Electroactive Polymer Pumping System

• US 20070128059A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Bagwell, Tony
• Granted Patent: US 7,352,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/474
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00871 polymeric
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/006 Micropumps F04B43/043 and F04B43/095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/12 having peristaltic action
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 33/00 Non-positive-displacement pumps with other than pure rotation, e.g. of oscillating type F04D35/00 takes precedence; hand-held fans A45B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/80 Piezoelectric polymers, e.g. PVDF

Abstract

An electroactive polymer pump having an electroactive polymer mass forming a channel between an inlet and an outlet and an electrical distribution system in operational connection with the electroactive polymer mass for selectively energizing sections of the electroactive polymer mass to produce an oscillating intrusion of the sections of the EAP mass into the channel to pump a fluid through the channel.

Claims

1. An electroactive polymer pump, the pump comprising:

an electroactive polymer mass forming a channel between an inlet and an outlet; and

an electrical distribution system in operational connection with the electroactive polymer mass for selectively energizing sections of the electroactive polymer mass.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electrical distribution system comprises:

a power source;

a plurality of electrodes operationally connected along the electroactive polymer mass; and

a controller for selectively routing energy from the power source to the plurality of electrodes.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a singular tubular shaped member.

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of tubular shaped members, each tubular shaped member forming a channel.

5. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of fin shaped portions.

6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of substantially continuous elongated electroactive polymer members.

7. The pump of claim 1, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of substantially spherically shaped electroactive polymer members, each member comprising one of the sections of the electroactive polymer mass.

8. The pump of claim 1, wherein each section of the electroactive polymer mass comprises a coiled strand of electroactive polymer.

9. The pump of claim 1, further including a housing for positioning the electroactive polymer mass therein.

10. A method of pumping a fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an electroactive polymer pump comprising an electroactive polymer mass forming a channel between an inlet and an outlet, the electroactive polymer mass having a plurality of sections;

introducing a fluid into the channel; and

energizing selective sections of the electroactive polymer mass to produce an oscillating intrusion of the sections of the electroactive polymer mass into the channel to pump the fluid through the channel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a singular tubular shaped member.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of tubular shaped members, each tubular shaped member forming a channel.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of fin shaped portions.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of substantially continuous elongated electroactive polymer members.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of substantially spherically shaped electroactive polymer members.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein each section of the electroactive polymer mass comprises a coiled strand of electroactive polymer.

17. An electroactive polymer pump system, the pump comprising:

a housing having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet adapted to be connected to a production string;

an electroactive polymer mass disposed within the housing, the electroactive polymer mass forming a channel between the inlet and the outlet;

an electrical power source in connection with the electroactive polymer mass; and

a controller connected between the electrical power source and the electroactive polymer mass for selectively energizing sections of the electroactive polymer mass to produce an oscillating intrusion of the sections of the electroactive polymer mass into the channel to pump a fluid through the channel.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of substantially spherically shaped electroactive polymer members, each member comprising one of the sections of the electroactive polymer mass.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the electroactive polymer mass comprises a plurality of fin shaped members.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein each section of the electroactive polymer mass comprises a coiled strand of electroactive polymer.