Downhole electrical power generation based on thermo-tunneling of electrons
First Claim
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1. A system for use in a borehole, the system comprising:
- a downhole assembly configured to be conveyed into the borehole;
a quantum tunneling thermoelectric generator (QTG) configured to produce electrical power in response to a difference of temperature between a first side of the generator and a second side of the generator, anda downhole device operated by the electrical power;
wherein a first side of the QTG is configured to be in thermal contact with an interior of the downhole assembly and a second side of the QTG is configured to be in thermal contact with a fluid between the downhole assembly and a wall of the borehole.
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Abstract
An apparatus for and a method of generating electrical power downhole using a quantum thermoelectric generator and operating a downhole device using the generated power.
58 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for use in a borehole, the system comprising:
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a downhole assembly configured to be conveyed into the borehole; a quantum tunneling thermoelectric generator (QTG) configured to produce electrical power in response to a difference of temperature between a first side of the generator and a second side of the generator, and a downhole device operated by the electrical power; wherein a first side of the QTG is configured to be in thermal contact with an interior of the downhole assembly and a second side of the QTG is configured to be in thermal contact with a fluid between the downhole assembly and a wall of the borehole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of performing operations in a borehole, the method comprising:
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conveying a quantum tunneling thermoelectric generator (QTG) into a borehole on a downhole assembly, a first side of the QTG being in thermal contact with an interior of the downhole assembly and a second side of the OTG being in contact with a fluid between the downhole assembly and a wall of the borehole; producing electrical power in response to a difference of temperature between the first side of the thermoelectric generator and the second-side of the thermoelectric generator; and operating a downhole device using the electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of conducting operations in a borehole, the method comprising:
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conveying a quantum tunneling thermoelectric generator (QTG) into the borehole; coupling a phase-change material to only a first side of the QTG in a first mode of operation and coupling the phase-change material to only a second side of the QTG in a second mode of operation; using a temperature difference between the first side of the QTG and the second side of the QTG to generate electrical power; and operating a downhole device using the generated electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification