Diamond-Hardfaced Carbide/Metal Composites for Submersible-Pump Bearings in Geothermal Wells
- Key words
- Geothermal Energy; Submersible-Pump Bearing; Carbide-Metal Composites; Diamond Hardfacing; Corrosive Wear Resistance
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2009
- Session
- Well pumps; Bearings; Corrosion
- Language
- English
Abstract
Renewable energy sources include electrical generators driven by steam from geothermal wells. Submersible pumps are used to pump the hot geothermal fluids from underground sources. To enhance pump-bearing performance, we have developed diamond-hardfaced carbide-metal composites, with functionallygraded interfaces to resist delamination under extreme operating conditions. The diamond-hardfaced materials also resist degradation in geothermal brine much better than any other hardfaced composites and exhibit less wear or no wear at all, even if sand is present in the brine. Hence, such diamond-hardfaced composites can be used not only for submersible-pump bearings, but also for rock-drill bits and production tools.
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