Elastically Deformable Chassis for Downhole Tool Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Downhole tools in wellbore operations face challenges with heat dissipation and shock load transmission due to increasing power consumption and complex tool strings, leading to overheating and potential component damage.
Innovation Solution
A heat-transferring apparatus with elastically deformable members is used, which is inserted into a cylindrical housing, allowing direct contact with the inner surface to enhance thermal conductivity and maintain contact under shock loads, preventing heat buildup and component damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shock isolators made of non-metallic materials are used to mitigate shock loads, then shock transmissibility is reduced, but thermal conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The chassis is designed to be elastically deformable, allowing it to dynamically adapt its contact pressure with the housing inner surface in response to shock loads and thermal expansion, maintaining both shock isolation and thermal contact
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis material properties are selected to provide appropriate elastic deformation characteristics, changing the contact pressure parameter dynamically to balance shock protection and thermal conduction requirements
2Temperature
If the chassis is rigidly fixed to maintain thermal contact, then heat dissipation is improved, but shock load transmission increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the system have different properties: the chassis is made elastically deformable at contact points to absorb shock, while maintaining thermal conduction path through the housing wall where rigid contact is achieved
3Power
If larger power is consumed by internal components, then tool functionality is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing acts as an intermediary thermal conduction path, transferring heat from the internal electronic components through the chassis and housing wall to the external environment, enabling high power operation without overheating
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 transfers heat away from heat-generating components, maintaining tool functionality and preventing damage from shock loads, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of downhole tools.
Implementation Method 1
applying an external contracting force to a heat-transferring chassis to elastically deform the heat-transferring chassis from a first position encompassed by a first diameter to a second position encompassed by a second diameter
Implementation Method 2
heat-generating components each directly coupled to one of the substantially planar surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprising a housing, a chassis, and a plurality of heat-generating components. The chassis is biased into contact with a plurality of locations along an inner surface of the housing in response to elastic deformation of the chassis. The chassis includes a plurality of substantially planar surfaces each interposing ones of the plurality of locations. The plurality of heat-generating components are directly coupled to corresponding ones of the plurality of substantially planar surfaces.