Sequential Peristaltic Pumping for Additive-Laden Drilling Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid handling equipment in wellbore operations often becomes plugged by drilling fluids containing additives, leading to reduced performance or failure, particularly in transporting fluids with high shear rates and additives.
Innovation Solution
A passive sequential pump system utilizing a plurality of valves with expandable inner surfaces, controlled by an air source and controller, generates peristaltic motion by sequentially increasing air pressure to close valve openings, effectively moving fluid through a conduit without risking damage from additives or requiring complex electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fluid handling equipment is used to transport drilling fluids with additives, then fluid transport function is provided, but the equipment becomes plugged and performance reduces or fails
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into multiple discrete valve elements arranged in sequence along the conduit. Each valve independently controls fluid flow at a specific location, allowing the system to process complex drilling fluids without clogging any single component. The segmented design enables continuous operation even if one valve requires maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes motors, electronics, and traditional mechanical pumping components from the fluid handling system. By extracting these vulnerable elements, the invention eliminates the primary points of failure that occur when handling additive-containing drilling fluids, resulting in a purely mechanical passive pump system that resists plugging.
2Productivity
If traditional active pumping systems with motors and electronics are used, then fluid transport capability is provided, but complexity increases and risk of damage from drilling fluid additives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces active mechanical pumping systems with motors and electronics with a passive mechanical system using sequential valve closure. Air pressure is used to actuate the valves in sequence, creating peristaltic motion that transports fluid without requiring complex electrical systems, motors, or sophisticated control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure applied to the interior surfaces of the valves to control their opening and closing sequences. This pneumatic actuation mechanism provides a simple, reliable way to control fluid flow through the sequential valve system without requiring complex electrical controls or mechanical linkages.
3Productivity
If conventional equipment is used to handle high shear rate fluids with additives, then fluid transport is achieved, but equipment damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The valves in the pump system utilize flexible interior surfaces that can expand and contract to control flow. These flexible elements are resistant to damage from drilling fluid additives and can withstand the high shear rates encountered when transporting complex drilling fluids, maintaining equipment strength and functionality.
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 efficiently transports fluids with additives, avoiding damage to equipment and maintaining performance by using a plug-free design that operates without motors or electronics, ensuring continuous fluid movement through sequential air pressure control.
Implementation Method 1
An increase in air to each of the plurality of valves expands the inner surface and decreases the size of the opening
Implementation Method 2
The system generates peristaltic motion to move a fluid through the conduit by increasing the air in each valve of the plurality of valves in sequence thereby correspondingly closing each opening in sequence
Data Source
AI summary
A passive sequential pump system for use in moving a fluid is provided. The system comprises a plurality of valves. Each valve of the plurality of valves is positioned adjacent to another valve of the plurality of valves. Each of the plurality of valves includes an opening and an inner surface. The inner surface is expandable towards the opening. The system also comprises a conduit defined by the opening of each of the plurality of valves. The system further comprises an air source providing air to each of the plurality of valves and a controller controlling the air source to each of the plurality of valves. The system generates peristaltic motion to move a fluid through the conduit by increasing the air in each of the plurality of valves, thereby correspondingly closing each opening in sequence, peristaltic motion is generated to move a fluid through the conduit.