Monitoring fiber for a machine and method of installation

Abstract

An electric machine assembly and a method of installing an electric machine assembly, the electric machine including a downhole electric machine; and a fiber operatively arranged at least partially through a housing of the electric machine for sensing at least one parameter of the electric machine assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric machine assembly, comprising:
 a downhole electric machine; and   a fiber operatively arranged at least partially through a housing of the electric machine for sensing at least one parameter of the electric machine assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is disposed in a capillary tube extending into the electric machine housing. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the capillary tube isolates the fiber from a fluid in the electric machine. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein a seal element is disposed about the capillary tube for sealing in the fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the capillary tube extends from outside the housing to inside the housing through a passage in a feed through block sealed in a port of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the feed through block is non-rotationally locked to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the capillary tube is one of a plurality of capillary tubes, the fiber is one of a plurality of fibers, and each capillary tube includes at least one of the fibers therethrough. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a combining block located in the port of the housing, the combining block in communication with each of the capillary tubes for directing each of the fibers into a single fiber conduit extending out from the electric machine. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the feed through block is operatively arranged to receive a cap block thereon, the cap block enabling a pre-assembly configuration by sealing the port and the capillary tubes. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is one of a plurality of fibers and the plurality of fibers are arranged to detected the at least one parameter at a plurality of locations in the electric machine. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electric machine assembly is for a three phase motor having three pairs of windings. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber is one of a plurality of fibers and the plurality of fibers are arranged within each of the windings. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter comprises temperature, strain, acoustics, or combinations including at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a second electric machine and a transition bridging between the electric machine and the second electric machine, the fiber extending from the electric machine to the second electric machine. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the fiber comprises a first fiber connected to a second fiber. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second fibers are connected by corresponding optical connectors, a mechanical splice, a fusion splice, or combinations including at least one of the foregoing. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber comprises optical fiber. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary tube is one of a plurality of capillary tubes, the capillary tubes being arranged at least one pair, each pair having a turn around connecting both capillary tubes in that pair for enabling a single fiber to extend through both capillary tubes in each pair. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a fiber in a downhole electric machine for monitoring the electric machine comprising:
 arranging at least one fiber at least partially through a housing of a electric machine;   running the electric machine downhole; and   sensing at least one parameter of the electric machine with the fiber.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein arranging the fiber further comprises:
 arranging a feed through block in a port of the housing of the electric machine;   inserting a capillary tube through a passage in the feed through block, a seal element disposed about the capillary tube at a mouth of the passage;   engaging a setting component in the port;   setting the sealing element by exerting a pressure on the seal element with the setting component for sealing the port; and   installing the fiber in the capillary tube.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein arranging the at least one fiber further comprises:
 arranging a first capillary tube through a first port in the electric machine;   arranging a second capillary tube through a second port in a second electric machine;   engaging the first and second electric machines;   feeding the at least one fiber through the first capillary tube and the second capillary tube;   monitoring at least one parameter of the first and second electric machines with the fiber.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one fiber includes a first fiber disposed in the first capillary tube and a second fiber disposed in the second capillary tube, where an optical connection is formed between the first and second fibers. 
     
     
         23 . A motor assembly, comprising:
 a downhole motor; and   a fiber operatively arranged at least partially through a housing of the motor for sensing at least one parameter of the motor assembly.