Optimization of Impeller Support Washers Improves Efficiency of the ESPU

REAM-RTI, NOVOMET-Perm and KONNAS (Special Design Bureau of Rodless Pumps) supported by the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE), recently conducted a range of scientific, design and material engineering research tests intended to improve the abrasion resistance of submersible centrifugal pump stages under the conditions of super-high content of solid mechanical particles in the medium to be pumped.
As a result, a new design of impeller support washers has been developed to reduce aggregate wear in the support washer-diffuser collar more than  ten times compared to textolite support washers. This will also reduce frictional torque by 3-8 percent, which increases the pump stage performance by 3-5 percent without changing the geometry of flow sections.
This concept uses special, capable of dry friction, abrasion-resistant elastomer composites developed with the application of nanotechnologies by specialists at REAM-RTI, working jointly with scientists at the Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloys (the State Educational Institution of Higher Vocational Education). 
Newly designed elastomers are intended for application in Electric Submersible Pump Units (ESPU) to be operated in super-complicated conditions such as a high gas-oil ratio, in all hydrocarbon environments including those containing up to 25 percent of hydrogen sulphide, and at a temperature up to 210 С of a liquid medium.
New design elastomer support washers are highlighted by their radial elasticity.  Therefore, they can be used to replace all existing textolite support washers or washers made of other materials without changing the impeller design. The elasticity of elastomer support washers in axial direction reduces hydraulic and mechanical losses during impeller rotation.
REAM-RTI has also developed a technology of mass producing support washers made of special abrasion-resistant elastomer materials for impellers of major ESPU manufactured in Russia and recommends using these in the most complicated operation conditions; to maximize overhaul periods of pump units in case of increasing abrasive-carrying environment, and to reduce power consumption for their driving. 

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