Spiral Flow Conduit for Preventing Solid Particle Blockages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Solid particles accumulating in downhole pumps and production tubing cause blockages, leading to costly operations and reduced efficiency in oil and gas production, especially in heavy oil production and horizontal wells where they settle and restrict flow.
Innovation Solution
A conduit with a spiral flow passage that increases fluid flow velocity to maintain solid particles in suspension, using guides that define a path longer than the axial length of the flow passage, preventing accumulation and ensuring continuous production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solid particles are pumped out of the formation with downhole pumps, then production is increased, but solid particles accumulate on the pump and plug the tubing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spiral or curved flow passages instead of straight conduits. The spiral geometry creates centrifugal forces that keep solid particles suspended in the fluid stream, preventing them from settling and accumulating on pump surfaces or blocking the tubing, thus maintaining both high productivity and system reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The spiral flow passages generate turbulent flow patterns and vibrations that prevent solid particles from settling and adhering to surfaces. This mechanical disturbance keeps the particle-fluid mixture in constant motion, eliminating the accumulation problem while maintaining efficient production
2Reliability
If fluid flow velocity is increased to maintain solid particles in suspension, then particle accumulation is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral flow passages utilize centrifugal forces generated by the curved geometry to maintain particle suspension. This passive mechanical approach creates sufficient mixing and suspension effects without requiring additional energy input beyond the normal pumping requirements, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption
3Speed
If guides are added to create a longer flow path, then fluid flow velocity is increased, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spiral or curved flow passages are integrated directly into the conduit structure itself, creating a longer flow path and increasing fluid velocity through geometric design rather than adding separate components. This elegant solution achieves the desired velocity increase while minimizing additional device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The flow guides are merged with the conduit structure, combining the functions of structural support and flow direction control into a single integrated component. This eliminates the need for separate guide elements and reduces overall device complexity while still achieving the velocity enhancement
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 spiral conduit design maintains solid particles in suspension, preventing blockages and reducing friction losses, while also reducing resonance vibrations and energy consumption by organizing fluid flow and dissipating harmful vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
guides which constrain a fluid flowing through the flow passage to flow along a path around the member which is longer than a length of the flow passage in a fluid flow direction
Implementation Method 2
the path is sufficiently longer than an axial length of the flow passage in a fluid flow direction to increase a fluid flow velocity to at least a critical velocity to maintain solid particles in suspension in a flowing fluid
Implementation Method 3
reducing resonance vibrations and energy consumption by organizing fluid flow and dissipating harmful vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a section of tubing or other conduit having a flow passage. The flow passage extends through the tubing and incorporates a member extending through the passage and guides which constrain a fluid flowing through the flow passage to flow around the member along a path which is longer than an axial length of the flow passage in a fluid flow direction. The guides may define an annular path. The conduit may comprise an inside wall and the guides may comprise a combination of at least one spiral channel defined along the inside wall and the member may be a sucker rod extending along the flow passage.