In-Line Submersible Pump Assembly for Lower Pressure Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric submersible pumps (ESPs) experience pumping losses due to directional changes in fluid flow, leading to increased energy consumption, internal wear, and reduced longevity, along with issues like turbulent flow and cavitation.
Innovation Solution
The submersible pump design incorporates a rotational assembly with in-line flow inducing sections, including a flow pressurizing section, rotational flow amplification section, and flow outlet section, featuring tapered impellers and vanes to minimize directional changes and enhance fluid flow efficiency, along with a structural arrangement that reduces frictional losses and cavitation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If conventional ESPs use sequential fluid pressurization stages with directional changes in fluid flow, then fluid pressurization is achieved, but pumping losses increase due to momentum loss and volumetric flow loss
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is divided into multiple sequential stages, each with its own impeller and diffuser assembly. This segmentation allows progressive pressurization of the fluid while maintaining efficient flow paths in each stage, reducing overall pumping losses compared to a single-stage design.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser assemblies feature curved vanes and streamlined passages that guide fluid flow smoothly from one stage to the next. This curvature design minimizes abrupt directional changes and momentum loss, reducing volumetric flow loss and energy consumption while maintaining effective fluid pressurization.
2Productivity
If conventional ESPs implement fluid pressurization stages, then fluid flow is generated, but internal pump wear accelerates due to additional energy load
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser assemblies are positioned to receive fluid flow before it enters the next impeller stage, pre-conditioning the flow to reduce turbulence and impact forces. This preliminary action reduces internal wear on pump components while maintaining high fluid flow productivity throughout operation.
3Stress or pressure
If conventional ESPs create turbulent fluid flow that decays into laminar flow, then fluid pressurization occurs, but side wall drag increases causing pumping losses
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser vanes and passage geometries are designed with optimized curvature profiles that maintain attached flow and reduce flow separation. This minimizes turbulent wake formation and subsequent decay into laminar flow, thereby reducing side wall drag and associated pumping losses while achieving required fluid pressurization.
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 design reduces pumping pressure losses, enhances volumetric flow efficiency, and increases flow capacity, resulting in improved performance, reliability, and durability by minimizing energy consumption and mitigating cavitation.
Implementation Method 1
A rotational assembly having a rotational axis and a rotational assembly housing having an interior space extending along a centerline axis of the rotational assembly housing. The rotational assembly is disposed within the interior space of the rotational assembly housing with the rotational axis extending colinearly with the centerline longitudinal axis of the rotational assembly housing.
Implementation Method 2
The submersible pump design incorporates a rotational assembly with in-line flow inducing sections, including a flow pressurizing section, a rotational flow amplification section, and a flow outlet section, which minimize detrimental directional changes and frictional losses, thereby reducing energy consumption and enhancing flow capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A submersible pump comprises a rotational assembly and a rotational assembly housing. The rotational assembly has a plurality of in-line flow inducing sections. A centerline longitudinal axis of each of the flow inducing sections extends colinearly with a rotational axis of the rotational assembly. A downstream end portion of a flow pressurizing section is engaged with an upstream end portion of a rotational flow amplification section. A downstream end portion of the rotational flow amplification section is engaged with an upstream end portion of a flow outlet section. The rotational assembly housing has an interior space extending along a centerline axis of the rotational assembly housing. The rotational assembly is disposed within the interior space of the rotational assembly housing. The rotational assembly and the rotational assembly are jointly configured for causing the rotational axis to extend colinearly with the centerline longitudinal axis of the rotational assembly housing.