Static Seal Compensator Block for Marine Seismic Sources
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional seismic sources, such as air guns, rely on dynamic seals that are prone to fatigue and failure due to frictional motion, leading to costly downtime and reduced reliability during seismic surveys.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a seismic source with two static seals and a movable compensator block that adjusts to maintain seal integrity, eliminating the need for dynamic seals and reducing frictional wear, thereby enhancing the source's reliability and extending its operational lifetime.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic seals are used in traditional air guns, then sealing function is achieved, but frictional motion causes fatigue and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional sealing approach by replacing dynamic seals with static seals. Instead of having seals that move with the shuttle, the invention uses stationary seal elements that remain fixed while the shuttle moves past them. This inversion eliminates the relative motion between sealing surfaces, thereby eliminating frictional wear and fatigue while maintaining effective sealing of the firing chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the moving component from the sealing system. By placing seal elements in stationary compensator blocks rather than attaching them to the moving shuttle, the sealing function is separated from the motion function. The static seals remain fixed in the compensator blocks while the shuttle moves independently, eliminating the friction and wear associated with dynamic seals.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If static seals are used without compensation, then frictional wear is eliminated, but seal integrity may be compromised due to shuttle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic compensator block that can move independently to maintain seal integrity. The compensator block is spring-loaded and can shift position in response to pressure differentials and shuttle movement, ensuring that the static seal elements remain properly positioned and engaged throughout the shuttle's travel cycle. This dynamic adjustment mechanism preserves seal effectiveness without requiring the seals themselves to be dynamic.
Solution Approach 2:
The compensator block acts as an intermediary between the stationary seal elements and the moving shuttle. It absorbs the effects of shuttle motion and pressure changes, adjusting its position to maintain optimal sealing contact. This intermediary mechanism allows static seals to effectively seal against a moving component without direct contact between the seal and the shuttle.
3Reliability
If dynamic seals are used, then sealing during shuttle movement is achieved, but downtime and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the sealing approach from dynamic to static, the patent eliminates the primary cause of seal failure (frictional wear). Static seals do not experience fatigue from repeated motion cycles, dramatically extending their service life and reducing the frequency of maintenance interventions. This reduces downtime while maintaining sealing effectiveness throughout the shuttle's movement cycle.
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 use of static seals and a compensator block ensures consistent sealing performance, reducing the likelihood of seal failure and extending the operational life of seismic sources, minimizing downtime and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The seals between the movable shuttle and a housing of the seismic source are axial seals... two or more seals between the shuttle and the housing are not radial seals... there is no frictional motion for the seals
Implementation Method 2
The compensator block is configured to move between the stop element and the housing along the longitudinal axis
Implementation Method 3
Firing chamber 104 stores a gas under pressure, which when expelled through ports 112 and 114 in the ambient (e.g., sea water), generates a bubble
Implementation Method 4
The bubble pulsates under the hydrostatic pressure of the water and these pulsations generate the acoustic waves that are used for seismic exploration
Implementation Method 5
compressed air is pumped into the return chamber 106... When this balance is perturbed, for example, by increasing the gas pressure in triggering chamber 108, movable shuttle 122 starts moving
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Method, source and shuttle configured to generate acoustic waves under water. The seismic source includes a housing; a movable shuttle located inside the housing and configured to move between a closed position and an open position along a longitudinal axis X of the housing; a compensator block located inside the housing and configured to move along the longitudinal axis X; a first static seal system configured to seal a first interface between the housing and the movable shuttle in the closed position; and a second static seal system configured to seal a second interface between the movable shuttle and the compensator block in the closed position.