Telescopic Conveyor Boom for Proppant Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional proppant storage and dispensing systems at well sites are inefficient, leading to increased logistical complexities, potential proppant damage, and reduced well conductivity due to horizontal storage trailers, which require large footprints and result in higher lease costs and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A proppant conveyor system comprising a tower with a bucket elevator and a telescopic conveyor boom that can swing laterally to reposition the discharge point, allowing for efficient conveyance of proppant to multiple storage bins, reducing the need for multiple trailers and minimizing site footprint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If horizontal storage trailers are used for proppant storage and dispensing, then proppant can be stored and dispensed at well sites, but the system requires large footprints and results in higher lease costs and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from horizontal storage trailers to a vertical tower configuration. The tower elevates proppant storage bins vertically above the ground surface, utilizing the vertical dimension rather than horizontal space. This dimensional change allows the system to maintain proppant storage capacity while dramatically reducing the ground footprint required at the well site.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a telescopic conveyor boom that can extend and retract, and a rotating boom that can change angular position. These dynamic components allow the discharge point to be repositioned to match different bin locations, enabling a single vertical tower to serve multiple storage bins distributed around the well site, thereby reducing the need for multiple fixed trailer positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple storage bins are distributed remotely around the well site, then proppant can be stored in multiple locations, but the system increases logistical complexities and potential proppant damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a single vertical tower with a multi-functional conveyor system that can service multiple storage bins. The telescopic and rotating boom configuration allows one tower to dispense proppant to any of several bins distributed around the well site, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate dispensing systems into a single universal unit, thereby reducing logistical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic conveyor boom acts as an intermediary mechanism between the vertical tower and the distributed storage bins. By extending, retracting, and rotating the boom, the system can reach multiple bin locations from a single centralized tower position, mediating the connection between the fixed tower and the distributed bins without requiring multiple towers or complex material handling procedures.
3Ease of operation
If conventional horizontal storage trailers are used, then proppant can be dispensed at well sites, but the system results in reduced well conductivity due to potential proppant damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical drag-based dispensing system used in horizontal trailers with a gravity-based vertical dispensing system. Proppant is lifted vertically by the bucket elevator and then dispensed through gravity-fed chutes into the bins. This substitution eliminates the horizontal dragging and tumbling actions that can damage proppant particles, thereby maintaining proppant integrity and well conductivity while preserving dispensing capability.
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 enables efficient and flexible proppant distribution, reducing logistical complexities and potential damage, while maintaining high production rates by minimizing site footprint and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
conveying proppant up a bucket elevator
Implementation Method 2
the telescopic conveyor boom being mounted to swing in lateral directions relative to an axis of the tower to reposition the discharge point
Data Source
AI summary
A proppant conveyor system has: a tower; a bucket elevator; a telescopic conveyor boom mounted to the tower above a ground surface; the telescopic conveyor boom being connected to convey proppant from an outlet of the bucket elevator to a discharge point defined by the telescopic conveyor boom; and the telescopic conveyor boom being mounted to swing in lateral directions relative to an axis of the tower to reposition the discharge point. A method includes: conveying proppant up a bucket elevator, along a telescopic conveyor boom mounted on a tower above a ground surface, and into an inlet of a first storage bin at a well site; repositioning the telescoping conveyor boom over an inlet of a second storage bin at the well site by swinging the telescopic conveyor boom in a lateral direction relative to an axis of the tower; and conveying proppant up the bucket elevator, along the telescopic conveyor boom, and into an inlet of the second storage bin.