US 12,435,617 B2
Measuring torque using shaft twist in electric submersible pumping system motors
Ameen Roshdy, Tulsa, OK (US); Gary Williams, Claremore, OK (US); and Mark Bellmyer, Owasso, OK (US)
Assigned to Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Jun. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/208,429.
Prior Publication US 2024/0410267 A1, Dec. 12, 2024
Int. Cl. G01L 3/10 (2006.01); E21B 47/008 (2012.01)
CPC E21B 47/008 (2020.05) [G01L 3/109 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A torque determination system for use in connection with a pumping system that has a pump driven by a motor that includes a rotatable motor shaft, the torque determination system comprising:
a first shaft sensor assembly, wherein the first shaft sensor assembly comprises:
a first sensor located in a lower portion the motor;
a first sensor target secured to the motor shaft in close proximity to the first sensor; and
wherein the first sensor is configured to output a first sensor shaft revolution completion signal when the first sensor target completes a rotation with the motor shaft;
a second shaft sensor assembly, wherein the second shaft sensor assembly comprises:
a second sensor located in the motor in a spaced apart relationship from the first sensor;
a second sensor target secured to the motor shaft in close proximity to the second sensor; and
wherein the second sensor is configured to output a second sensor shaft revolution completion signal when the second sensor target completes a rotation with the motor shaft; and
a processor unit configured to receive the first sensor shaft revolution completion signal and the second sensor shaft revolution completion signal, and wherein the processor unit is further configured to calculate a shaft twist angle based on the timing of the first sensor shaft revolution completion signal and the second sensor shaft revolution completion signal after the first and second sensor assemblies have been calibrated by: (i) either aligning the first sensor target and the second sensor target to synchronize the first and second shaft revolution completion signals; or (ii) determining an initial time gap between the first and second shaft revolution completion signals.