Enhanced cooling for downhole motors

Abstract

A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a pump, an inlet section for receiving fluid, a pump motor, and heat transfer fins on the motor housing. The fins increase the heat transfer area of the motor thereby providing enhanced cooling of the motor.

1 . A downhole submersible pumping system comprising:
 a pump;   a pump motor filled with a dielectric fluid;   a seal section located between the pump and the motor for reducing a pressure differential between the dielectric fluid and pressure of wellbore fluid; and   at least one heat transfer member disposed on the pump motor outer surface for immersion in the fluid of a wellbore.   wherein the pumping system is configured for being disposed within a well bore.   
   
   
       2 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member protrudes outward from the motor relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor. 
   
   
       3 . The pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer member extends substantially along the length of the motor. 
   
   
       4 . The pumping system of  claim 2 , wherein the heat transfer member extends along a portion of the length of the motor. 
   
   
       5 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member has a substantially rectangular configuration in a transverse cross section. 
   
   
       6 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member has a “T” shaped transverse cross section. 
   
   
       7 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member is elongated and disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       8 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member is disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       9 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one heat transfer member comprises a plurality of fins disposed in radial planes substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       10 . The pumping system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer member has a tapered outer edge. 
   
   
       11 . A wellbore pumping system comprising:
 a string of tubing for extension into a well;   an electrical submersible pump assembly suspended on the tubing, the pump assembly having a rotary pump driven by an electrical motor having a motor housing; and   a plurality of fins disposed on the motor housing and extending outward therefrom for immersion in the wellbore fluid flowing to the pump.   
   
   
       12 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins protrude outward from the motor relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor. 
   
   
       13 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins extend substantially along the length of the motor. 
   
   
       14 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins have a substantially rectangular configuration in a transverse cross section. 
   
   
       15 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins have a “T” shaped transverse cross section. 
   
   
       16 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins are elongated and disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       17 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein the fins are disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       18 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein said fins comprise are disposed in radial planes substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       19 . The pumping system of  claim 11 , wherein fins have a tapered outer edge. 
   
   
       20 . A method of pumping fluid from a well comprising:
 providing, a motor for an electrical submersible pump assembly with at least one heat transfer member protruding outward therefrom;   coupling the motor to a pump to make up the pump assembly, connecting the pump assembly to a conduit and lowering the pump assembly into a wellbore; and   supplying power to the motor to rotate the pump, which draws well fluid past the motor discharges the well fluid into the conduit, the heat transfer member being immersed in the well fluid as it flows past the motor to dissipate heat from the motor.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member protrudes outward from the motor relative to a longitudinal axis of the motor. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member extends substantially along the length of the motor. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member has a substantially rectangular configuration in a transverse cross section. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member has a “T” shaped transverse cross section. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member is elongated and disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the heat transfer member is disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the pumping system.