PVT System With Dual-Fluid Temperature Control for Faster Equilibrium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional PVT systems require a significant amount of time to reach thermal equilibrium due to the use of ovens, occupying a large volume and hindering efficient characterization of reservoir fluids for oil and gas extraction.
Innovation Solution
A PVT system with a temperature control unit and fluid supply unit that uses multiple temperature control fluids to rapidly adjust temperatures, eliminating the need for ovens, allowing for quick thermal equilibrium and reduced system size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an oven is used to control temperature in conventional PVT systems, then temperature control is achieved, but the system occupies a large volume and requires a long period of time to reach thermal equilibrium
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature control function from the conventional oven-based system and implements it using a fluid circulation system with heating elements. The temperature control fluid circulates through channels surrounding the sample cell, providing rapid heat transfer without requiring a large enclosed heating chamber, thus reducing both system volume and thermal equilibrium time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic system where temperature control fluid circulates through channels in the sample cell assembly. This fluid circulation mechanism enables rapid and uniform temperature distribution throughout the sample cell, achieving thermal equilibrium much faster than conventional oven systems while occupying significantly less volume.
2Temperature
If an oven is used to control temperature in conventional PVT systems, then temperature control is achieved, but the system occupies a majority of the PVT system volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the large-volume oven component from the PVT system and replaces it with a compact fluid circulation system. The temperature control function is achieved through channels embedded in the sample cell assembly, eliminating the need for a separate large enclosed heating chamber and significantly reducing the overall system volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature control channels are nested within the sample cell assembly structure itself, with the temperature control fluid circulating through channels that are integrated into the sample cell housing. This nested arrangement eliminates the need for external oven equipment and minimizes the volume occupied by the temperature control system.
3Temperature
If conventional PVT systems use ovens for temperature control, then temperature stabilization is achieved, but the system complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a hydraulic fluid circulation system with pumps and heat exchangers to achieve temperature stabilization. This system provides precise temperature control through regulated fluid flow and heat transfer, achieving stable temperature conditions with reduced system complexity compared to conventional oven systems that require complex thermal mass and insulation arrangements.
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 enables efficient and time-effective PVT analysis of reservoir fluids, facilitating accurate reservoir modeling and simulation, and optimizing extraction strategies by minimizing thermal equilibrium time and system size.
Implementation Method 1
a fluid supply unit that provides a temperature control fluid to the interior chamber to control a temperature of the sample cell
Data Source
AI summary
A pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) system for characterization of a reservoir fluid, includes: a temperature control unit; a sample cell disposed inside the temperature control unit for accommodating the reservoir fluid, the temperature control unit includes a housing and an interior chamber defined by a space between the sample cell and the housing; and a fluid supply unit that provides a temperature control fluid to the interior chamber to control a temperature of the sample cell. The fluid supply unit includes a first container providing a first fluid having a first temperature as the temperature control fluid for a first stage of PVT analysis and a second fluid having a second temperature that is different from the first fluid as the temperature control fluid for a second stage for PVT analysis.