LABYRINTH CHAMBER WITH HELICAL BLADE FOR A SUBMERSIBLE WELL PUMP AND METHOD OF USE

摘要

An electrical submersible pump assembly has a pump, a motor and a seal section with a labyrinth chamber. A guide tube surrounds a drive shaft in the seal section and contains lubricant in fluid communication with lubricant in the motor. The guide tube has a guide tube port adjacent the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber. A labyrinth tube has an open inlet end in the downstream end of the labyrinth chamber and an open outlet end near the upstream end of the labyrinth chamber. The labyrinth communicates well fluid on the exterior of the seal section into the labyrinth chamber in contact with the lubricant in the labyrinth chamber. A non rotating helical blade in the labyrinth chamber encircles the guide tube, defining a helical flow path between the outlet end of the labyrinth tube and the guide tube port of the guide tube.