Optical Wireless Rotary Joint for Wellbore Signal Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary joints in wellbore environments face issues with signal transmission due to rotation, as wired connections can become twisted and damaged, and existing solutions may have moving mechanical parts, be expensive, and provide slower or less reliable communication.
Innovation Solution
An optical wireless rotary joint using a first optical device coupled to a rotating component and a second optical device coupled to a stationary component, allowing for wireless optical communication through optical transmitters and receivers that maintain an optical pathway despite rotation, eliminating the need for twisted wires and potentially reducing costs and improving communication speed and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wired connections are used to transmit signals between rotating and stationary components, then power and electrical signals can be transmitted, but the wires can become twisted and damaged due to rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with an optical wireless communication system. Optical transmitters and receivers use light-based communication to transmit signals between rotating and stationary components without physical wire connections, eliminating the twisting and damage issues associated with rotating wired connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical transmitters and receivers as intermediary devices that convert electrical signals to optical signals for wireless transmission. These intermediaries enable communication between rotating and stationary components without requiring direct physical wire connections, thus preventing wire damage.
2Reliability
If electrical slip rings with moving mechanical parts are used, then continuous electrical contact can be maintained, but the device becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical slip ring system with an optical wireless communication system. Instead of using sliding contacts and rotating rings to maintain electrical connection, the system uses optical transmitters and receivers to maintain communication through light-based wireless transmission, significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the complex mechanical slip ring components from the system. By eliminating the need for continuous mechanical electrical contact, the design simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining the essential function of signal transmission between rotating and stationary components.
3Productivity
If traditional wired connections are used for communication, then physical connectivity is established, but communication speed and reliability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional wired electrical communication with optical wireless communication. Optical signals transmit data at higher speeds and with greater reliability compared to electrical signals through wires, as light-based communication is less susceptible to interference, signal degradation, and physical damage from rotation.
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
The optical wireless rotary joint enables reliable and fast communication between rotating and stationary components in wellbore environments by maintaining an optical pathway over a full range of movement, avoiding wire damage and potentially offering lower maintenance costs compared to traditional solutions.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting an optical signal wirelessly with each other
Implementation Method 2
The other optical device can include an optical receiver that can detect the optical signal and generate another signal based on the optical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An optical wireless rotary joint can include a first optical device and a second optical device. The first optical device can be coupled to a rotatable component for rotating with the rotatable component. The second optical device can be physically separated from the first optical device. The second optical device can be coupled to a stationary component for communicating data with the first optical device using an optical signal. The first optical device or the second optical device can include an optical transmitter for transmitting the optical signal based on the data. The other of the first optical device or the second optical device can include an optical receiver for generating a new signal in response to detecting the optical signal transmitted by the optical transmitter.