Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring EM field-carrying fluid flow use a difference in magnitude or phase of the field as the fluid flows. The difference indicates with fluid speed, and this relationship can be established beforehand, experimentally, or from the magnetic Reynolds number. Systems take advantage of the EM field, such as that created by a stator coil in an EM pump by detecting that field advected in the pumped fluid downstream. Magnitude or phase difference of the field, as reportable by a voltage in a conductive receiver reflects the flow rate, and thus speed, of the fluid between the initial and detected points. A computer or logic can thus readily output fluid rate, such as from a pump, from any electrical signal generated by the advected field. Systems do not require power, field induction, lengthy straight conduits, co-planar generators and sensors, flow interruptions, or large attachment or surrounding structures.

Abstract: Systems and methods use bodies with multiple teeth that follow a magnetic field in the body. The teeth have adjacent gaps while the body remains a continuous rigid structure. The gaps may be any shape or size formed by removal from the parent body while preserving a continuous joining portion of the body. Cutting with electrical discharge wires or lasers may be used for the gaps. The body may take on any shape or size, including electromagnetic pump stator configurations. Recesses, including ledges, passages, toughs, bores, rounds, or flat faces may be formed with the gaps. Adjacent recesses between multiple bodies may form other functional passages, such as an angular or perimeter passage for driving coils in an electromagnetic pump. Insulators may be placed into the gaps. Example systems and methods require fewer additional joining or supporting structures due to the teeth already being connected from fabrication.

Abstract: Electromagnetic pumps pump coolant through plural paths in the pump with magnetic fields. The paths are next to components that overheat, so as to pull heat from the same into the coolant fluid being pumped. The paths may run at different or opposite dimensions of the components, to provide unique heat sinking paths and reduce temperature gradients and excursions in the components. Paths may be nested annuli, loops, or entirely distinct vertical passages around the components. Electromagnetic pumps may be used in nuclear power plants to drive magnetic fluids. The pumps may operate immersed in melted metals at several hundred degrees Celsius in an operating reactor without overheating or degradation of their electrical and insulating components.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly for pumping well fluid from a well has a motor and a pump. The motor having a motor shaft that drives a pump shaft of the pump. A thrust bearing unit between the motor and the pump has a thrust bearing shaft that rotates a thrust runner in sliding engagement with a non-rotating thrust bearing base. A pump shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the pump shaft. A motor shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the motor shaft. At least one of the couplings has a one-way clutch that allows forward direction rotation of the thrust bearing shaft and prevents reverse direction rotation.

Abstract: A combined pump and motor has a stator mounted for non-rotation in a housing. The stator has windings that create an electromagnetic field in the stator cavity when powered. An upper diffuser and a lower diffuser are mounted for non-rotation in the stator cavity. Annular clearances exist between the upper diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator and between the lower diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator. An impeller between the lower diffuser and the upper diffuser has an array of magnets circumferentially mounted around the impeller that impart rotation to the impeller in response to the electromagnetic field in the stator cavity. The array of magnets has at least one end portion extending into one of the upper and lower diffuser annular clearances.

Abstract: A combined well pump and motor includes a housing having an axis, an upstream end and a downstream end. Diffusers are mounted for non-rotation in the housing, each of the diffusers having diffuser passages. An impeller is mounted between each of the diffusers for rotation relative to the impellers. Each of the impellers has impeller vanes defining impeller passages. The impeller has an exterior outer wall extending circumferentially around the impeller vanes, closing outer sides of each of the impeller passages. An array of magnets is mounted to each of the impellers. The magnets are spaced circumferentially apart from each other around the axis at a different radial distance from the axis than the impeller vanes. A stator is mounted in the housing. The stator has windings for interacting with the magnets to impart rotation to the impellers.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly for pumping well fluid from a well has a motor and a pump. The motor having a motor shaft that drives a pump shaft of the pump. A thrust bearing unit between the motor and the pump has a thrust bearing shaft that rotates a thrust runner in sliding engagement with a non-rotating thrust bearing base. A pump shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the pump shaft. A motor shaft coupling couples the thrust bearing shaft with the motor shaft. At least one of the couplings has a one-way clutch that allows forward direction rotation of the thrust bearing shaft and prevents reverse direction rotation.

Abstract: A combined pump and motor has a stator mounted for non-rotation in a housing. The stator has windings that create an electromagnetic field in the stator cavity when powered. An upper diffuser and a lower diffuser are mounted for non-rotation in the stator cavity. Annular clearances exist between the upper diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator and between the lower diffuser and the inner diameter of the stator. An impeller between the lower diffuser and the upper diffuser has an array of magnets circumferentially mounted around the impeller that impart rotation to the impeller in response to the electromagnetic field in the stator cavity. The array of magnets has at least one end portion extending into one of the upper and lower diffuser annular clearances.

Abstract: A combined well pump and motor includes a housing having an axis, an upstream end and a downstream end. Diffusers are mounted for non-rotation in the housing, each of the diffusers having diffuser passages. An impeller is mounted between each of the diffusers for rotation relative to the impellers. Each of the impellers has impeller vanes defining impeller passages. The impeller has an exterior outer wall extending circumferentially around the impeller vanes, closing outer sides of each of the impeller passages. An array of magnets is mounted to each of the impellers. The magnets are spaced circumferentially apart from each other around the axis at a different radial distance from the axis than the impeller vanes. A stator is mounted in the housing. The stator has windings for interacting with the magnets to impart rotation to the impellers.