Drill String Power Feed With Current-Voltage Data Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drilling processes face challenges in real-time data transmission and efficient energy supply over long distances in drill strings, where high-frequency carrier signals and DC/DC converters lead to voltage drops and instability, limiting bandwidth and power availability.
Innovation Solution
A method combining data transmission through current modulation and voltage modulation in both directions, using a constant current supply and constant-voltage diodes to stabilize power and enable simultaneous data transfer, with modules operating as constant-voltage two-terminal devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If high-frequency carrier signals are used for data transmission over the supply line, then data transmission capability is improved, but voltage drops and instability increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission into two separate domains: voltage domain for downlink (surface to downhole) and current domain for uplink (downhole to surface). This segmentation allows each domain to be optimized independently, with voltage modulation providing stable downlink transmission and current modulation enabling uplink transmission without interfering with the power supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-domain (voltage-only) modulation to dual-domain modulation by utilizing both voltage and current dimensions of the electrical signal. This dimensional expansion enables full-duplex communication (simultaneous bidirectional data transmission) while maintaining power supply stability, as each direction uses a different signal dimension.
2Power
If DC/DC converters are used to reduce supply voltage, then power distribution to technical systems is improved, but voltage drops along the line increase and feed power becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces constant-voltage diodes as intermediary components at each technical system location. These diodes maintain a stable voltage drop characteristic, ensuring that each technical system receives adequate voltage regardless of line losses. The diodes act as voltage regulators that compensate for voltage drops along the supply line without requiring active DC/DC converters.
3Power
If the supply line has low impedance for voltage supply, then power delivery is improved, but data transmission performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrical signal into distinct functional components: the voltage component carries downlink data and the current component carries uplink data. This segmentation allows the supply line to maintain low impedance for efficient power delivery while the high-impedance current modulation signals used for uplink data transmission are not degraded by the low-impedance characteristic.
4Reliability
If galvanically-insulated DC/DC converters are used, then electrical isolation is improved, but installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the galvanic isolation function from the bulky DC/DC converter and implements it through the inherent isolation properties of the constant-voltage diodes and the modular technical system design. This eliminates the need for large galvanically-insulated DC/DC converters while maintaining electrical isolation, thereby reducing installation space requirements.
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 approach ensures stable power supply and high-bandwidth data transmission, simplifies module design, and prevents voltage drops and short-circuit issues, allowing real-time data communication and control along the drill string.
Implementation Method 1
data transmission being carried out in the drill string in one direction by modulating the current
Implementation Method 2
use of constant-voltage diodes to stabilize power and enable simultaneous data transfer, with modules operating as constant-voltage two-terminal devices
Implementation Method 3
in the other direction by modulating the voltage
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and a device for supplying electrical power for two or more technical systems, which are connected to an electrical supply line with a feed point, arranged in a connecting rod, and for data transmission between the feed point and the technical systems, supplying power to the technical systems is done with essentially constant current intensity. Data transmission from the feed point to the technical systems is done by modulating the current intensity, and data transmission from the technical systems to the feed point is done by modulating the voltage.