Magnetic pressure pulse attenuation

• US 10,208,882 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2013
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Vos, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hook, James
• Application Number:
  US14/787,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20160097479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 138 30, 138 31
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/042 the solenoid motor being separated from the fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/04 Devices damping pulsations or vibrations in fluids F16L55/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A magnetic pressure pulse attenuator can include a variable volume and at least two magnetic devices. A magnetic force between the magnetic devices varies in response to a pressure change in the volume. A fluid system can include a fluid volume with a variable pressure therein, and a magnetic pressure pulse attenuator including a variable volume in communication with the fluid volume. The variable volume can vary in response to a pressure variation, and the attenuator can further include a magnetic actuator which increases a magnetic force in response to an increase in the pressure. A method of attenuating pressure pulses in a fluid system can include connecting a variable volume of a magnetic pressure pulse attenuator to a fluid volume of the fluid system, the attenuator including a magnetic actuator which generates a magnetic force, and the force increasing in response to a pressure increase in the variable volume.

Claims

1. A magnetic pressure pulse attenuator for attenuating pressure of a fluid in a fluid system, comprising:

a first pressure port and a second pressure port in fluid communication with a volume such that the fluid is open to flow between the first and second pressure ports through the volume;

a variable volume in fluid communication with the volume and having a constant cross-sectional area; and

first and second magnetic devices oriented such that only similar poles of the first and second magnetic devices face each other to cause a repulsive magnetic force between the first and second magnetic devices, a cross-sectional area of the first magnetic device and a cross-sectional area of the first magnetic device being greater than the cross-sectional area of the variable volume; and

wherein the first and second magnetic devices are movable with respect to each other to adjust the variable volume in response to a change in pressure of the fluid in the volume so as to attenuate the change in pressure of the fluid in the volume flowing between the first and second pressure ports.

2. The magnetic pressure pulse attenuator of claim 1, wherein a structure is displaced by at least one of the first and second magnetic devices, and wherein the variable volume varies in response to displacement of the structure.

3. The magnetic pressure pulse attenuator of claim 2, wherein the structure is sealingly inserted into the variable volume.

4. The magnetic pressure pulse attenuator of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnetic devices comprise permanent magnets.

5. The magnetic pressure pulse attenuator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic devices comprises an electromagnet.

6. A fluid system for flowing a fluid, comprising:

a first fluid volume; and

a magnetic pressure pulse attenuator in fluid communication with the first fluid volume, including;

a first pressure port and a second pressure port in fluid communication with a second fluid volume such that the fluid is open to flow between the first and second pressure ports through the second fluid volume;

a variable volume in fluid communication with the second fluid volume and having a constant cross-sectional area;

a magnetic actuator which operates using a magnetic force to adjust the variable volume in response to a change in pressure of the fluid in the second fluid volume and attenuate the change in pressure of the fluid in the second fluid volume flowing between the first and second pressure ports, the magnetic actuator comprising first and second magnetic devices oriented such that only similar poles of the first and second magnetic devices face each other to cause the magnetic force, a cross-sectional area of the first magnetic device and a cross-sectional area of the second magnetic device being greater than the cross-sectional area of the variable volume.

7. The fluid system of claim 6, wherein the variable volume increases in response to an increase in the pressure.

8. The fluid system of claim 6, wherein a structure is displaced by the magnetic actuator, and wherein the variable volume varies in response to displacement of the structure.

9. The fluid system of claim 8, wherein the structure is sealingly inserted into the variable volume.

10. The fluid system of claim 6, wherein the magnetic actuator includes at least first and second magnetic devices.

11. The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the first and second magnetic devices repulse each other.

12. The fluid system of claim 10, wherein the first and second magnetic devices comprise permanent magnets.

13. The fluid system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic devices comprises an electromagnet.

14. A method of attenuating pressure pulses of a fluid in a fluid system, the method comprising:

flowing the fluid through a volume of a magnetic pressure pulse attenuator;

communicating fluid pressure from the volume with a variable volume of the magnetic pressure pulse attenuator having a constant cross-sectional area while fluid is flowing through the volume, the magnetic pressure pulse attenuator including a magnetic actuator that generates a magnetic force to adjust the size of the variable volume, the magnetic actuator comprising first and second magnetic devices oriented such that only similar poles of the first and second magnetic devices face each other to cause a magnetic force, a cross-sectional area of the first magnetic device and a cross-sectional area of the second magnetic device being greater than the cross-sectional area of the variable volume; and

attenuating changes in pressure in the volume by adjusting the variable volume with the magnetic actuator in response to the change in pressure.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the magnetic force increases in response to an increase in the variable volume.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein a structure is displaced by the magnetic actuator, and wherein the variable volume varies in response to displacement of the structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the structure is sealingly inserted into the variable volume.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first and second magnetic devices comprise permanent magnets.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic devices comprises an electromagnet.