Downhole Cooling Chamber Using Phase Separation Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current downhole drilling and logging tools face challenges in maintaining component temperatures within operational ranges in severe high-temperature and high-pressure environments, particularly lacking effective refrigerant-based cooling solutions for fluid evaporation during downhole operations.
Innovation Solution
A cooling apparatus and method utilizing a chamber to store refrigerant in both liquid and gaseous phases, where the liquid phase is extracted and the gaseous phase is retained, employing devices like wicks, float devices, or pendulums to manage phase transition and maintain refrigerant in a liquid state, enabling evaporation-based cooling for downhole tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If refrigerant is stored in a chamber for downhole cooling, then cooling capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to phase separation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber uses self-service phase separation mechanisms where the refrigerant automatically separates into liquid and gaseous phases based on density differences. Simple internal components like wicks, float devices, or pendulums enable the heavier liquid phase to settle at the bottom and the lighter gaseous phase to rise to the top, eliminating the need for complex external separation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the refrigerant by controlling temperature and pressure conditions within the chamber. By maintaining specific temperature ranges and pressure levels, the refrigerant undergoes phase transition and separation, allowing liquid refrigerant to be extracted for cooling while retaining gaseous refrigerant in the chamber.
2Temperature
If liquid refrigerant is extracted for evaporation cooling, then cooling efficiency is improved, but refrigerant loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system recovers refrigerant by maintaining a reservoir of gaseous phase refrigerant in the chamber. After liquid refrigerant evaporates and provides cooling, the resulting vapor returns to the chamber and can be condensed back to liquid phase, creating a closed-loop recovery system that minimizes refrigerant loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes phase transitions of the refrigerant between liquid and gaseous states. Liquid refrigerant is extracted and allowed to evaporate for cooling effect, then the gaseous refrigerant returns to the chamber where it can be condensed back to liquid, enabling repeated cycles of cooling without significant refrigerant loss.
3Device complexity
If simple phase separation devices are used, then device complexity is reduced, but refrigerant separation precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase separation process is self-service, relying on the natural density difference between liquid and gaseous refrigerant phases. Simple internal components like wicks, float devices, or pendulums enable automatic separation without requiring complex mechanical systems, achieving adequate precision for the application's cooling needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves sufficient separation precision by controlling temperature and pressure parameters within the chamber. These parameter changes enhance the density difference between phases, allowing simple separation devices to effectively distinguish and separate liquid refrigerant for extraction while retaining gaseous refrigerant.
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 solution effectively cools downhole tools by maintaining refrigerant in a liquid state and utilizing evaporation to create a cooling effect, improving tool performance and extending operational life in extreme conditions.
Implementation Method 1
discharging the refrigerant from the chamber through an outlet to cause the refrigerant to evaporate to cause a cooling effect proximate the downhole device
Implementation Method 2
a device associated with the chamber configured to extract the liquid phase of the refrigerant from the chamber to the outlet and retain the gaseous phase in the chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
An apparatus for cooling a downhole device comprises a chamber (510, 710, 810, 910) configured to store a refrigerant (222, 722, 822, 922) in a liquid phase; an outlet (530, 730, 860, 960) configured to allow the refrigerant (222, 722, 822, 922) to discharge to the downhole device; and a device associated with the chamber (510, 710, 810, 910) configured to provide the refrigerant (222, 722, 822, 922) from the chamber (510, 710, 810, 910) to the outlet (530, 730, 860, 960); the device is selected from a group consisting of: a wick (720), a float device (820) and a pendulum (920).