Dynamic Sealing via Azimuthal Vortex Variation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dynamic sealing technologies, such as those using axial-symmetric cavities, fail to effectively control pressure drop and fluid flow between moving surfaces, leading to inefficiencies in applications like plunger movement in gas lift wells, as they do not fully exploit turbulence and interaction effects between vortices.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a tool with cavities on its outer surface featuring a geometry that generates a toroidal vortex and includes fluid sealing elements inducing an azimuthal variation, such as sharp disruptions in orientation, to create a more complex vortical structure and increase pressure drop, thereby enhancing sealing efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If axial-symmetric cavities are used for dynamic sealing, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the sealing efficiency is insufficient and pressure drop is not effectively controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by introducing non-axisymmetric cavity geometries with varying depths, widths, and angular orientations around the tool perimeter. This breaks the symmetry of conventional cavities to generate complex three-dimensional vortex structures that enhance sealing effectiveness while maintaining manufacturability through controlled geometric variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional axial-symmetric cavity designs to three-dimensional non-axisymmetric geometries by adding angular and radial variations in cavity dimensions. This dimensional enhancement creates multi-directional vortex interactions that significantly improve pressure drop control and sealing performance.
2Device complexity
If conventional cavities are used, then the device complexity is low, but the pressure drop control and fluid flow separation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying cavity dimensions and orientations at different locations around the tool perimeter. Each cavity position has customized depth, width, and angular orientation to optimize local vortex generation and pressure drop characteristics, enabling precise control over fluid flow separation and sealing performance.
3Force
If limited contact is used to minimize friction drag, then the tool can move freely, but fluid flow control and sealing effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages hydraulic principles by using cavity-generated vortices to control fluid flow patterns in the annulus. The non-axisymmetric cavities create three-dimensional vortex structures that manipulate pressure distributions and flow separation, enabling effective fluid flow control and sealing without requiring direct mechanical contact between the tool and conduit.
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 results in a more efficient dynamic seal, increasing pressure drop and reducing fluid leakage, as demonstrated by numerical modeling, which shows a 9% increase in pressure drop with the same flow rate, and allows for better separation of gas and water in gas-producing wells.
Implementation Method 1
a cavity geometry configured to generate a toroidal vortex
Implementation Method 2
a fluid sealing element in the cavity configured to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex
Implementation Method 3
increasing pressure drop, thereby enhancing sealing efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and mechanisms for fluid sealing are provided. The disclosed mechanisms include a tool having a cavity configured to form a toroidal vortex and a fluid sealing element to induce an azimuthal variation of the toroidal vortex (a “dynamic seal”). The fluid sealing element may include a sharp change in the axial symmetry of the cavity to induce the azimuthal variation. Some exemplary shapes of the fluid sealing element may include a notch in a cavity, a step shaped cavity, or an angular cavity in the tool. Methods for manufacturing such a dynamic seal is also provided as well as methods for producing hydrocarbons with a plunger having the dynamic seals. The tool may be a plunger, a pig, an in-flow control device, or other cylindrical device traveling through a conduit or tubular member.