Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps

To resolve gas locking and head deterioration in traditional centrifugal submersible pumps handling fluids with Gas Volume Fraction (GVF) >10 %, this study designs a novel slotted blade impeller using orthogonal experiments (four factors/four levels) and Computational Fluid Dynamics technology. K...

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Main Authors: Wei Cui, Ziming Feng, Yuqiao Zhao, Wenzheng Chen, Xiangyu Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020432
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author Wei Cui
Ziming Feng
Yuqiao Zhao
Wenzheng Chen
Xiangyu Song
author_facet Wei Cui
Ziming Feng
Yuqiao Zhao
Wenzheng Chen
Xiangyu Song
author_sort Wei Cui
collection DOAJ
description To resolve gas locking and head deterioration in traditional centrifugal submersible pumps handling fluids with Gas Volume Fraction (GVF) >10 %, this study designs a novel slotted blade impeller using orthogonal experiments (four factors/four levels) and Computational Fluid Dynamics technology. Key parameters—slot position (R), width (b), deflection angle (β), and depth (h)—were optimized, revealing β = 60° as the dominant factor (priority: β > b > R > h). The optimal single-slot configuration (R = 29 mm, b = 2 mm, β = 60°, h = 0.75) achieved 2.575 m head and 23.398 % efficiency at GVF=30 %, while reducing high-GVF zones (GVF>80 %) to 3.757 % flow volume. A breakthrough double-slot design (Slot 1: R = 29 mm, b = 2 mm; Slot 2: R = 24 mm, b = 1 mm) further enhanced performance to 2.644 m head, 23.838 % efficiency, and 1.067 % gas volume, by fragmenting gas accumulation and enabling dispersed bubble flow via stepwise pressurization. This slotted impeller eliminates gas locking at Gas Volume Fractions (GVFs) >10 %, providing a field-deployable solution for stable high-GVF oil well production without external separators.
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institution Kabale University
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language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Results in Engineering
spelling doaj-art-83d34c6fafa24de183c46d9fb1bec3da2025-08-20T03:29:10ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710597110.1016/j.rineng.2025.105971Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumpsWei Cui0Ziming Feng1Yuqiao Zhao2Wenzheng Chen3Xiangyu Song4School of Energy and Power Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, China; Corresponding author.Zhejiang Zhenxing Petrochemical Machinery Co., Ltd. Wenzhou, ChinaChina Petroleum Technology and Development corporation, Beijing, ChinaZhejiang Zhenxing Petrochemical Machinery Co., Ltd. Wenzhou, ChinaTo resolve gas locking and head deterioration in traditional centrifugal submersible pumps handling fluids with Gas Volume Fraction (GVF) >10 %, this study designs a novel slotted blade impeller using orthogonal experiments (four factors/four levels) and Computational Fluid Dynamics technology. Key parameters—slot position (R), width (b), deflection angle (β), and depth (h)—were optimized, revealing β = 60° as the dominant factor (priority: β > b > R > h). The optimal single-slot configuration (R = 29 mm, b = 2 mm, β = 60°, h = 0.75) achieved 2.575 m head and 23.398 % efficiency at GVF=30 %, while reducing high-GVF zones (GVF>80 %) to 3.757 % flow volume. A breakthrough double-slot design (Slot 1: R = 29 mm, b = 2 mm; Slot 2: R = 24 mm, b = 1 mm) further enhanced performance to 2.644 m head, 23.838 % efficiency, and 1.067 % gas volume, by fragmenting gas accumulation and enabling dispersed bubble flow via stepwise pressurization. This slotted impeller eliminates gas locking at Gas Volume Fractions (GVFs) >10 %, providing a field-deployable solution for stable high-GVF oil well production without external separators.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020432Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)Gas-liquid mixed transportationSlotted bladeOrthogonal experiments
spellingShingle Wei Cui
Ziming Feng
Yuqiao Zhao
Wenzheng Chen
Xiangyu Song
Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
Results in Engineering
Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
Gas-liquid mixed transportation
Slotted blade
Orthogonal experiments
title Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
title_full Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
title_fullStr Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
title_full_unstemmed Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
title_short Design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
title_sort design and performance analysis of a slotted blade impeller for electrical submersible pumps
topic Electric Submersible Pump (ESP)
Gas-liquid mixed transportation
Slotted blade
Orthogonal experiments
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025020432
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AT yuqiaozhao designandperformanceanalysisofaslottedbladeimpellerforelectricalsubmersiblepumps
AT wenzhengchen designandperformanceanalysisofaslottedbladeimpellerforelectricalsubmersiblepumps
AT xiangyusong designandperformanceanalysisofaslottedbladeimpellerforelectricalsubmersiblepumps