Lattice Dampener Packaging for Borehole Shock Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drilling conditions in wellbores induce intense shock and vibration events that can lead to electronics failure, fatigue, and accelerated aging in devices and components used in drill strings, necessitating enhanced protection for sensitive equipment.

Innovation Solution

The use of shock protection elements with a macroscopic non-linear spring response, including enclosures and dampeners with lattice structures, to absorb and dissipate shock energy, combined with layered and graded damping structures, effectively minimizing structural damage and cyclic fatigue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional packaging is used for electronic components in wellbores, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability is insufficient due to intense shock and vibration events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of electronic componentsVSAvoidpackaging structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The packaging structure is divided into multiple functional segments: an enclosure housing the electronic component, multiple shock protection elements positioned between the component and enclosure, and dampeners with lattice structures. This segmentation allows each element to specialize in specific protection functions, improving overall reliability while managing complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Shock protection elements and dampeners are pre-installed between the electronic component and the enclosure before the component is subjected to shock and vibration events. This beforehand cushioning creates a protective buffer that absorbs and dissipates shock energy, preventing direct transmission to the electronic component and thereby improving reliability without requiring complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If shock protection elements with macroscopic non-linear spring response are used, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock protection effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of protection elements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple shock protection elements are combined within a single enclosure structure, integrating dampeners with lattice structures and other protective elements into a unified packaging system. This merging approach maintains improved shock protection effectiveness while reducing overall structural complexity compared to separate, distributed protection systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dampeners incorporate lattice structures that function as flexible, energy-absorbing elements within the rigid enclosure. These lattice-based dampeners provide macroscopic non-linear spring responses that adapt to shock events, improving reliability through sophisticated shock management while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 effectively attenuates and dissipates shock and vibration energy, protecting sensitive electronics from deformation and failure by limiting instantaneous mechanical power and reducing elastic deformation limitations.

Implementation Method 1

a dampener connecting the module with the enclosure, wherein the damper includes a lattice structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDamping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

effectively attenuates and dissipates shock and vibration energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy dissipation:

Implementation Method 3

The plurality of shock protection elements cooperatively have a macroscopic non-linear spring response to an applied shock event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 4

cooperatively have a macroscopic non-linear spring response to an applied shock event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNon-linear spring response:

Implementation Method 5

protecting sensitive electronics from deformation and failure by limiting instantaneous mechanical power and reducing elastic deformation limitations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentEP3122995B1Packaging structures and materials for vibration and shock energy attenuation and dissipation and related methods

Publication Date: 2020.07.29 BAKER HUGHES CO

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

An apparatus for protecting a module used in a borehole may include a plurality of shock protection elements associated with the module. The plurality of shock protection elements cooperatively has a macroscopic non-linear spring response to an applied shock event. The plurality of shock protection elements may include at least an enclosure and a dampener connecting the module with the enclosure. A related method for protecting a module used in a borehole may include enclosing the module within the plurality of shock protection elements; disposing the module in the borehole; and subjecting the module to a shock event. The plurality of shock protection elements cooperatively has a macroscopic non-linear spring response to the shock event.