MINIMAL ENTRY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CLEANING FLUID CONTAINERS

• US 20120067372A1
• Filed: 09/21/2010
• Published: 03/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Inventors: O'Quinn, Raymond R., Frisby, Raymond A., Eger, Norman D., Farquhar, Michael C., Boyd, Brett A., Gilbert, Martin
• Application Number:
  US12/887,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20120067372A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/10
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/093 by the force of jets or sprays B08B9/0813 , B08B9/20 take precedence

Abstract

A system for cleaning a container may include: a fluid source; an arm that moves a nozzle in at least two directions; a fluid retrieval device; a separator; and a fluid mover. One method for cleaning includes securing an arm to a support positioned at least partially outside of the container; spraying a fluid onto an inner surface of the container using the nozzle; drawing the fluid and an entrained material out of the container using the fluid retrieval device; removing at least some of the entrained material from the fluid using the separator; and conveying the fluid from the separator to the nozzle using the fluid mover. The arm and/or the fluid retrieval device may be remotely installed.

Claims

1. A system for cleaning a container, comprising:

a fluid source supplying an initial amount of a fluid;

a nozzle configured to spray the fluid onto a surface of the container;

an arm configured to move the nozzle in at least two directions in the container, the arm being secured to a support positioned at least partially outside of the container;

a fluid retrieval device configured to draw the fluid and an entrained material out of the container;

a separator receiving the fluid and entrained material from the fluid retrieval device and removing at least some of the entrained material from the fluid; and

a fluid mover configured to receive the fluid from the separator and flow the fluid to the nozzle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the container includes solids that have settled out of a carrier fluid, and wherein the fluid is substantially the same type of fluid as the carrier fluid.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an installation device configured to insert the arm into the container without human entry into the container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the container includes a sump, and wherein the fluid retrieval device includes a line in fluid communication with the sump.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the container includes a sump and a line receiving fluid from the sump, and wherein the fluid retrieval device is configured to connect with a section of the line that is external to the sump.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a selectively activated anchor connecting the arm to an inner surface of the container.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a connector configured to connect the arm to a pre-existing structure in the container.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an extension section connecting the arm to the support, the extension section having a plurality of segments.

9. A method for cleaning a container, comprising:

securing an arm to a support positioned at least partially outside of the container, the arm being configured to move a nozzle in at least two directions;

spraying a fluid onto an inner surface of the container using the nozzle;

drawing the fluid and an entrained material out of the container using a fluid retrieval device;

removing at least some of the entrained material from the fluid using a separator; and

conveying the fluid from the separator to the nozzle using a fluid mover.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the container includes solids that have settled out of a carrier fluid, and wherein the fluid is substantially the same type of fluid as the carrier fluid.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising inserting the arm into the container without human entry into the container.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the container includes a sump, and wherein the fluid is drawn from the sump using a line in fluid communication with the sump.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the container includes a sump and a line receiving fluid from the sump, and further comprising connecting the fluid retrieval device to connect with a section of the line that is external to the sump.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting the arm to an inner surface of the container using a selectively activated anchor.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting the arm to a pre-existing structure in the container.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising connecting the arm to the support using an extension section having a plurality of segments.

17. A method for cleaning a container, comprising:

securing an arm to a support positioned at least partially outside of the container, the arm being configured to move a nozzle in at least two directions;

remotely installing a fluid retrieval device in the container;

spraying a fluid onto an inner surface of the container using the nozzle; and

drawing the fluid out of the container using the fluid retrieval device.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising connecting the arm to an inner surface of the container using a selectively activated anchor.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising connecting the arm to a pre-existing structure in the container.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the container includes a sump, and wherein the fluid is drawn from the sump using a line in fluid communication with the sump.