Inverted Bulk Material Container for Wet Proppant Unloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bulk material containers are not conducive to efficiently unloading and handling wet proppant, which clumps and lacks flowability, posing challenges in transportation and mixing with other materials for wellbore operations.
Innovation Solution
A bulk material container and unloading system designed with engagement elements for transportation and unloading, featuring a hopper and delivery device that allows for complete emptying and even distribution of wet proppant into a blender, utilizing a pivot arm and vibration device to facilitate unloading and prevent clumping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dry bulk material containers with bottom valves are used for wet proppant, then transportation efficiency is improved, but complete emptying becomes difficult due to clumping
Solution Approach 1:
The container is inverted (turned upside down) during unloading to allow wet proppant to exit from the top opening rather than through a bottom valve. This inversion overcomes the clumping issue that prevents complete emptying through bottom valves, as the proppant can slide out more easily under gravity when the container is upside down.
Solution Approach 2:
A vibration device is applied to the container to prevent clumping of wet proppant and facilitate complete emptying. The mechanical vibration breaks up clumps and maintains proppant flowability, allowing the material to be fully discharged from the container even when inverted.
2Device complexity
If wet proppant is handled without vibration, then device complexity is reduced, but clumping increases and flowability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A vibration device is integrated into the unloading system to apply mechanical vibration to the wet proppant during handling and discharge. This vibration prevents clumping and maintains flowability, overcoming the natural tendency of wet proppant to clump and lose flowability when handled without vibration.
3Loss of time
If wet proppant is added to blender unevenly, then mixing time is reduced, but mixture homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The unloading system extracts or removes clumps from the wet proppant through vibration and controlled discharge, delivering uniformly distributed proppant to the blender. By taking out the clumping problem at the discharge stage, the system ensures even addition to the blender, maintaining mixture homogeneity while minimizing mixing time.
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
Ensures efficient unloading and consistent delivery of wet proppant to a blender, reducing clumping and ensuring a homogeneous mixture for wellbore operations, thereby minimizing downtime and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration device configured to vibrate the bulk material container
Implementation Method 2
The pivot arm is configured to rotate about the second connector between a first position and a second position
Implementation Method 3
the unloading device may be configured to engage the bulk material container such that the unloading device may lift and rotate the bulk material container to unload the bulk material contained in the bulk material container into the hopper
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure provides a bulk material unloading system and method. The system includes a bulk material container containing a bulk material and an unloading device. The unloading device is configured to engage the bulk material container and at least partially invert the bulk material container. The method includes engaging a bulk material container containing a bulk material with an unloading device and emptying the bulk material container. Emptying the bulk material into the hopper includes lifting the bulk material container using the unloading device and rotating the bulk material container using the unloading device.