Investigation of Pressure Pulsation in the Stages of an Electric Submersible Pump at Best Efficiency Point Under Various Speeds

Abstract

Fluctuating pressures can induce vibration in the Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) and severely affect the pump components. The installation depths of ESP systems are varying from a few meters to several hundred meters. Once installed ESPs are not accessible for diagnostic measurement and maintenance activity, so it becomes necessary to obtain detailed information of mean and fluctuating pressures to attain an optimal pressure distribution inside the pump. In this paper the results obtained from an experimental investigation of stage-wise pressure pulsation at Best Efficiency Points at various speeds are presented. Tests were conducted on a five stage ESP having impellers of 121 mm diameter and 14 mm width at outlet with impeller of 8 vanes and a diffuser-return channel of 6 vanes which delivers 7 lps (litres per second) and develop 60 m total head at various speeds. Unsteady pressure signals were captured by mounting piezoresistive transducers at each stage of ESP. Captured pressure signals were converted into frequency domain to analyze the characteristics of pressure pulsation. The results have indicated that the maximum amplitude of pressure pulsation was obtained at the highest operating speed setting of 60 Hz at stage 4. The normalized frequency at which this amplitude was maximum was highest at stage 2 at all the speeds.