Submersible disk-type pump for viscous and solids-laden fluids having helical inducer

Abstract

A submersible pump assembly configured to manipulate the flow of fluids to achieve sufficient flow rate and fluid pressure to efficiently pump viscous or solids-laden fluid, while minimizing the risk of pump clogging and/or damage due to the solids content of the fluid. The submersible pump assembly comprising a cylindrical housing having an intake disposed at an upstream end for receiving viscous and/or solids-laden fluid and an outlet disposed at a downstream end opposite the intake for discharging the fluid to the surface. A rotating shaft extending through the cylindrical housing along a center axis of the housing and adapted to be driven by a submersible motor. A plurality of successive pumping stages disposed in a co-axial arrangement along the rotating shaft and a helical inducer coupled to the shaft between the intake and the plurality of pumping stages. The helical inducer comprising at least a single helical turn that directly converges into the plurality of pumping stages.

1 . A submersible disk-type staged pump assembly for pumping a viscous or solids-laden fluid upwardly, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having an intake disposed at an upstream end and an outlet disposed at a downstream end opposite the intake;   a rotating shaft extending through the cylindrical housing along a center axis of the housing and adapted to be driven by a submersible motor;   a plurality of successive pumping stages disposed along the rotating shaft in a co- axial arrangement, each pumping stage comprising a frusto-conical disk impeller and a diffuser; and   a helical inducer coupled to the shaft at the upstream end disposed between the intake and the plurality of pumping stages, the inducer comprising at least a single helical turn that directly converges into the plurality of pumping stages.   
     
     
         2 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the frusto-conical disk impeller of each pumping stage comprises a stack of axially spaced apart circular disks of progressively decreasing radii towards the downstream end, each disk extends radially and concentrically from a cylindrical core for receiving the rotating shaft therethrough, the cylindrical core comprises a plurality of parallel flow passages spiraling axially about the cylindrical core which communicate with a plurality of radial flow passages formed between the disks, wherein fluid flows from the upstream end of the impeller through the axial flow passages and into the radial flow passages between disks. 
     
     
         3 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the diffuser is positioned between stages to direct fluid into the frusto-conical disk impeller of the next stage. 
     
     
         4 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a plurality of helical turns. 
     
     
         5 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the helical inducer comprises at least a double helical turn. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the helical inducer comprises at least a single helical turn. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a pitch to diameter ratio of about 1:0.8. 
     
     
         8 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  7 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a helix angle of about 20°. 
     
     
         9 . A submersible pump assembly for pumping a viscous or solids-laden fluid upwardly, comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having an intake disposed at an upstream end and an outlet disposed at a downstream end opposite the intake;   a rotating shaft extending through the cylindrical housing along a center axis of the housing and adapted to be driven by a submersible motor;   a plurality of successive pumping stages disposed along the rotating shaft in a co- axial arrangement, each pumping stage comprising a frusto-conical disk impeller and a diffuser, the frusto-conical disk impeller comprising a stack of axially spaced apart circular disks of progressively decreasing radii towards the downstream end, each disk extending radially and concentrically from a cylindrical core for receiving the rotating shaft therethrough, the cylindrical core comprising a plurality of parallel flow passages spiraling axially about the cylindrical core and communicating with a plurality of radial flow passages formed between the disks, wherein fluid flows from the upstream end of the impeller through the axial flow passages and into the radial flow passages between disks; and   a helical inducer coupled to the shaft at the upstream end disposed between the intake and the plurality of pumping stages, the inducer comprising at least a single helical turn that directly converges into the plurality of pumping stages.   
     
     
         10 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the diffuser is positioned between stages to direct fluid into the frusto-conical disk impeller of the next stage. 
     
     
         11 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a plurality of helical turns. 
     
     
         12 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the helical inducer comprises at least a double helical turn. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible pump assembly according to  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the helical inducer comprises at least a single helical turn. 
     
     
         14 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 9  to  13 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a pitch to diameter ratio of about 1:0.8. 
     
     
         15 . The submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 9  to  14 , wherein the helical inducer comprises a helix angle of about 20°. 
     
     
         16 . A method for pumping a viscous or solids-laden fluid upwardly, comprising:
 providing the submersible pump assembly according to any one of  claims 1  to  15  and a motor configured to drive the pump assembly;   positioning the submersible pump assembly in a wellbore;   activating the motor to actuate the submersible pump assembly;   wherein viscous or solids-laden fluid enters the submersible pump assembly to be homogenized by the helical inducer to break up any solids in the fluid while accelerating and directing the fluid into the plurality of successive pumping stages.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein rotation of the helical inducer creates a vortex at the intake of the submersible pump assembly.