Finite Element Analysis Of Stepped Bearing In ESPCP System

Electrical Submersible Progressing Cavity Pump (ESPCP) technology has been the research hotspot with its increasing application in the field of oil extraction industry, which attracts more attention on the research and amelioration of ESPCP.ESPCP system consists of six primary parts: down-hole electrical motor, gear reducer, coupling, PCP, frequency converter and protector. The thrust bearing of the coupling is one of the most important components in ESPCP system, which determines the lifespan of the whole system. In order to improve the holistic economic profit of the ESPCP system, the devisers need to increase the high temperature bearing ability and the operational life of the bearings under the restriction of some factors such as the depth of down-hole unit, the viscosity of petroleum oil and the limitation of radial dimension. In this dissertation, the reason for the failure of bearing used in production field was analyzed and some kinds of different design projects from the structure of bearing were introduced. The holistic statics analyses of different projects were analyzed using ANSYS finite element software.First, the author summarized the domestic and overseas situation of development about ESPCP, analyzed the function of the thrust bearing and the reason for short life in ESPCP system, and introduced the theories and the knowledge of ANSYS finite element software. Based on the above analyses, the original structure of bearing should be changed to the stepped one, in order to improve the operational life of the bearings. After analyzing the structure, dynamics and finite element statics of the single bearing and the stepped one at 120℃by use of ANSYS software, the distribute of stress-strain and the distortion content of structure can be obtained.Second, the optimum dimension and number of ball bearing could be concluded, after the analysis of the relation between the dimension and number of ball bearing and the maximum axial load.This research work would provide the powerful theories and abundant data for the analysis and modification of the bearings in ESPCP system in the future.