Annulus Sealing Arrangement with Acute Angle Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annulus sealing systems face challenges in effectively sealing fluidic flows due to limitations in adapting to varying radial dimensions and preventing extrusion of members through the annulus.
Innovation Solution
An annulus sealing arrangement featuring a member with initially smaller radial dimensions and a plurality of plates forming acute angles, which increase as the member expands radially, ensuring sealing by contacting both the inner and outer boundaries of the annulus, utilizing viscoelastic materials and mechanisms like longitudinal compression or swelling to maintain engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a member with initially smaller radial dimension is used, then the device can be inserted into the annulus, but the member cannot effectively seal the annulus without expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The member is designed to dynamically change its radial dimension from an initial smaller size (for insertion) to an expanded larger size (for sealing). This dynamic expansion capability allows the same component to satisfy both insertion requirements and sealing requirements at different operational stages.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial dimension parameter of the member is changed through expansion mechanisms (such as balloon expansion or self-expanding structures). This parameter change enables the member to transition from a state suitable for insertion to a state suitable for effective sealing against the annulus boundaries.
2Reliability
If plates are positioned to seal the annulus, then sealing is achieved, but the plates may move longitudinally away from the member under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The plates serve as an intermediary element between the expanding member and the annulus boundaries. These plates are positioned to contact both the member and the annulus walls, transferring forces and maintaining stable sealing contact while preventing longitudinal movement away from the member under pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The plates are pre-positioned and configured to engage with the member and annulus boundaries before full pressure is applied. This preliminary positioning ensures that when expansion occurs, the plates are already in place to maintain stable sealing contact and prevent longitudinal displacement.
3Reliability
If the member expands radially to seal the annulus, then sealing effectiveness improves, but extrusion of the member through the annulus may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into multiple functional components: the expanding member, the plates, and the annulus boundaries. This segmentation allows the member to expand radially for sealing while the plates and boundary contacts prevent longitudinal extrusion, distributing the sealing function across multiple stable engagement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The potential harmful force of radial expansion that could cause extrusion is converted into a beneficial sealing mechanism. The expansion force that might push the member through the annulus is instead harnessed to increase the sealing contact pressure between the member and annulus boundaries, with the plates preventing longitudinal movement.
4Reliability
If acute angles are increased to 90 degrees, then radial engagement with boundaries is maximized, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The acute angle parameter of the plates is changed to 90 degrees to maximize radial engagement with the annulus boundaries. This parameter change simplifies the geometric relationship between components, making the sealing mechanism more reliable while keeping the structural configuration straightforward and manageable.
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
The solution effectively seals the annulus by increasing acute angles to 90 degrees, preventing extrusion and ensuring radial engagement with both boundaries, suitable for diverse industrial applications including carbon dioxide sequestration and hydrocarbon recovery.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing viscoelastic materials and mechanisms like longitudinal compression or swelling to maintain engagement
Implementation Method 2
utilizing viscoelastic materials and mechanisms like longitudinal compression or swelling to maintain engagement
Data Source
AI summary
An annulus sealing arrangement includes, at least one member positionable within an annulus, a first radial dimension of the at least one member is initially less than a second radial dimension defined by the annulus, and a plurality of plates in operable communication with the at least one member initially positioned with surfaces of the plurality of plates forming acute angles relative to an axis defined by the annulus, at least a first portion of each of the plurality of plates perimetrically overlapping a second portion of at least one other of the plurality of plates positioned perimetrically adjacent thereto, the annulus sealing arrangement is configured such that increases in the first radial dimension cause the acute angles to increase.