 71, 72, 73) comprise an individual stage-segment (71, 72, 73), a low pressure segment (51) arranged at the pump inlet (2) and a high pressure segment (52) arranged at the pump outlet (3), wherein the individual stage-segment (71, 72, 73) is arranged between the high pressure segment (52) and the low pressure segment (51), and the stage segments (51, 52, 71, 72, 73) are held together by a sealing support structure (81, 82), the casing (10) being arranged within the outer housing.