Pulsed-Vacuum Shaker Screen for Drilling Fluid Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shale shakers face inefficiencies in fluid separation and entrained gas removal, with solids often sticking to screens due to continuous vacuum, hindering solid conveyance and fluid filtration, and there is a need for increased pressure differential without impeding solid flow.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a pulsed-vacuum assisted screening system that creates a pressure differential across the screen by intermittently toggling between static and vacuum conditions, using a pressure differential device to enhance fluid flow and degas the drilling fluid, while maintaining solid conveyance by avoiding continuous vacuum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If continuous vacuum is applied across the screen, then fluid flow rate increases, but solid particles stick to the screen and conveyance is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic vacuum pulses instead of continuous vacuum. The system toggles the vacuum on and off at specific intervals, allowing fluid to be drawn through the screen during vacuum phases while preventing solids from adhering during non-vacuum phases. This periodic action resolves the contradiction by providing fluid flow enhancement only when needed while maintaining solid conveyance capability.
2Productivity
If pressure differential is increased to enhance fluid separation, then fluid capacity increases, but solid particle flow is impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic pressure differential application, cycling between positive and negative pressure phases. During negative pressure phases, fluid is drawn through the screen at high rates. During positive pressure or atmospheric phases, solids are propelled across the screen surface. This periodic pressure variation enables high fluid capacity while maintaining solid particle flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the pressure differential dynamic rather than static. The system continuously varies the pressure differential across the screen, adjusting between vacuum and atmospheric conditions based on operational requirements. This dynamic approach allows optimization of both fluid separation and solid conveyance at different time intervals.
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 approach increases fluid capacity and flow-through rates, improves fluid removal efficiency, and effectively separates entrained gases from the drilling fluid, reducing hazardous vapors and enhancing the overall separation process.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure differential device to create a pressure differential across the screen
Implementation Method 2
pulsed-vacuum assisted screening system that creates a pressure differential across the screen by intermittently toggling between static and vacuum conditions
Implementation Method 3
A shale shaker, also known as a vibratory separator, is a vibrating sieve-like table upon which returning used drilling mud is deposited
Implementation Method 4
As the drilling mud travels down the incline toward the lower end, the fluid falls through the perforations to a reservoir below thereby leaving the solid particulate material behind
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system for separating components of a slurry is disclosed, the system including a housing; a basket for holding at least two shaker screens, the basket movably mounted in the housing; at least one vibrator coupled to the basket; a sump (206) disposed below the basket to collect at least a portion of the slurry passing through the two shaker screens; a pressure differential device (216) fluidly connected to the sump for developing a pressure differential across the at least one shaker screen; and a toggling device for toggling the pressure differential across the screen. A system including a degassing chamber (212) fluidly connected to a sump and a pressure differential device, wherein the degassing chamber is disposed between the sump and the pressure differential device, and a fluid (213) conduit fluidly connected to the degassing chamber for recovering a degassed fluid is also disclosed.