Simulation of operation of pneumatic compensator with quasi-zero stiffness in the electric centrifugal submersible pump unit

The ECSPU pneumatic compensators with quasi-zero stiffness are proposed. The pneumatic compensator with quasi-zero stiffness is suggested to be made in the form of pneumatic spring assemblies having a power characteristic with a positive stiffness working area and a set of successively connected Belleville springs and a power characteristic with a working area of negative stiffness. Structurally, a set of Belleville springs is located inside the air spring and supports pneumatic compensator piston. As a result of adding the negative stiffness of the disc spring washers set and the positive stiffness of the pneumatic spring, the resulting system (the proposed pneumatic compensator) acquires a quasi-zero or specified low stiffness. The efficiency of the suggested pneumatic compensator was determined by the possibility of moving its piston from the effects of various pressure drops. It was assumed that the greater the distance the piston can move under a given action, the more effective the pneumatic compensator is. The effect of various forces acting on the piston in the case of pressure drops on the discharge line of the electric centrifugal submersible pump units (ECSPU) is simulated: a rapidly decreasing load; a sudden increase in the force acting on the piston and vibration impact. In all the considered examples, the displacement of the piston was several meters, which corresponds to the length of the working area of the power characteristic of the considered pneumatic compensator with quasi-zero stiffness. It is shown that existing pneumatic compensators, which are like gas caps, are in principle unable to provide the same displacement of the piston under the same effects on it. For their effective operation, the size of the gas cap should be several tens of meters, which is impossible in the conditions of the well. In the calculations, it is shown that it is possible to manufacture the necessary disk spring washers from various materials: steel; fiberglass FGM; beryllium bronze. Of particular interest are disk spring washers made of beryllium bronze, which are capable of withstanding up to 20 billion load cycles