Pump chamber position indicator

Abstract

A pump with a position indicator is disclosed. The pump includes a pump housing, wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein; a first fluid zone, wherein the first fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a first fluid into and out of the first fluid zone; and a second fluid zone, wherein the second fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a second fluid into and out of the second fluid zone. The pump further includes a flexible position indicator disposed in the first fluid zone and in communication with the flexible bladder, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder, and wherein the flexible bladder fluidly isolates the first fluid zone from the second fluid zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drilling system for subsea operations, the drilling system comprising:
 a manifold inlet in fluid communication with a water supply line inlet;   a mud lead line in fluid communication with a mud return line inlet;   a pump housing comprising a flexible bladder disposed therein for fluidly isolating the manifold inlet from the mud lead line; and   a flexible position indicator comprising a cable with a ferrule connector and that is disposed proximate the manifold inlet and in communication with the flexible bladder having a bumper, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder within the pump housing.   
     
     
         2 . The drilling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cable is a transducer cable or comprises a transducer cable. 
     
     
         3 . The drilling system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor housing with a spool assembly and guide rollers to store and guide the transducer cable, wherein the transducer cable extends from and retracts into the sensor housing in response to tension, and not in response to compression. 
     
     
         4 . The drilling system according to  claim 2 , wherein the ferrule connector is attached to the bumper. 
     
     
         5 . The drilling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the mud lead line when water flows into the manifold inlet, wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the manifold inlet when mud flows into the mud lead line, and wherein the flexible position indicator is displaced according to the motion of the flexible bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The drilling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT).   
     
     
         7 . The drilling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the water supply line is adapted for seawater flow and the mud return line is adapted for drilling mud. 
     
     
         8 . The drilling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water supply line comprising the water supply line inlet and a water supply line outlet; and   a mud return line comprising the mud return line inlet and a mud return line outlet.   
     
     
         9 . A method for detecting displacement in a drilling system for subsea operations, the method comprising the steps of:
 adapting a manifold inlet for fluid communication with a water supply line inlet;   adapting a mud lead line for fluid communication with a mud return line inlet;   disposing a flexible bladder in a pump housing to fluidly isolate the manifold inlet from the mud lead line; and   disposing, proximate the manifold inlet and in communication with the flexible bladder having a bumper, a flexible position indicator comprising a cable with a ferrule connector, the flexible position indicator operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder within the pump housing.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the cable is a transducer cable or comprises a transducer cable. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 storing and guiding the transducer cable in a sensor housing using a spool assembly and guide rollers, wherein the transducer cable extends from and retracts into the sensor housing in response to tension, and not in response to compression.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the ferrule connector is attached to the bumper. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 enabling the flexible bladder to move towards the mud lead line when water flows into the manifold inlet;   enabling the flexible bladder to move toward the manifold inlet when mud flows into the mud lead line; and   enabling the flexible position indicator to be displaced according to the motion of the flexible bladder.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 coupling a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT) with the drilling system.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 adapting the water supply line for seawater flow and the mud return line for drilling mud.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 coupling the water supply line inlet with a water supply line having a water supply line outlet; and   coupling the mud return line inlet with a mud return line having a mud return line outlet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 enabling fluid movement in the pump housing by at least two different fluids in two fluidly isolated chambers of the pump housing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 allowing the flexible position indicator to be displaced responsive to movement of a displaceable component in the pump housing.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 monitoring a position of the displaceable component in the pump housing.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 enabling the flexible position indicator to indicate the position of the displaceable component in the pump housing.