Cavitation Flowback Diverter with Spiral Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cavitation process for enhancing coalbed methane recovery results in high-velocity, high-pressure discharge that poses safety hazards and contaminates the well site and surrounding area due to uncontrolled flowback, with prior containment methods being ineffective in preventing airborne particulates and prone to blockages.
Innovation Solution
A self-cleaning flowback diverter using a conical containment shell with a centrally mounted diverter cone and stationary helical vanes directs the flow radially, dissipating energy and reducing velocity, while a water curtain nozzle system captures fine particulates, ensuring an unobstructed path and easy replacement of worn parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If prior containment methods (earthen berm or baffled pipe) are used to control flowback, then flowback containment is achieved, but airborne particulates are not prevented and blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a conical housing with a curved spiral flow path instead of straight or baffled configurations. The curved geometry directs flow in a continuous spiral pattern along the inner wall, preventing particulate settlement and blockages while maintaining containment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a water curtain as an intermediary substance that captures airborne particulates from the flowback discharge. The water curtain acts as a mediator between the high-velocity flowback and the surrounding environment, settling particulates before they can become airborne contaminants.
2Reliability
If discharge flow is restricted to control flowback, then containment is improved, but cavitation effectiveness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The conical housing with spiral flow path allows unrestricted discharge volume while controlling flowback through geometric redirection. The curved spiral path contains and directs the full flow without restriction, maintaining cavitation effectiveness while achieving containment through the self-cleaning spiral geometry that prevents blockages.
3Productivity
If high-velocity discharge is allowed for cavitation effectiveness, then productivity is maintained, but safety hazards and contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The curved spiral flow path within the conical housing dissipates high-velocity energy through continuous redirection along the curved inner wall. This geometric approach maintains the high flow rates needed for cavitation effectiveness while reducing the hazardous impact and airborne particulates through energy dissipation in the spiral path.
Solution Approach 2:
The water curtain serves as an intermediary that captures particulates from the high-velocity discharge before they can become airborne contaminants or safety hazards. This mediator allows the high-velocity flow to maintain cavitation effectiveness while the water curtain protects the surrounding environment from contamination.
4Reliability
If baffled pipe is used to contain flowback, then containment is achieved, but device complexity increases and blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex baffled structures with a simple conical housing containing a spiral flow path. This geometric solution achieves containment through the curved spiral geometry that directs flow along the inner wall, eliminating the need for multiple baffles and reducing structural complexity while preventing blockages through the self-cleaning spiral design.
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 diverter effectively controls and contains flowback, reducing airborne dust and noise, preventing blockages, and ensuring the safety and efficiency of the cavitation process by dissipating energy and capturing particulates, thus minimizing the risk of pressure buildup and contamination.
Implementation Method 1
The velocity of the flow is dissipated as the flow impinges upon and is deflected by the diverter elements and turbulence created by the flow interacting with itself
Implementation Method 2
the containment shell may be fitted with numerous nozzles capable of supplying a water curtain to capture and settle out such particulates
Data Source
AI summary
A diverter for containing and reducing the velocity of the particulate discharge from a well bore being subjected to the process of “cavitation.” The diverter has a generally conical hollow containment shell and an internal diverter assembly with replaceable wear parts wherein the flow is directed into a spiral path along the inner surface of the containment shell. The path of flow is such that the flow velocity is dissipated without impeding or obstructing the flow of particulates. Water can be injected into the flow to help prevent fine particulates from becoming airborne.