Downhole Sensor Bubble Removal Electrode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bubble formation in downhole sensors due to rapid pressure changes can lead to inaccurate analyte concentration measurements, as gas evolves into bubbles instead of remaining dissolved, affecting the membrane's properties and obscuring reference electrodes in electrochemical systems.
Innovation Solution
Devices and methods that include a membrane for analyte diffusion, a sensing chamber with a mediating fluid, and elements to reduce or account for bubble formation, such as a current limiter, valve for isolation, bubble flushing, support components, and coatings to minimize nucleation sites, ensuring accurate analyte concentration measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a gas permeable membrane is used for analyte detection, then the sensor can measure analyte concentration in downhole streams, but rapid pressure changes cause gas to evolve into bubbles instead of remaining dissolved, leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes bubbles from the sensing chamber using a bubble removal electrode that generates gas bubbles to displace and expel unwanted gas bubbles from the measurement area, thereby eliminating the harmful effect of bubble formation on measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies voltage potential changes to the bubble removal electrode to control bubble formation and removal dynamically, adjusting the electrical parameter to prevent bubble interference during rapid pressure changes while maintaining measurement accuracy
2Speed
If rapid pressure changes occur in the downhole flowline, then the sensor responds to pressure dynamics, but gas cannot permeate through the membrane fast enough and evolves into bubbles, affecting measurement reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a preliminary voltage potential to the bubble removal electrode before bubble formation problematic occurs, creating a preventive effect that ready's the system to immediately remove bubbles when pressure changes cause gas evolution, maintaining measurement reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a feedback mechanism where the voltage potential applied to the bubble removal electrode is adjusted based on detected bubble presence or pressure change rates, dynamically responding to maintain measurement reliability under varying pressure conditions
3Productivity
If bubbles form in the sensing chamber, then gas evolution occurs, but this obscures reference electrodes and affects the membrane properties, reducing measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous monitoring capability by applying continuous or periodic voltage potential to the bubble removal electrode, ensuring bubbles are continuously removed from the sensing chamber, thereby maintaining uninterrupted measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent continuously extracts and removes bubbles from the sensing chamber using the bubble removal electrode, eliminating the interfering substance (bubbles) that would otherwise obscure electrodes and affect membrane properties, maintaining measurement accuracy
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
These solutions effectively mitigate the negative effects of bubble formation by preventing excess current, isolating the sensor during pressure fluctuations, removing bubbles, and directing them away from the active measuring area, thereby maintaining accurate analyte concentration measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a membrane that allows diffusion of an analyte
Implementation Method 2
The active measuring area of the electrochemical device can comprise, for example, a working electrode for measuring the concentration of the analyte
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are devices and methods for reducing the negative effects of bubble formation on the detection, quantification and/or monitoring of analytes.