Portable Modular Dry Additive Mixing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
On-site mixing of dry additives with fluids in industries like oilfield operations and hydraulic fracturing faces challenges such as high transportation costs, logistical issues, and inefficiencies in batch mixing, including waste and chemical degradation, while continuous mixing systems are often large, heavy, complex, and costly, with maintenance and quality control challenges.
Innovation Solution
A portable system comprising a first module for fluids and a second module for dry additives, allowing for modular and flexible mixing, with modules that can be easily transported, assembled, and disassembled, enabling batch or continuous mixing with precise control over the mixing process and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If batch mixing is used to overcome remote location challenges, then transportation of batch mixtures is enabled, but transportation costs become prohibitively high and chemical degradation occurs during transit
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary mixing of dry additives with fluids at the remote location before transport is needed, eliminating the need to transport pre-mixed batches and avoiding associated costs and degradation issues
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the mixing function from centralized facilities and brings it to remote locations through portable mixing units, allowing local preparation of mixtures rather than transporting them
2Productivity
If continuous mixing systems are deployed for on-site mixing, then mixing efficiency improves, but system size, weight, and complexity increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous mixing system is segmented into modular components that can be transported separately and assembled at the remote location, reducing individual unit size and weight while maintaining overall system capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be dynamically configurable, allowing the mixing operation to be set up, operated, and dismantled as needed, providing continuous mixing capability without permanent installation
3Productivity
If dry additives are stored on-site for continuous mixing, then mixing operations can proceed, but storage space requirements increase and material protection becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The storage and mixing functions are merged into an integrated system where dry additives are stored in containers that are part of the mixing unit itself, eliminating the need for separate storage facilities
Solution Approach 2:
Storage containers for dry additives are nested within or integrated into the mixing unit structure, allowing compact arrangement that minimizes overall space requirements while maintaining continuous mixing capability
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 system provides a cost-effective, efficient, and flexible solution for mixing fluids and dry additives on-site, reducing transportation costs and logistical challenges, while ensuring accurate and consistent mixing with minimal waste and chemical degradation.
Implementation Method 1
a mixer mixed the dry additive with the fluid stream to produce a fluid mixture composition
Implementation Method 2
a pump convey the fluid mixture composition through the system
Data Source
AI summary
The application is directed to a system and method for mixing fluid and dry material to produce fluid mixture compositions. The system may be provided on a portable platform for transport of the system for use at different locations or the system may be provided as a permanent installation. The system includes a first module for receiving fluid into the system and an optional second module attachable to the first module for providing dry material to be mixed with the fluid received into the system. The fluid mixture compositions produced by the system can be conveyed out from the system to one or more target locations.