Oil injection unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689529-B2
Application number	US-201514707226-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2015
Priority date	May 8, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

An oil injection unit to provide motor oil to the motor of an electric submersible pump. The oil injection unit includes an injection module containing an amount of motor oil to be injected into the motor, a sensor to detect a predetermined condition that indicates the need to inject motor oil into the motor, and an injection valve that can be selectively opened to inject motor oil to the motor upon detection by the sensor of the predetermined condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oil injection unit to provide motor oil to a motor in an electric submersible pump, the oil injection unit comprising:
an injection module containing an amount of motor oil to be injected into the motor, the injection module being in fluid communication with the motor;
a sensor to detect a predetermined condition that indicates a need to inject motor oil into the motor, wherein the predetermined condition is an axial position of a bellows assembly in the oil injection unit; and
an injection valve that can be selectively opened to inject motor oil to the motor upon detection by the sensor of the predetermined condition.

2. The oil injection unit of claim 1 further comprising:
a programmable controller that is operably associated with the sensor and the injection valve; and wherein
the controller receives a signal from the sensor that is indicative of the predetermined condition and controls the injection valve in response thereto.

3. The oil injection unit of claim 2 further comprising:
the bellows assembly retained within the injection module to retain motor oil; and
an internal conduit is formed within an outside diameter of the oil injection unit in which an electrical signal or oil communication path can be established from above and below the injection module.

4. The oil injection unit of claim 3 wherein the bellows assembly is biased toward a contracted position.

5. The oil injection unit of claim 4 wherein the bellows assembly is biased by a spring or weight.

6. The oil injection unit of claim 2 wherein the controller controls the injection valve in a continuous feedback loop in order to inject motor oil so as to maintain a minimum level of oil pressure within the motor.

7. An oil injection unit to provide motor oil to a motor in an electric submersible pump, the oil injection unit comprising:
an injection module containing an amount of motor oil to be injected into the motor, the injection module being in fluid communication with the motor;
a sensor in fluid communication with the motor to detect a predetermined condition that indicates a need to inject motor oil into the motor, wherein the predetermined condition is an axial position of a bellows assembly in the oil injection unit;
an injection valve that can be selectively opened to inject motor oil to the motor upon detection by the sensor of the predetermined condition; and
the bellows assembly retained within the injection module to retain motor oil.

8. The oil injection unit of claim 7 further comprising:
a programmable controller that is operably associated with the sensor and the injection valve; and wherein
the controller receives a signal from the sensor that is indicative of the predetermined condition and controls the injection valve in response thereto.

9. The oil injection unit of claim 7 further comprising:
an internal conduit formed within an outside diameter of the oil injection unit in which an electrical signal or oil communication path can be established from above and below the injection module.

10. The oil injection unit of claim 7 wherein the bellows assembly is biased toward a contracted position.

11. The oil injection unit of claim 10 wherein the bellows assembly is biased by a spring.

12. The oil injection unit of claim 10 wherein the bellows assembly is biased by a weight.

13. An oil injection unit to provide motor oil to a motor in an electric submersible pump, the oil injection unit comprising:
an injection module containing an amount of motor oil to be injected into the motor, the injection module being in fluid communication with the motor;
a sensor to detect a predetermined condition that indicates a need to inject motor oil into the motor, wherein the predetermined condition is an axial position of a bellows assembly in the oil injection unit;
an injection valve that can be selectively opened to inject motor oil to the motor upon detection by the sensor of the predetermined condition;
a programmable controller that is operably associated with the sensor and the injection valve; and wherein
the controller receives a signal from the sensor that is indicative of the predetermined condition and controls the injection valve in response thereto.

14. The oil injection unit of claim 13 further comprising:
the bellows assembly retained within the injection module to retain motor oil; and
an internal conduit is formed within an outside diameter of the oil injection unit in which an electrical signal or oil communication path can be established from above and below the injection module.

15. The oil injection unit of claim 14 wherein the bellows assembly is biased toward a contracted position.

16. The oil injection unit of claim 15 wherein the bellows assembly is biased by a weight.

17. The oil injection unit of claim 15 wherein the bellows assembly is biased by a spring.

Assignees

• Baker Hughes Inc

Inventors

• Meyer Aron
• Tanner David
• Semple Ryan
• Lana Dario Fernando

Classifications

• F16N2260/50

  After-lubrication · CPC title

• F16N2260/00

  Fail safe · CPC title

• F16N31/02

  Oil catchers; Oil wipers (oil-scraping rings for pistons F16J9/20 {; cleaning means for indicating or measuring dip members, e.g. dipstick wipers G01F23/045}) · CPC title

• F16N29/02

  for influencing the supply of lubricant · CPC title

• F16N21/00

  Conduits; Junctions (in general F16L); Fittings for lubrication apertures · CPC title