Integrated Acoustic-Electrical Sensor System for Gas Hydrate Saturation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current test systems for simulating gas hydrate in porous media fail to effectively combine acoustic and electrical data, leading to incomplete information and calculation errors in gas hydrate saturation due to the separate implementation of sensors and reliance on limited electrical properties.
Innovation Solution
A test system comprising a reactor, sensor system, and data processing system that integrates acoustic and electrical sensors, allowing for simultaneous data collection and fusion of impedance, acoustic wave properties, temperature, and pressure data to accurately model gas hydrate saturation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If acoustic and electrical sensors are implemented separately, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and information completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines acoustic sensors and electrical sensors into a single integrated test system that operates simultaneously. The sensor system includes both acoustic transmission and reception units as well as electrical electrode units, all integrated within the same reactor apparatus. This merging allows for synchronized acquisition of acoustic impedance data and electrical resistivity data, enabling comprehensive characterization of gas hydrate saturation without requiring separate experimental setups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite sensing approach that integrates multiple sensing modalities (acoustic and electrical) within a unified system architecture. The test system functions as a composite measurement device that leverages the complementary strengths of acoustic wave propagation characteristics and electrical resistivity properties to achieve more accurate gas hydrate saturation measurement than either method could provide alone.
2Device complexity
If only one pair of electrodes is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the spatial tested range and information about anisotropy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrical sensing function into multiple independent electrode units arranged in different spatial configurations. Specifically, it employs both horizontal electrode pairs and vertical electrode pairs, creating multiple measurement pathways through the porous medium. This segmentation allows the system to probe different spatial zones and capture anisotropic electrical properties from multiple directions, significantly expanding the effective tested volume compared to a single electrode pair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension electrical measurement (one electrode pair) to multi-dimensional electrical characterization by introducing electrode pairs oriented in different spatial dimensions (horizontal and vertical). This dimensional expansion enables the system to detect electrical anisotropy and map the spatial distribution of gas hydrate saturation throughout the reactor volume, providing comprehensive three-dimensional information about the porous medium.
3Device complexity
If acoustic and electrical sensors are not integrated, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases due to inconsistent tested objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal test system that performs multiple measurement functions simultaneously through a single integrated apparatus. The system can conduct acoustic transmission tests, acoustic reception tests, electrical resistivity measurements, and temperature monitoring all within the same reactor and on the same porous medium sample. This multi-functionality ensures that all sensors measure identical tested objects under consistent conditions, eliminating information loss that would occur with separate testing of different samples.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated sensor system enables cross-validation and data fusion through feedback mechanisms. Acoustic and electrical measurements are acquired simultaneously and can be used to mutually constrain and validate each other's results. The system processes both datasets together to derive gas hydrate saturation, using the complementary information from acoustic impedance and electrical resistivity measurements to reduce uncertainty and improve measurement reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This integrated approach provides comprehensive and reliable data for precise gas hydrate saturation calculations, enhancing the accuracy of simulation experiments and supporting the development of new logging technologies.
Implementation Method 1
By the conventional resistivity test technology, the resistance information of a medium to be tested is acquired, but the capacitive reactance information is ignored
Implementation Method 2
the acoustic wave property parameters of the medium to be tested are measured by the acoustic sensor pair
Implementation Method 3
the reactor is put in a constant-temperature box, the temperature of the constant-temperature box is set to a certain low temperature to synthesize gas hydrate
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention disclosures a test system and test method for a simulation experiment of gas hydrate in a porous medium. The test system comprises a reactor, a sensor system, a hardware interface apparatus and a data processing system; the reactor is used for containing tested medium, the sensor system is mounted inside the reactor, and the sensor system is connected to the data processing system through the hardware interface apparatus; the test method comprises a procedure of experiment and measurement data acquisition, and a procedure of analyzing and processing measurement signals; by establishing of electrical model I, acoustic model II and the fused model III, realizing the simulation of the synthesis/decomposition processes of gas hydrate in the deposits in laboratory environment and implementation of the acoustic and electrical parameters combined test, an accurate gas hydrate saturation calculation model can be established at last.