Method for reducing bearing current in electric submersible motors

1. A permanent magnet motor system, comprising:

a shaft with a proximal end and a distal end, wherein permanent magnets are positioned on an outer circumference of the shaft;

a stator positioned around the shaft;

bearings positioned around a distal end of the shaft, the bearings positioned between the stator and a distalmost end of the shaft;

a grounding ring positioned adjacent to the bearings; and

a retention nut positioned adjacent to the grounding ring, wherein the grounding ring is configured to provide a preferred current flow path associated with a voltage potential between the stator and the shaft.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current flow path does not flow through the bearings.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein an inner circumference of the grounding ring is in constant contact with the outer circumference of the shaft.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the grounding ring is formed of conductive material for grounding the grounding ring to a housing.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a housing;

a first shoulder positioned on the shaft, the first shoulder extending towards a central axis of the shaft to decrease an inner diameter across the shaft; and

a base having a second shoulder that extends away from a central axis of the shaft to increase an inner diameter across the base.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein a rotating portion of the bearings is configured to be positioned adjacent to the first shoulder, and a stationary portion of the bearings is configured to be positioned adjacent to the second shoulder.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the base is coupled to the housing, and the housing encompasses the stator.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein an inner circumference of the grounding ring includes brushes.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the retention nut is configured to restrict lateral movement of the grounding ring and the bearings.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the grounding ring is configured to divert a normal current flow path through the bearings to the preferred current flow path to ground.

11. A method associated with permanent magnet motor system, comprising:

positioning permanent magnets on an outer circumference of the shaft between a proximal end of the shaft and a distal end of the shaft;

positioning a stator around the shaft;

positioning bearings around a distal end of the shaft, the bearings being positioned between the stator and a distalmost end of the shaft;

positioning a grounding ring adjacent to the bearings;

positioning a retention nut adjacent to the grounding ring; and

providing a preferred current flow path associated with a voltage potential between the stator and the shaft to ground through the grounding ring.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the current flow path does not flow through the bearings.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein an inner circumference of the grounding ring is in constant contact with the outer circumference of the shaft.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the grounding ring is formed of conductive material for grounding the grounding ring to a housing.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

forming a first shoulder on the shaft, the first shoulder extending towards a central axis of the shaft to decrease an inner diameter across the shaft; and

forming a second shoulder on the base that extends away from a central axis of the shaft to increase an inner diameter across the base.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

positioning a rotating portion of the bearings adjacent to the first shoulder, and positioning a stationary portion of the bearings adjacent to the second shoulder.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

coupling the base to a housing, and the housing encompasses the stator.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein an inner circumference of the grounding ring includes brushes.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

restricting lateral movement of the bearings and the grounding ring via the retention nut.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

diverting a normal current flow path through the bearings to the preferred current flow path to ground via the grounding ring.