ROTORS

• US 20130052043A1
• Filed: 08/23/2012
• Published: 02/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: GUDIVADA, Gopalakrishna
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/53
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/043 the pump wheel carrying the fluid driving means

Abstract

A rotor is provided. The rotor comprises external blades for use in causing rotation of the rotor, and internal blades for use in propelling a fluid through the rotor during rotation of the rotor.

Claims

1. A rotor comprising:

external blades for use in causing rotation of the rotor; and

internal blades for use in propelling a fluid through the rotor during rotation of the rotor.

2. The rotor according to claim 1, further comprising a stator, such that the fluid can be propelled between the rotor and the stator.

3. The rotor according to claim 2, wherein the stator has a plurality of external blades interleaved with the internal blades of the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes the fluid to be propelled between the blades.

4. The rotor according to claim 3, wherein the volume between adjacent internal and external blades decreases in the direction in which the fluid is propelled between the rotor and the stator.

5. An apparatus for providing a source of power, the apparatus comprising:

a rotor having external blades for use in causing rotation of the rotor, and internal blades for use in propelling a fluid through the rotor during rotation of the rotor;

a fluid circuit coupled with the rotor, wherein rotation of the rotor propels fluid in the fluid circuit through the fluid circuit; and

a device configured to use the fluid propelled through the fluid circuit as a power source.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rotor is in a flow path for a second fluid, the rotor being rotatable by the flow of the second fluid through the flow path.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the rotor is in a flow path for hydrocarbon fluid in a hydrocarbon well facility, wherein the device configured to use the fluid propelled through the circuit as a power source uses the hydrocarbon fluid propelled through the fluid circuit as a power source for the facility.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the device configured to use the fluid propelled through the circuit as a power source hydraulically operates at least one device.

9. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the device configured to use the fluid propelled through the circuit as a power source generates electrical power from fluid propelled through the fluid circuit.

10. A method of propelling a fluid, the method comprising:

providing a rotor having external blades and internal blades; and

causing rotation of the rotor via the external blades to propel the fluid through the rotor during rotation of the rotor.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the rotor comprises a stator such that the fluid is propelled between the rotor and the stator.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the stator has a plurality of external blades interleaved with the internal blades of the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes the fluid to be propelled between the blades.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the volume between adjacent internal and external blades decreases in the direction in which the fluid is propelled between the rotor and the stator.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein a fluid circuit is coupled with the rotor, and wherein rotation of the rotor propels fluid in the fluid circuit through the fluid circuit and the fluid propelled through the fluid circuit is used as a power source.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the rotor is in a flow path for a second fluid, the rotor being rotated by the now of the second fluid through the flow path.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the rotor is in a flow path for hydrocarbon fluid in a hydrocarbon well facility, the hydrocarbon fluid propelled through the fluid circuit being used as a power source for the facility.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the propelled fluid is used for hydraulically operating at least one device.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the propelled fluid is used for generating electrical power.