ISO Container Proppant Discharge System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing logistics and storage solutions for proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations are inefficient, leading to high costs, degradation of proppant quality, and logistical challenges, including limited transportation infrastructure, costly equipment, and reduced productivity across the supply chain.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing a ten-foot ISO container with a modified design that allows for efficient loading, transportation, and storage of proppant, featuring a bottom outlet and gravity-fed discharge system, which eliminates the need for pneumatic trailers and reduces demurrage charges by enabling direct loading onto conveyor systems, thereby improving the flow and storage of proppant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If proppant is hauled to desired locations on the back of trucks and dumped onsite, then transportation flexibility is improved, but proppant quality degrades due to exposure to adverse weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses enclosed container structures (silos and storage facilities) with protective coverings to shield proppant from weather conditions while maintaining transportation flexibility through multiple delivery locations. The enclosed design prevents exposure to rain, wind, and other adverse elements that would otherwise degrade proppant quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate storage facilities (silos and storage buildings) as mediators between the truck and the final delivery point. These facilities receive proppant from trucks in controlled conditions and then dispense it as needed, protecting the material from weather exposure during storage and enabling flexible timing of the actual fracturing operation.
2Reliability
If proppant is stored in containers at the hydraulic fracturing site, then proppant quality is protected, but capital investment in storage facilities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the storage system into modular components - multiple smaller silos or storage units rather than one large facility. This segmentation allows for reduced capital investment by only installing the necessary storage capacity for each specific site, while still providing protected storage. The modular approach enables phased implementation and reduces upfront costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs storage facilities that serve multiple functions: protected storage, weather shielding, controlled dispensing, and potential mobile deployment. The silos and storage buildings are designed to work with standard truck configurations and can be relocated or scaled, providing universal applicability across different fracturing sites while reducing the need for site-specific custom infrastructure.
3Quantity of substance
If unloading of storage facilities is carried out on a facility-by-facility basis, then storage capacity is improved, but productivity decreases due to inefficient transport logistics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary loading of proppant into containers or silos at centralized locations before transport to fracturing sites. This preliminary action allows for bulk loading and efficient consolidation, reducing the number of trips required and improving overall productivity. The pre-stored proppant is then readily available for rapid deployment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs nested container configurations where smaller containers or bags are placed within larger storage silos or containers. This nesting approach maximizes storage capacity within available space, allows for hierarchical dispensing (from large silo to smaller containers to application point), and improves transport efficiency by enabling partial unloading and redistribution without moving entire large volumes.
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 solution enhances the efficiency of proppant delivery and storage, reduces costs, minimizes proppant degradation, and improves the utilization of transportation assets, allowing for real-time inventory management and reducing environmental impact by minimizing particulate matter exposure and emissions.
Implementation Method 1
The proppant can flow by gravity onto the conveyor
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
A proppant discharge system has a container (10) with an outlet formed at a bottom (18) thereof and a gate (44) slidably affixed at the outlet (36) so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure (60) having an actuator (78) thereon. The container (10) is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator (78) is engageable with gate (44) so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position, A conveyor (86) underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container is a ten foot ISO container.