Piezoelectric generator for hydraulic systems

• US 9,634,581 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Jaffrey, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Sayre, James G
• Application Number:
  US14/680,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20160301331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/035 specially adapted for underwater installations E21B33/043, E21B33/064, E21B33/076 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/061 Ram-type blow-out preventers, e.g. with pivoting rams
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/064 specially adapted for underwater well heads
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/00 Survey of boreholes or wells monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02N 2/185 using fluid streams

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to electrical power generation from a piezoelectric material. A piezoelectric power generator assembly is disclosed including a housing, a piezoelectric transducer located in the housing, and a piston located in the housing, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge when contacted by the piston. A piezoelectric power generator assembly is also disclosed including a housing comprising a flowline located within the housing and a piezoelectric transducer located in the housing and disposed about a perimeter of the flowline, wherein the piezoelectric transducer is configured to generate an electrical charge when contacted by a fluid contained in the flowline. A subsea drilling system is disclosed including a subsea blowout preventer stack and a piezoelectric power generator assembly for powering sensors on the blowout preventer stack configured to monitor characteristics of the stack.

Claims

1. A power generator assembly comprising:

a housing comprising a flow passage;

a piezoelectric transducer located about a perimeter of the flow passage and configured to generate an electrical charge when subjected to a stress exerted by a fluid pressure of a fluid in the flow passage;

a hydraulically actuatable device and a flow line configured to convey the fluid to the hydraulically actuatable device, wherein the fluid is pressurized hydraulic fluid for operating the hydraulically actuatable device; and

a sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the hydraulically actuatable device, wherein the sensor is powered by the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric transducer.

2. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the flow passage has a circular profile.

3. The power generator assembly of claim 1, further comprising an electronics module including a capacitor bank.

4. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the hydraulically actuatable device is a valve.

5. The power generator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a storage device including a processor and a memory device capable of receiving and storing sensor measurement data.

6. The power generator assembly of claim 4, wherein the valve is configured to adjust between an open position and a closed position and the characteristic is the position of the valve.

7. The power generator assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a subsea blowout preventer stack comprising the hydraulically actuatable device and the flowline for conveying the fluid to the hydraulically actuatable device.

8. The power generator assembly of claim 7, wherein the hydraulically actuatable device is a ram.

9. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a hall-effect sensor configured to measure a position of the hydraulically actuatable device.

10. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to measure a temperature at the hydraulically actuatable device, a pressure at the hydraulically actuatable device, or both.

11. The power generator assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is powered entirely by the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric transducer.

12. The power generator assembly of claim 1, comprising a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit sensor data obtained by the sensor to another location.

13. The power generator assembly of claim 1, comprising a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, wherein the RFID tag enables transfer of sensor data obtained by the sensor to a remotely-operated vehicle.