In-line flow mixer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9601964-B2
Application number	US-99081209-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2009
Priority date	May 6, 2008
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A flow-conditioning system, comprising:
a pump unit, the pump unit comprising a pump that is configured to be disposed in a body of water;
a motor operably coupled to the pump;
process tubing coupling the inlet of the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, wherein said process tubing is adapted to deliver at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid to the inlet of the pump;
a separator disposed downstream of an outlet of the pump, wherein the separator is operable to extract a gas component from the multiple component process fluid;
a pathway operable to route at least a first portion of the gas component as a flushing medium for at least a portion of the pump unit;
a flushing pump operable to increase a pressure of the gas component, wherein the flushing pump is driven by a device extracting power from flow of at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid; and
an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the inlet of the pump.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pathway is operable to route the first portion of the gas component as a flushing medium for the motor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the pathway is operable to route a second portion of the gas component as a flushing medium for the pump.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the separator is operable to extract a liquid component from the multiple component process fluid, further comprising a second pathway operable to route at least a portion of the liquid component to an insertion point upstream of the pump.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises:
a rotor;
a stator disposed around the rotor; and
a first can isolating the stator from the rotor to at least partially define a rotor cavity at least partially encompassing the rotor wherein the pathway is operable to route the first portion of the gas component to the rotor cavity.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a first labyrinth seal disposed on the rotor at a first end of the rotor cavity, said first labyrinth seal being adapted to restrict flow between the rotor cavity and the pump.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the pump unit further comprises:
a shaft;
a bearing operable to support the shaft; and
a second can enclosing at least a portion of the bearing, wherein the pathway is operable to route a second portion of the gas component to a second cavity defined by the second can.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the pump unit further comprises:
a pumping element disposed on the shaft; and
a second labyrinth seal disposed on the shaft between the second can and the pumping element, said second labyrinth seal being adapted to restrict flow between the second can and the pump.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second can comprises carbon fiber.

10. The system of claim 6 , further comprising an impeller mounted to the rotor, disposed within the rotor cavity, and operable to increase a pressure of the gas component upstream of the first labyrinth seal.

11. The system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one magnetic radial bearing supporting the rotor and at least partially disposed within the rotor cavity.

12. The system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one magnetic thrust bearing supporting one of the rotor or a shaft of the pump and being disposed within the rotor cavity.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the magnetic thrust bearing comprises a plurality of stages.

14. The system of claim 5 , wherein the pump unit further comprises a shaft operatively coupled to the motor, and the pathway is operable to route at least a second portion of the gas component as a flushing medium for the pump.

15. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first can comprises carbon fiber.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the source of multiple component process fluid is a well that is positioned below the body of water and the pump is positioned outside of the well.

17. A system, comprising:
a well disposed below a body of water, the well providing a source of multiple component process fluid;
a pump unit, the pump unit comprising a pump that is positioned outside of the well, the pump being disposed in and exposed to the body of water;
a motor operably coupled to the pump;
process tubing coupling the inlet of the pump to the well, wherein said process tubing is adapted to deliver at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid from the well to the inlet of the pump;
a separator disposed downstream of an outlet of the pump, wherein the separator is operable to extract a gas component from the multiple component process fluid;
a pathway operable to route at least a first portion of the gas component as a flushing medium for at least a portion of the pump unit;
a flushing pump operable to increase a pressure of the gas component, wherein the flushing pump is driven by a device extracting power from flow of at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid; and
an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the inlet of the pump.

18. A flow-conditioning system, comprising:
a pump unit, the pump unit comprising a pump that is configured to be disposed in a body of water;
a motor operably coupled to the pump, the motor comprising:
a rotor;
a stator disposed on the rotor; and
a first can isolating the stator from the rotor to at least partially define a rotor cavity at least partially encompassing the rotor;

a labyrinth seal disposed on the rotor at a first end of the rotor cavity, said labyrinth seal being adapted to restrict flow between the rotor cavity and the pump;
process tubing coupling the inlet of the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, wherein said process tubing is adapted to deliver at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid to the inlet of the pump;
a separator disposed downstream of an outlet of the pump, wherein the separator is operable to extract a gas component from the multiple component process fluid;
a pathway operable to route at least a first portion of the gas component to the rotor cavity as a flushing medium;
a flushing pump operable to increase a pressure of the gas component, wherein the flushing pump is driven by a device extracting power from flow of at least a portion of the multiple component process fluid; and
an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the inlet of the pump.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the pump unit further comprises:
a shaft;
a bearing operable to support the shaft; and
a second can enclosing at least a portion of the bearing, wherein the pathway is operable to route a second portion of the gas component to a second cavity defined by the second can.

20. The system of claim 18 , further comprising an impeller mounted to the rotor, disposed within the rotor cavity, and operable to increase a pressure of the gas component upstream of the labyrinth seal.

Assignees

• Cunningham Christopher E
• Fantoft Rune
• Hollingsaeter Terje
• Fmc Tech Inc

Inventors

• Cunningham Christopher E
• Fantoft Rune
• Hollingsaeter Terje

Classifications

• H02K5/1285 Primary

  of the submersible type · CPC title

• F04D29/048

  magnetic; electromagnetic · CPC title

• F04D13/064

  Details of the magnetic circuit · CPC title

• F05D2300/507

  Magnetic properties · CPC title

• F05D2300/224

  Carbon, e.g. graphite · CPC title