US 12,135,040 B2
Centrifugal well pump with threadedly coupled diffusers
Andrew Robert Charles Henderson, Fife (GB); Calum Crawford, Aberdeenshire (GB); and Ivor Maciver, Aberdeenshire (GB)
Assigned to Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by Schlumberger Technology Corporation, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,361.
Application 17/871,361 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2021/051522, filed on Jan. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/964,811, filed on Jan. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0012388 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. F04D 29/44 (2006.01); E21B 43/12 (2006.01); F04D 1/06 (2006.01); F04D 13/08 (2006.01); F04D 13/10 (2006.01); F04D 29/08 (2006.01); F04D 29/62 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 29/448 (2013.01) [E21B 43/128 (2013.01); F04D 1/06 (2013.01); F04D 13/086 (2013.01); F04D 13/10 (2013.01); F04D 29/086 (2013.01); F04D 29/628 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A well pump, comprising:
a plurality of diffusers, each diffuser comprising a first threaded coupling on one longitudinal end and a second threaded coupling on an opposed longitudinal end, wherein each diffuser of the plurality of diffusers comprises a diffuser body and a set of diffuser vanes, wherein the set of diffuser vanes is mounted in the diffuser body via an annular mounting interface comprising a press-fit or a shrink fit between a radially outer circumferential surface of the set of diffuser vanes and a radially inner circumferential surface of the diffuser body, wherein each diffuser body of the plurality of diffusers has an integral annular shoulder formed directly adjacent the radially inner circumferential surface, wherein each diffuser body of the plurality of diffusers has the integral annular shoulder at an axial offset distance from an axial end of the diffuser body, wherein a tapered annular surface extends directly from the integral annular shoulder to the axial end of the diffuser body, wherein an axial end of the set of diffuser vanes abuts the integral annular shoulder, and wherein the annular mounting interface and the integral annular shoulder hold the set of diffuser vanes at an axial position within the diffuser body;
a plurality of impellers, each impeller being disposed adjacent to the set of diffuser vanes in each diffuser of the plurality of diffusers; and
a plurality of thrust bearings, each thrust bearing being disposed between the impeller and the set of diffuser vanes in each diffuser of the plurality of diffusers,
wherein the plurality of diffusers, the plurality of impellers, and the plurality of thrust bearings are assembled into a plurality of sub-assemblies, wherein each sub-assembly of the plurality of sub-assemblies includes one of the plurality of diffusers, one of the plurality of impellers, and one of the plurality of thrust bearings, wherein the plurality of sub-assemblies are coupled end to end in a plurality of pump stages, wherein the plurality of diffusers form a pump housing, wherein the first threaded coupling on one diffuser is threadedly engaged to the second threaded coupling on an adjacent diffuser via a threaded connection.