Diffuser Vanes with Pockets for Submersible Well Pump

摘要

A submersible pump assembly has a centrifugal pump with a number of stages, each of the stages having a rotatable impeller and a non rotating diffuser. The diffuser has vanes, each of the vanes curving radially inward from an outer end to an inner end. The vanes define vane passages between adjacent ones of the vanes through which well fluid flows. The vanes have thicknesses between inner and outer sides of each of the vanes that gradually increase from the outer ends toward the inner ends. At least one pocket is formed in each of the inner sides of each of the vanes. The pockets are open cavities to receive a portion of the well fluid flowing from the vane passages to the diffuser outlet.

主权项

1. A submersible pump assembly, comprising:
a motor; a centrifugal pump operatively connected to the motor and having a longitudinal axis, the pump comprising; a plurality of stages, each of the stages having a rotatable impeller and a non rotating diffuser, the diffuser comprising: a plurality of vanes curving inward from a peripheral area of the diffuser toward a central outlet of the diffuser, each of the vanes having an outer end, an inner end and comprising: a vane convex surface extending from the outer end to the inner end; a vane concave surface extending from the outer end to the inner end on a side of the vane opposite the vane convex surface; and at least one pocket formed in the vane concave surface