Dual feed centrifuge
First Claim
1. A dual feed centrifuge system for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud, the centrifuge system comprising:
- a bowl having a bowl section and a conical section;
a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl;
a first feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the first feed port is located approximately midway axially along the conical section; and
a second feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the second feed port is located approximately midway axially along the bowl section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual feed centrifuge system for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud, the centrifuge system including: a bowl; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl; a first feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor; and a second feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor. The multiple feed ports may allow the centrifuge to operate more efficiently with both weighted and unweighted drilling fluids.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A dual feed centrifuge system for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud, the centrifuge system comprising:
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a bowl having a bowl section and a conical section; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl; a first feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the first feed port is located approximately midway axially along the conical section; and a second feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the second feed port is located approximately midway axially along the bowl section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A process for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud comprising:
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feeding a drilling mud through at least one of a first feed pipe and a second feed pipe to a centrifuge, the centrifuge comprising; a bowl supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis, the bowl having a first end, a second end, a bowl section proximate the first end and a conical section proximate the second end; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl and in a co-axial relationship with the bowl; a first feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the first feed port is located approximately midway along the longitudinal axis of the conical section; and a second feed pipe mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the second feed port is located approximately midway axially along the longitudinal axis of the bowl section; separating the drilling mud into a solid and a fluid, the separating comprising; rotating the bowl with a speed A using a rotation device, wherein the solid accumulates along the bowl; rotating the screw conveyor with a speed B using a rotating device, wherein the fluid moves along the screw conveyor; moving the solid along the bowl using the screw conveyor; recovering the solid through a solid discharge port proximate the second end of the bowl; and recovering the fluid through a fluid discharge port proximate the first end of the bowl. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for separating solids from fluids, the method comprising:
feeding a first drilling mud via a first feed pipe to the centrifuge approximately midway axially along the conical section, the centrifuge comprising; a bowl; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl; a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor; and a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor; wherein the first feed pipe is mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding the drilling mud through the first feed port to an annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor; and feeding a second drilling mud via a second feed pipe to the centrifuge approximately midway axially along the bowl section, wherein the second feed pipe is mounted within the screw conveyor for feeding the drilling mud through the second feed port to the annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A dual feed centrifuge system for separating solids from fluids in a drilling mud, the centrifuge system comprising:
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a bowl having a bowl section and a conical section; a screw conveyor rotatably mounted within the bowl; a first feed pipe mountable within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a first feed port in a wall of the screw conveyor to a first annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the first feed port is located approximately midway along the longitudinal axis of the conical section; and a second feed pipe mountable within the screw conveyor for feeding a drilling mud through a second feed port in the wall of the screw conveyor to a second annular space between the bowl and the wall of the screw conveyor, wherein the second feed port is located approximately midway axially along the bowl section.
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Specification