Patent ID: 11920599
Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. An electric submersible pump (ESP) comprising a plurality of stages, at least one stage comprising:
a rotating impeller rotationally fixed to a shaft of the ESP, the impeller comprising a balance ring;
a stationary diffuser rotationally fixed to a housing of the ESP;
an upthrust washer disposed axially between a portion of the impeller and a portion of the diffuser, the upthrust washer disposed radially outside of the balance ring; and
a bearing assembly disposed radially between the shaft and the diffuser, wherein an axial gap between the portion of the impeller and the portion of the diffuser is smaller than an axial gap between the bearing assembly and an upwardly facing surface of the impeller disposed radially between a central hub of the impeller and the balance ring of the impeller.