Bellows system for electrical submersible pump
A bellows system for an electrical submersible pump includes a housing, a bellows disposed within the housing, a stop having a through hole, and a chamber disposed on an opposite side of the stop from the housing. The bellows may include a first end secured to the housing and a second end configured to move within the housing. At a maximum extension of the bellows, the second end abuts the stop. The chamber is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing via first openings.
1 . A bellows system for an electrical submersible pump, comprising:
a housing;
a bellows disposed within the housing, wherein the bellows comprises a first end secured to the housing and a second end configured to move within the housing;
a cap secured to the housing, wherein the cap comprises a stop having a through hole, wherein at a maximum extension of the bellows the second end abuts the stop, and wherein first openings are formed in the cap;
a tube extending from the stop away from the bellows, wherein the tube is concentric with the through hole, and wherein second openings are formed in the tube; and
a chamber disposed on an opposite side of the stop from the housing, wherein the chamber is defined by the cap, and wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing via the first openings.
2 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber is further defined by the housing.
3 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber narrows moving away from the bellows.
4 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein grooves are formed in an axial surface of the stop.
5 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the stop comprises a platform and legs extending from the platform to an axial surface of the stop.
6 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the first openings comprise holes extending through the cap.
7 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the holes extend in a radial direction through the cap.
8 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the holes extend in a direction having a radial component and an axial component.
9 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the holes extend in a direction having a radial component and a circumferential component.
10 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the first openings comprise slits formed in an outer circumferential surface of the cap.
11 . The bellows system of claim 1 , further comprising a bull plug secured to a bore in an axial end of the cap.
12 . The bellows system of claim 1 , further comprising a tail pipe screwed into a threaded hole in an axial end of the cap.
13 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the second openings comprise holes extending radially through the tube.
14 . The bellows system of claim 1 , wherein the second openings comprise slits formed in an outer circumferential surface of the tube.
15 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the holes are formed in raised ridges formed on an outer circumferential surface of the cap, wherein the ridges are axially spaced apart along the cap.
16 . The bellows system of claim 6 , wherein the holes are formed in a helical ridge that spirals around an outer circumferential surface of the cap.
17 . The bellows system of claim 4 , wherein the second end of the bellows is configured to abut the axial surface of the stop.
18 . The bellows system of claim 5 , wherein the second end of the bellows is configured to abut the platform.
19 . A method of assembling an electrical submersible pump, comprising:
coupling a bellows system to an electric motor;
coupling the electric motor to a seal section;
coupling the seal section to an intake; and
coupling the intake to a centrifugal pump,
wherein the bellows system comprises:
a housing;
a bellows disposed within the housing, wherein the bellows comprises a first end secured to the housing and a second end configured to move within the housing;
a cap secured to the housing, wherein the cap comprises a stop having a through hole, wherein at a maximum extension of the bellows the second end abuts the stop, and wherein first openings are formed in the cap;
a tube extending from the stop away from the bellows, wherein the tube is concentric with the through hole, and wherein second openings are formed in the tube; and
a chamber disposed on an opposite side of the stop from the housing, wherein the chamber is defined by the cap, and wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing via the first openings.
20 . A method of lifting fluid in a wellbore, comprising:
running an electrical submersible pump into a wellbore, wherein the electrical submersible pump comprises a bellows system, an electric motor coupled to the bellows system, a seal section coupled to the electric motor, an intake coupled to the seal section, and a centrifugal pump coupled to the intake; and
providing electric power to the electric motor,
wherein the bellows system comprises:
a housing;
a bellows disposed within the housing, wherein the bellows comprises a first end secured to the housing and a second end configured to move within the housing;
a cap secured to the housing, wherein the cap comprises a stop having a through hole, wherein at a maximum extension of the bellows the second end abuts the stop, and wherein first openings are formed in the cap;
a tube extending from the stop away from the bellows, wherein the tube is concentric with the through hole, and wherein second openings are formed in the tube; and
a chamber disposed on an opposite side of the stop from the housing, wherein the chamber is defined by the cap, and wherein the chamber is in fluid communication with an exterior of the housing via the first openings.