The bearings and seals are the major causes of ESP system failure. Erosion is the primary cause of bearing failure. An test rig was built in our lab to study the journal bearing erosion rate and process, . The real work condition of journal bearings are restored with controlled parameters, such as imbalance, GVF, sand […]

This test rig serves to identify the dynamic and static characteristics of aerostatic thin films. Multiple gas delivery configurations are tested and compared in terms of load capacity, stiffness, and damping. Experimental results will be used to select and optimize the gas delivery configuration, and develop computational models for the design and development of hybrid […]

Process fluid lubrication of thrust bearings is an attractive solution to reliability issues for Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs). This test rig is built to qualify the performance of thrust bearings in process fluid lubrication, with or without contamination. The current rig is capable of testing bearings up to 11 inches in diameter at speeds up […]