Automatically-Cleanable Thickening Evaluation Instrument

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing thickening performance evaluation instruments for drilling lost circulation materials (LCMs) fail to simulate underground high-pressure environments and have inconvenient cleaning processes, leading to inaccurate thickening time measurements and increased risk of solidification during testing.

Innovation Solution

An automatically-cleanable thickening performance evaluation instrument with a detachable kettle body, magnetic coupling, and ultrasonic vibration plate for efficient cleaning, capable of simulating high-pressure environments and providing precise temperature control through electrical heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a water bath is used for heating the kettle body, then the heating process is simple, but water volatilizes under heat causing uneven heating and inaccurate thickening time measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating process simplicityVSAvoidthickening time measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the water bath heating system with an electrical heating system. The electrical heater directly heats the kettle body without using water as a heat transfer medium, eliminating water volatilization and ensuring uniform heating. This substitution of heating mechanism resolves the contradiction between simple heating process and accurate measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If the kettle body is integrated and closed, then the structure is compact, but the thickening object cannot be easily removed and requires a lot of manpower to clean

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekettle body structure compactnessVSAvoidcleaning convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the kettle body into separable components: the kettle body itself, the kettle bottom, and the kettle cover. This segmentation allows each part to be easily detached and cleaned independently, eliminating the difficulty of removing thickening objects from a closed integrated structure while maintaining compactness during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If the kettle body is unsealed, then the structure is simple, but it fails to simulate underground high-pressure environment leading to inaccurate thickening time measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekettle body structure simplicityVSAvoidthickening time measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a separable kettle body structure that can be assembled to form a sealed environment. The kettle body, bottom, and cover can be joined together to create a closed system capable of withstanding high pressure, enabling accurate simulation of underground conditions while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If heating is applied to the kettle body, then the thickening test can be performed, but the thickening object solidifies quickly and becomes difficult to remove

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest execution capabilityVSAvoidobject removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements an automatic cleaning mechanism that activates immediately after the thickening test completes. The cleaning device removes the thickening object from the kettle body before it can solidify completely, preventing removal difficulties. This preliminary cleaning action resolves the contradiction between performing the heating test and maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Enables accurate thickening time measurements by simulating actual underground conditions and facilitates easy cleaning, preventing solidification and ensuring instrument readiness for subsequent use.

Implementation Method 1

providing precise temperature control through electrical heating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

magnetic coupling, and ultrasonic vibration plate for efficient cleaning

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12000766B2Automatically-cleanable thickening performance evaluation instrument for drilling lost circulation materials

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 CHENGDU UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

An automatically-cleanable thickening performance evaluation instrument for drilling LCMs includes a cleaning device, a kettle body, a thickening motor, a heating component, a test ending component, a top cover, and a bottom cover, where upper and lower ends of the kettle body are both opened; the kettle body is arranged in a third bearing inner race, a third bearing outer race is connected to a first limb, and the first limb is configured to limit a position of the kettle body; and the kettle body is detachably connected to the thickening motor and driven by the thickening motor to rotate. The instrument can realize electric heating and air pressurization to simulate the underground environment, and the kettle body can be completely sealed, such that a measured thickening time is close to an actual thickening time. Moreover, the instrument can be automatically cleaned at the end of a test.