Method of preventing damage to a pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12258979-B2
Application number	US-202418401844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2024
Priority date	Oct 9, 2020
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A multiphase pump includes a housing having a flow inlet and a flow outlet which are fluidly connected to each other via a flowpath, a rotor arranged in the flow path which propels a fluid from the flow inlet to the flow outlet via the flow path, the rotor has a longitudinal axis which extends for a length of the rotor and a multiphase impeller arrangement, at least one leak path which permits a reverse flow of the fluid from the flow outlet to the flow inlet, and at least one channel which is arranged within the housing, the at least one channel directs a liquid from a liquid source to one of the at least one leak path in the multiphase pump.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multiphase pump comprising:
a housing comprising a flow inlet and a flow outlet which are fluidly connected to each other via a flow path;
a rotor arranged in the flow path of the housing, the rotor being configured to propel a fluid from the flow inlet to the flow outlet via the flow path, the rotor comprising a longitudinal axis which extends for a length of the rotor and a multiphase impeller arrangement;
at least one leak path which is configured to permit a reverse flow of the fluid from the flow outlet to the flow inlet; and
at least one channel which is arranged within the housing, the at least one channel being configured to direct a liquid from a liquid source to one of the at least one leak path in the multiphase pump.

2. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer region of the flow path, and a lower-density zone located in a radially inner region of the flow path, and
the at least one channel comprises an outlet located adjacent to the lower-density zone so as to be in a fluid communication therewith.

3. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer region of the flow path, and a lower-density zone located in a radially inner region of the flow path, and
the liquid source is at least partially defined by the higher-density zone so as to be in a fluid communication therewith.

4. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one channel comprises an inlet located adjacent to the higher-density zone so as to be in a fluid communication therewith.

5. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer region of the flow path, and a lower-density zone located in a radially inner region of the flow path,
the housing further comprises at least one location of reduced diameter,
the housing is configured to engage the rotor at the at least one location of reduced diameter, and
a location of engagement between the housing and the rotor is in the radially inner lower-density zone of the flow path.

6. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 5 , wherein,
the at least one channel comprises an outlet at the location of engagement between the housing and the rotor, and
the one of the at least one leak path is located at the location of engagement between the housing and the rotor so that the at least one channel is further configured direct a liquid to the location of engagement between the housing and the rotor.

7. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer region of the flow path, and a lower-density zone located in a radially inner region of the flow path,
the rotor further comprises a drive shaft which is coupled to the multiphase impeller arrangement,
the housing is configured to radially support the drive shaft of the rotor at an at least one radial support location which is in the lower-density zone of the flow path, and
the one of the at least one leak path is located between the drive shaft and the housing at the at least one radial support location so that the at least one channel directs a liquid to the at least one radial support location.

8. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a wear ring which is located between the multiphase impeller arrangement and the housing,
wherein,
the one of the at least one leak path is located between the wear ring and the multiphase impeller arrangement.

9. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the fluid source is at least partially defined by a source of liquid which is external to the multiphase pump, and
the at least one channel comprises an external inlet located on an external surface of the multiphase pump.

10. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 , wherein,
the flow inlet and the flow outlet are defined by the housing, and
the flow outlet is located at a midpoint along the longitudinal axis of the rotor.

11. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 1 ,
wherein the rotor further comprises a further multiphase impeller arrangement which has an opposite orientation to the multiphase impeller arrangement,
the multiphase impeller arrangement is configured to impart a velocity to a fluid in a first direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and
the further multiphase impeller arrangement is configured to impart a velocity to a fluid in a second opposite direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

12. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 11 , wherein,
the housing further comprises at least one location of reduced diameter,
the housing is configured to engage the rotor at the at least one location of reduced diameter,
the multiphase impeller arrangement is located on a first axial side of the engagement between the housing and the rotor, and
the further multiphase impeller arrangement is located on a second axial side of the engagement between the housing and the rotor.

13. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 11 , further comprising:
a connection conduit,
wherein,
the flow inlet comprises a direct fluid connection to an inlet of the multiphase impeller arrangement,
the flow outlet comprises a direct fluid connection to an outlet of the further multiphase impeller arrangement, and
the connection conduit is configured to directly fluidically connect an outlet of the multiphase impeller arrangement and an inlet of the further multiphase impeller arrangement so that the flow path extends from the inlet to the outlet via the multiphase impeller arrangement, the connection conduit, and the further multiphase impeller arrangement.

14. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 13 , wherein one of the at least one leak path extends from the outlet of the further multiphase impeller arrangement to the outlet of the multiphase impeller arrangement.

15. The multiphase pump as recited in claim 11 , wherein,
the multiphase impeller arrangement is configured to pressurize a fluid from an inlet pressure to a mid-pressure, and
the further multiphase impeller arrangement is configured to pressurize a fluid from the mid-pressure to an outlet pressure.

16. A method of pumping a multiphase fluid, the method comprising:
providing a multiphase pump, the multiphase pump defining at least one channel which is configured to direct a fluid from a liquid source to a leak path in the multiphase pump;
operating the multiphase pump to pump a multiphase fluid along a flow path within the multiphase pump from a flow inlet of the multiphase pump to a flow outlet of the multiphase pump and to cause the fluid to leak along the leak path in a reverse direction from the flow outlet towards the flow inlet; and
directing the fluid from the liquid source to the leak path via the at least one channel.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer region of the flow path, and a lower-density zone located in a radially inner region of the flow path, and
the method further comprises:
directing the fluid from the liquid source to the leak path via an outlet of the at least one channel which is located adjacent to the lower-density zone of the flow path.

18. The method as recited in claim 16 , wherein,
the flow path comprises a higher-density zone located in a radially outer re

Assignees

• Aker Solutions As

Inventors

• Hofstad Age
• Mohite Randhir
• Goldvag Sergio Walsh
• Soerensen Pal Erik Tysvaer
• Olderheim Tarje
• Elvebakken Dag
• Van Der Rest Bastiaen
• Haaverstad Einar Marius
• Pettersen Rune

Classifications

• F05B2210/13

  mixed, e.g. two-phase fluid · CPC title

• F04D13/086

  the pump and drive motor are both submerged · CPC title

• F04D1/06

  Multi-stage pumps (F04D1/02, F04D13/10 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04D27/0223

  Control schemes therefor · CPC title

• F04D27/001 Primary

  Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring · CPC title