Powder Metering Apparatus for Drilling Fluid Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The introduction of powdery mediums, such as bentonite, into drilling fluids poses a challenge due to lumping issues when in contact with water, leading to cumbersome batch mixing and complex disposal of unused materials in conventional methods.
Innovation Solution
A metering apparatus that scatters the powdery medium onto the surface of a fluid in a metered form, utilizing a combination of gravity and pressure-aided dispensing to achieve a fine distribution, thereby preventing lumping and allowing for continuous mixing without the need for additional mixing units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If bentonite is introduced directly into water in conventional methods, then the mixing process is simple, but the bentonite tends to lump together upon contact with water
Solution Approach 1:
The bentonite powder is pre-mixed with a portion of the water to form a slurry before being introduced into the main water body. This preliminary mixing action prevents the bentonite from lumping together upon direct contact with the bulk water, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall mixing process.
Solution Approach 2:
A slurry mixture acts as an intermediary medium between the bentonite powder and the main water body. The slurry serves as a bridge that facilitates uniform distribution without causing lumping, effectively mediating the interaction between the powdery medium and the fluid.
2Stability of the object's composition
If batch mixing is used in large storage vessels, then the mixing is thorough, but the process is cumbersome and requires disposal of unused portions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a continuous mixing process where bentonite powder is continuously fed into the water stream while flowing through a pipe. This continuous action eliminates the need for batch processing, allows for precise control of material usage, and eliminates waste from unused portions, thereby improving productivity while maintaining mixture uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the mixing function from large storage vessels and relocates it to a continuous flow system within a pipe. This extraction allows the mixing process to occur in-situ during transport, eliminating the need for separate mixing operations and disposal procedures associated with batch processing.
3Speed
If high-pressure pump is used to transport drilling fluid, then the fluid can be delivered to the drill head, but additional mixing units are required to prevent lumping
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mixing function with the transport function by introducing bentonite powder directly into the water stream within the transport pipe. This combination allows the high-pressure pump to simultaneously perform both mixing and transport functions, eliminating the need for separate mixing units while maintaining high flow rate capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport pipe serves multiple functions: it transports the drilling fluid at high pressure to the drill head while simultaneously mixing the bentonite powder into the water stream. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by eliminating dedicated mixing units, achieving both high speed delivery and uniform mixing.
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 ensures a fine distribution of powdery medium particles upon first contact with the fluid, preventing lumping and enabling continuous, efficient mixing of drilling fluids, reducing the complexity and cost associated with batch mixing and disposal.
Implementation Method 1
metering the powdery medium, and scattering the metered powdery medium onto the fluid surface by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to a metering apparatus for introducing a powdery medium into a fluid, comprising a guide device for guiding the fluid and a metering device, said metering device being arranged above the guide device such that the powdery medium released by the metering unit is scattered onto the surface of the fluid.