Expandable Conduit Actuation for Rapid Flow Blockage Reopening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Production pipelines for oil and gas often experience blockages due to sedimentation of substances like gas hydrates and scale, which can completely block fluid flow, leading to costly delays if left unmitigated.
Innovation Solution
A flow management system featuring an expandable device attachable to a conduit wall, adjustable between expanded and collapsed configurations via electrical current, using a piezoelectric element to compact blockages and reopen channels for fluid flow, accompanied by an electric actuator and control module for operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
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 expandable device is pre-installed on the conduit wall before blockage occurs, allowing immediate activation when blockage is detected, eliminating the need for deployment time and enabling rapid response to restore flow
2Productivity
If the expandable device is activated frequently to clear blockages, then flow can be restored, but the device undergoes repeated stress cycles that may reduce reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The device transitions between collapsed and expanded states dynamically, allowing repeated actuation cycles. The flexible membrane and structural design accommodate multiple transitions between configurations, maintaining reliability through controlled dynamic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes its physical state (expanded/collapsed) based on operational needs, using controllable parameter changes rather than permanent deformation, which preserves structural integrity over multiple cycles
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 then collapsing the expandable device to restore fluid flow, preventing costly delays and reducing the need for conventional remediation methods, while being durable enough to withstand multiple actuation cycles and environmental pressures.
Implementation Method 1
The expandable device is adjustable between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration in response to a presence of or a lack thereof an electrical current. The piezoelectric element is configured to expand to the expanded configuration in response to an internal charge generated by the current.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing a fluid flow within a conduit includes determining a presence of a flow blockage within the conduit, the conduit being equipped with an expandable device, controlling an electric actuator to flow a current to the expandable device to expand the expandable device radially, compacting the flow blockage radially along a length of the expandable device to create a channel adjacent the flow blockage, controlling the electric actuator to terminate a flow of the current to the expandable device to collapse the expandable device radially, and exposing the channel to open the conduit to fluid flow.