Apparatus for downhole power generation
First Claim
1. An electrical power generator, for use in a fluid-containing pipe, the generator comprising:
- a magnet assembly;
a coil assembly;
a fluid-flow-driven impeller coupled to one of the magnet assembly and the coil assembly so as to cause rotation of the connected assembly in response to fluid flow through the pipe;
wherein the magnet assembly and the coil assembly are arranged to enable magnetic coupling between them, and the magnet assembly and the coil assembly are mounted to enable relative movement between them in response to fluid flow through the pipe, such that said relative movement generates an electric current within the coil assembly; and
wherein a first part of the generator, which first part is arranged at a position proximate a central longitudinal axis of the fluid containing pipe when in use, is removable through the central longitudinal axis of the fluid containing pipe and is adapted for attachment to and detachment from a second part of the generator so as to leave a central through bore when the first part is detached and removed, wherein the second part of the generator is a power generation assembly comprising the impeller, the magnet assembly and the coil assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for use in power generation, including a fluid-flow-driven power generator for use in a fluid-containing pipe such as a drill pipe as used in oil and gas exploration and extraction. Parts of the generator are removable from the pipe—for example while a drill pipe is downhole within a drilling well—to leave a clear through bore for survey and fishing operations and to enable replacement of the removed parts. The flow-driven generator comprises an impeller connected to a magnet assembly to rotate the magnet assembly when fluid flows past the impeller. This causes relative movement between the magnet assembly and an adjacent electrical coil assembly, the relative movement and magnetic coupling generating an electrical current in the coil assembly. This generated electrical current is used to power electrical devices within the pipe.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An electrical power generator, for use in a fluid-containing pipe, the generator comprising:
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a magnet assembly; a coil assembly; a fluid-flow-driven impeller coupled to one of the magnet assembly and the coil assembly so as to cause rotation of the connected assembly in response to fluid flow through the pipe; wherein the magnet assembly and the coil assembly are arranged to enable magnetic coupling between them, and the magnet assembly and the coil assembly are mounted to enable relative movement between them in response to fluid flow through the pipe, such that said relative movement generates an electric current within the coil assembly; and wherein a first part of the generator, which first part is arranged at a position proximate a central longitudinal axis of the fluid containing pipe when in use, is removable through the central longitudinal axis of the fluid containing pipe and is adapted for attachment to and detachment from a second part of the generator so as to leave a central through bore when the first part is detached and removed, wherein the second part of the generator is a power generation assembly comprising the impeller, the magnet assembly and the coil assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An electrical power generator, for use in a fluid-containing pipe, comprising:
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an annular power generation assembly comprising a fluid-flow-driven impeller connected to one of a magnet assembly or an electrical coil assembly, the magnet assembly and the coil assembly being arranged for magnetic coupling between them and being mounted to enable relative movement between them, such that fluid flowing past the impeller causes relative rotation between the magnet assembly and the coil assembly for the generation of electrical power; a flow controller located closer to the longitudinal axis of the pipe than the annular power generation assembly, which flow controller is detachable from the annular power generation assembly and can be removed to leave an axially-located through bore; and a first fluid flow path past the impeller and a second fluid flow path through an aperture of the flow controller, wherein the flow controller includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the size of the aperture of the flow controller to control the proportion of the fluid flowing within the pipe that flows past the impeller in the first fluid flow path. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An electrical power generator, for use in a fluid flow pipe, comprising:
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a stator coil assembly comprising stator magnets and electrical windings; and a rotor magnet assembly comprising rotor magnets connected to a fluid-flow-driven impeller; wherein the rotor magnet assembly is mounted in the generator to enable rotation relative to the stator coil assembly and to enable magnetic coupling between the rotor magnets and the stator magnets; wherein the stator coil assembly and rotor magnet assembly are formed as concentric annular components of a pipe insert having an axial through bore when inserted in the fluid flow pipe; and the impeller is formed by a pair of concentric cylinders joined together by a set of impeller vanes, the cylinders forming a fluid-flow path between them, the impeller vanes being oriented at a non-zero angle to the longitudinal axis of the concentric cylinders such that fluid flowing in the fluid-flow path between the cylinders acts on the impeller vanes to apply a torque to the impeller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification