Automated Drilling Fluid Rheology Analysis System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid analyzers are inadequate for analyzing gelatinous drilling fluids, as they often overwork and fail when dealing with such fluids, requiring constant technician attention and manual disassembly for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A testing apparatus and method that automatically analyze drilling fluids using a system comprising a fluid collection container, pumps, a rheology sensor, and an electrical system connected to a user interface, allowing for automatic testing and temperature adjustment of drilling fluid samples without constant technician intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluid analyzers are used to analyze gelatinous drilling fluids, then the internal pump becomes overworked and fails, but the device requires constant technician attention and manual disassembly for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic single pump from the system and replaces it with a dual pump configuration. The first pump handles fluid intake while the second pump handles fluid discharge, separating the functions that previously overloaded a single pump. This extraction of the overloaded component resolves the reliability issue while the automated control system eliminates the need for manual maintenance intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an automated testing system where the electrical system automatically controls the dual pumps and rheology sensor based on user-defined parameters. The system performs temperature adjustment, fluid circulation, and rheology measurement without requiring technician intervention during operation or maintenance, making the device self-servicing and eliminating manual disassembly requirements.
2Productivity
If manual testing of drilling fluids is performed, then technician attention is required constantly, but automation can be achieved through electrical control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into an integrated automated system: the electrical system combines pump control, temperature regulation, rheology sensing, and data processing into a single coordinated unit. This merging of previously separate manual operations into one automated system increases productivity while the modular design keeps complexity manageable through functional integration rather than multiplication of separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional testing apparatus where the same system performs fluid circulation, temperature adjustment, rheology measurement, and data analysis. The dual pump system and electrical control architecture serve multiple purposes: fluid transport, temperature control, and automated sequencing of testing operations, thereby increasing productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Device complexity
If single pump system is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but gelatinous fluids cause pump failure and require manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single pump function into two separate pumps with distinct roles: the first pump is dedicated to fluid intake and the second pump to fluid discharge. This segmentation prevents the overload condition that plagued the single pump system, as each pump handles only its specific function with appropriate workload. The modular segmented design maintains reasonable complexity while dramatically improving reliability for gelatinous fluid analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a fluid conduit, a fluid chamber in communication with the fluid conduit, a rheology sensor in communication with the fluid chamber, and an electric temperature controller in communication with the fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is cooled or heated in response to a first control signal from the electric temperature controller.