Electroactive Compactor for Pipeline Blockage Reopening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Production pipelines carrying oil and gas often experience blockages due to sedimentation of substances like gas hydrates and scale, which can completely obstruct fluid flow, leading to costly delays if not mitigated.
Innovation Solution
A flow management system featuring an adjustable compactor that deforms under an electric field to compact blockages within the conduit, utilizing an electric actuator and control module to generate and remove an electric field, allowing the compactor to extend and retract and reopen the flow channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional remediation methods are used to clear blockages, then blockages can be removed, but the process is costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical blockage removal methods (such as pigging, chemical cleaning, or manual intervention) with an electroactive polymer-based adjustable compactor actuated by electric fields. The compactor can be remotely controlled to change its configuration from compressed to expanded state, mechanically disrupting blockages through electrically actuated movement rather than conventional mechanical or chemical means, thereby reducing both cost and time for blockage remediation.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable compactor is designed to be deployable and retractable through electric field actuation without requiring external mechanical intervention. The system can autonomously navigate to blockage locations and perform self-contained blockage removal operations, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming external remediation services.
2Productivity
If an adjustable compactor is used to compact blockages, then flow channels can be reopened, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable compactor utilizes electroactive polymer materials that can change their physical configuration in response to electric fields. These flexible polymer structures allow the compactor to transition between compressed and expanded states, enabling flow channel reopening without requiring complex mechanical actuation systems, motors, or hydraulic mechanisms that would increase device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compactor's configuration is changed by altering the electric field parameters applied to the electroactive polymer. By controlling the presence and intensity of the electric field, the compactor can transition between different states (compressed for navigation, expanded for blockage compaction), providing a simple parameter-based control mechanism rather than complex mechanical or electronic control systems.
3Force
If the adjustable compactor remains in extended configuration, then blockages are compacted effectively, but the conduit remains blocked to fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable compactor is designed with dynamic configurability, allowing it to transition between extended and retracted states. The compactor extends to its extended configuration during blockage compaction to apply maximum compaction force, then retracts to its retracted configuration to allow fluid flow through the conduit. This dynamic state change is controlled by the presence or absence of the electric field, enabling the system to alternately provide high compaction force and maintain open flow channels.
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
Effectively reopens blocked conduits by compacting and removing blockages, preventing costly delays and reducing the need for conventional remediation methods, while being cost-effective and adaptable for various pipeline environments.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustable compactor is deformable between an extended configuration and a reference, non-extended configuration under the influence of an electric field
Implementation Method 2
controlling the electric actuator to flow a current to the adjustable compactor to generate an electric field that causes extension of the adjustable compactor for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
A flow management system includes an adjustable compactor configured for attachment to a wall surface of a conduit and being adjustable between an extended configuration and a reference configuration, an electric actuator in fluid communication with the adjustable compactor, and a control module. The control module is configured to control the electric actuator to flow a current to the adjustable compactor to generate an electric field that causes extension of the adjustable compactor for compacting a flow blockage within the conduit to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage and to terminate a flow of the current to remove the electric field at the adjustable compactor to cause the adjustable compactor to return to the reference configuration for opening the channel to a fluid flow within the conduit.