Marine Seismic Shuttle Profile for Acoustic Frequency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seismic sources for marine reflection seismology, such as airguns, have limitations including uncontrollable frequency content, environmental impact, and limited lifetime, necessitating the development of more reliable and environmentally friendly systems that can generate acoustic waves with a controlled frequency range.
Innovation Solution
A seismic source with a movable shuttle configuration that includes a firing piston, transitional region, and neck element, where the most restrictive area is designed to be smooth, merging functional regions to reduce high-frequency content and control acoustic signature parameters by selecting the shuttle profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If traditional airgun sources are used to generate acoustic waves, then high acoustic energy is produced over a short time, but the frequency content is not controllable and high-frequency content causes environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the most restrictive area variable during the firing process. The most restrictive area increases from an initial small value to a final larger value during the firing process, allowing dynamic control of the acoustic signal frequency content while maintaining high acoustic energy output. This resolves the contradiction by enabling frequency control adaptability without sacrificing power output.
2Productivity
If traditional airgun sources are used, then impulsive acoustic waves are generated, but unwanted secondary pulses are produced and environmental impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the most restrictive area profile before firing. The most restrictive area is designed to follow a specific increasing pattern during the firing process, which preliminarily determines the acoustic signal characteristics to suppress unwanted secondary pulses while maintaining productivity. This resolves the contradiction by preventing harmful factors before they occur.
3Device complexity
If conventional shuttle designs are used, then simple structure is maintained, but the most restrictive area varies discontinuously causing high-frequency content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying specific regions of the shuttle structure to create a progressively increasing most restrictive area. Instead of changing the entire shuttle structure, the invention locally adjusts the geometry in the firing chamber region to achieve continuous most restrictive area variation. This resolves the contradiction by improving shape continuity without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution enhances the efficiency and reliability of seismic sources by reducing unwanted frequencies, minimizing environmental impact, and extending the lifetime of the sources, while allowing for better control of acoustic wave characteristics, thereby improving the accuracy and sustainability of marine seismic exploration.
Implementation Method 1
a firing piston configured to release a compressed gas volume from a firing chamber
Implementation Method 2
the most restrictive area is smooth while the movable shuttle moves from the closed position toward the open position
Implementation Method 3
sources are essentially impulsive (e.g., compressed air is suddenly allowed to expand)
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5A~6B
AI summary
Method, source and shuttle configured to generate acoustic waves under water. The shuttle (822) includes a firing piston (822A) closing a firing chamber (804) and contributing to holding the compressed gas, and a transitional region (822D) connected to the firing piston (822A). The firing chamber (804) and the transitional region (822D) define a most restrictive area (880) through which the compressed gas is released toward the at least one exhaust port (810), the most restrictive area (880, 890) is substantially smooth while the movable shuttle (822) moves toward the open position, and a profile of the transitional region (822D) is selected to reduce a high-frequency content of the acoustic waves.