Viscosity Measurement Under Inert Atmosphere for Polymer Solutions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The viscosity of aqueous solutions containing water-soluble polymers, such as polyacrylamides, is unstable in aerobic environments due to chemical, biological, and mechanical degradations, making it challenging to maintain consistent viscosity during enhanced oil recovery processes, and existing measurement techniques are either unreliable or logistically cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A viscosity measuring device that operates under an inert atmosphere, where only the sample holder is partially or totally inerted, ensuring the polymer solution is never in contact with oxygen, allowing for precise and reliable viscosity measurements using a viscometer connected to a source with inert gas purging and stabilizing agents to prevent degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If viscosity measurements are performed in an aerobic environment, then the measurement process is simple and accessible, but the viscosity readings become unreliable due to polymer degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an inert atmosphere (nitrogen or carbon dioxide) within the viscometer chamber to prevent oxygen contact with the polymer solution during viscosity measurement. This inert environment stops oxidative degradation of the polymer chains, ensuring reliable and stable viscosity readings without requiring complex external handling procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary inert gas layer between the polymer solution and the ambient aerobic environment. This intermediary prevents direct contact between oxygen and the polymer, acting as a protective barrier that maintains solution integrity during the measurement process while allowing straightforward operation.
2Reliability
If glove boxes are used to maintain inert atmosphere during sampling and measurement, then polymer integrity is preserved, but logistical and maintenance issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the inert atmosphere requirement from the entire sampling and measurement process down to just the measurement moment. Instead of maintaining inert conditions throughout sampling, transport, and storage (as required by glove boxes), the invention only requires inert atmosphere within the viscometer chamber itself, simplifying logistics while preserving polymer integrity during the critical measurement phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a localized copy of the inert atmosphere environment specifically within the viscometer measurement chamber, rather than requiring the entire sampling and handling system to operate in inert conditions. This localized approach maintains measurement reliability while dramatically improving operational convenience.
3Ease of manufacture
If polymer solutions are exposed to oxygen during sampling, then sampling procedures are simplified, but viscosity stability is compromised due to degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing the inert atmosphere within the viscometer chamber before the polymer solution is introduced for measurement. This pre-prepared inert environment ensures that as soon as the solution enters the measurement chamber, it is protected from oxygen, combining procedural simplicity with viscosity stability.
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
This solution provides reliable and reproducible viscosity measurements of water-soluble polymer solutions, optimizing the quality control of polymer injections and reducing logistical and maintenance issues associated with traditional glove box systems, while ensuring the polymer's integrity is preserved during sampling and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The device allows for precise and reliable viscosity measurements using a viscometer connected to a source with inert gas purging and stabilizing agents to prevent degradation
Implementation Method 2
A viscosity measuring device that operates under an inert atmosphere, where only the sample holder is partially or totally inerted, ensuring the polymer solution is never in contact with oxygen, allowing for precise and reliable viscosity measurements using a viscometer
Data Source
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AI summary
A device for measuring the viscosity of a solution whose viscosity is not stable in an aerobic environment, said device being intended to be connected to a source containing the solution and comprising: - a viscometer comprising a viscometer head from which a module emerges; - a container in which the module is immersed, - means for contacting the inside of the container with an inert gas, - a purging means, characterized in that the container has means for supplying the solution intended to be connected to the source.