Pump

Abstract

A system and method for a pump. The pump has a pump cover which has an upstream end and a downstream end. An inlet valve is coupled to the pump. An outlet valve is also coupled to the pump. There is an expanding element housed within the pump cover, creating an annulus between the expanding element and the pump cover. The annulus has a volume which can be filled with a fluid. The expanding element has a non-expanded state and an expanded state. The volume of the annulus changes between states of the expanding element. When a pressure is applied to the expanding element, fluid which was drawn into the pump is expelled due to the closing annulus. Therefore, fluid is pumped from the inlet valve through the pump and out of the outlet valve via pressure applied to the expanding element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for a pump, said system comprising:
 a pump cover having an upstream end and a downstream end;   an inlet valve coupled to said pump;   an outlet valve coupled to said pump;   an expanding element housed within said pump cover to create an annulus between said expanding element and said pump cover;   wherein said annulus comprises a volume;   wherein said expanding element comprises a non-expanded state and an expanded state, and wherein the volume of the annulus changes depending upon the state of the expanding element.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid line in fluid communication with said expanding element. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said expanding element comprises a memory shape. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said fluid line comprises a high pressure fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said non-expanded state comprises a cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said expanding element further comprises an external force to retain its non-expanded state. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said external force comprises metallic mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a blanking plug. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said blanking plug relieves pressure within said expanding element. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a seal downstream of said pump. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said outlet valve is located remotely from said pump cover. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said inlet valve comprises a check-valve, and wherein said outlet valve comprises a check-valve. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  comprising a plurality of inlet valves. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein no separate electrical power is required to power the pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said pump cover comprises casing in a hole. 
     
     
         16 . A method for pumping with a pump, said pump comprising:
 a pump having an upstream end and a downstream end;   an inlet valve coupled to said pump;   an outlet valve coupled to said pump;   an expanding element housed within said pump to create an annulus between said expanding element and said pump cover; said method of pumping comprising:
 a) allowing fluid to enter into said annulus through said inlet valve; 
 b) directing a high-pressure fluid through a fluid line in communication with said expanding element; 
 c) expanding said expanding element to reach an expanded state; 
 d) expelling fluid through said outlet valve. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said expanding of step c) utilizes the high-pressure fluid to expand the expanding element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of reducing pressure within the expanding element to achieve a non-extended state. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said pump cover comprises a casing in a hole, and wherein said pump is lowered downhole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein no separate electrical power is required to power the pump.