| 摘要 |
<p>Representative implementations of self-compliant bearing systems for electric submersible pumps (ESPs) are described. An example bearing system can engage or disengage in response to changing thrust forces acting on the impeller of the pump. When engaged, the bearing system has tapered sleeve-and-bushing components that can convert axial load on the impeller into a radial force that can be dissipated into the diffuser housing, thereby sparing wear on thrust washers. When thrust forces are neutral, the bearing system can float the rotating impeller to avoid contact with both downthrust and upthrust washers, thereby increasing the lifespan of the electric submersible pump. In an ESP stack, multiple instances of the self-compliant bearing system can alleviate some of the downthrust of an entire impeller stack.</p> |
