Pump chamber position indicator

Abstract

A pump with a position indicator is disclosed. The pump includes a pump housing, wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein; a first fluid zone, wherein the first fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a first fluid into and out of the first fluid zone; and a second fluid zone, wherein the second fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a second fluid into and out of the second fluid zone. The pump further includes a flexible position indicator disposed in the first fluid zone and in communication with the flexible bladder, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder, and wherein the flexible bladder fluidly isolates the first fluid zone from the second fluid zone.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pump with a position indicator, the pump comprising:
 a pump housing, wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein;   a first fluid zone, wherein the first fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a first fluid into and out of the first fluid zone;   a second fluid zone, wherein the second fluid zone is operable to allow flow of a second fluid into and out of the second fluid zone; and   a flexible position indicator disposed in the first fluid zone and in communication with the flexible bladder, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder, and wherein the flexible bladder fluidly isolates the first fluid zone from the second fluid zone.   
     
     
         2 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible position indicator comprises a transducer cable. 
     
     
         3 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the second fluid zone when the first fluid flows into the first fluid zone, wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the first fluid zone when the second fluid flows into the second fluid zone, and wherein the flexible position indicator is attached to the flexible bladder and is displaced according to motion of the flexible bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The pump according to  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor housing with a spool assembly and guide rollers to store and guide the transducer cable, wherein the transducer cable extends from and retracts into the sensor housing in response to tension, and not in response to compression. 
     
     
         5 . The pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the transducer cable comprises a ferrule connector and the flexible bladder comprises a bumper, and wherein the ferrule connector is attached to the bumper. 
     
     
         6 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump further comprises a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT). 
     
     
         7 . The pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid comprises seawater and the second fluid comprises drilling mud. 
     
     
         8 . A dual gradient drilling system for subsea operations, the drilling system comprising:
 a water supply line comprising a water supply line inlet and a water supply line outlet;   a manifold inlet, the manifold inlet in fluid communication with the water supply line;   a mud return line comprising a mud return line inlet and a mud return line outlet;   a mud lead line, the mud lead line in fluid communication with the mud return line;   a pump housing, wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein, wherein the flexible bladder fluidly isolates the manifold inlet from the mud lead line; and   a flexible position indicator disposed proximate the manifold inlet and in communication with the flexible bladder, wherein the flexible position indicator is operable to detect a linear position of the flexible bladder within the pump housing.   
     
     
         9 . The drilling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the flexible position indicator comprises a transducer cable. 
     
     
         10 . The drilling system according to  claim 9 , wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the mud lead line when water flows into the manifold inlet, wherein the flexible bladder is operable to move toward the manifold inlet when mud flows into the mud lead line, and wherein the flexible position indicator is attached to the flexible bladder and is displaced according to the motion of the flexible bladder. 
     
     
         11 . The drilling system according to  claim 9 , further comprising a sensor housing with a spool assembly and guide rollers to store and guide the transducer cable, wherein the transducer cable extends from and retracts into the sensor housing in response to tension, and not in response to compression. 
     
     
         12 . The drilling system according to  claim 9 , wherein the transducer cable comprises a ferrule connector and the flexible bladder comprises a bumper, and wherein the ferrule connector is attached to the bumper. 
     
     
         13 . The drilling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT). 
     
     
         14 . The drilling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the water supply line comprises seawater and the mud return line comprises drilling mud. 
     
     
         15 . A method for detecting displacement of a displaceable component in a pump housing, the method comprising the steps of:
 disposing a flexible position indicator proximate the pump housing and in communication with the displaceable component in the pump housing, the displaceable component operable to be displaced by fluid movement in the pump housing;   allowing the flexible position indicator to be displaced responsive to movement of the displaceable component in the pump housing;   detecting a displacement of the flexible position indicator; and   monitoring a position of the displaceable component in the pump housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pump housing includes a flexible bladder disposed therein. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the flexible position indicator comprises a transducer cable. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of allowing the flexible position indicator to be displaced responsive to the movement of the displaceable component in the pump housing occurs in response to tension on the transducer cable, and not in response to compression. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the pump housing further comprises a linear variable displacement transducer (LVDT). 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid movement in the pump housing comprises movement of at least two different fluids in two fluidly isolated chambers of the pump housing.