Systems and Methods for Reducing Pipeline Erosion Using Acoustic Radiation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016153249-A1
Application number	US-201414558069-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An acoustic brake system includes one or more transducers configured to couple to an external wall of a pipe. The one or more transducers are configured to generate a standing wave within the pipe. The standing wave comprises one or more nodes within the pipe. When a particulate-laden fluid flows through the pipe, a plurality of particulates move towards the nodes and away from a wall of the pipe. The acoustic brake system also includes a function generator electrically coupled to the one or more transducers and configured to drive the one or more transducers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An acoustic brake system, comprising:
one or more transducers configured to couple to an external wall of a pipe, wherein the one or more transducers generate an acoustic standing wave within the pipe, the acoustic standing wave comprising one or more nodes within the pipe, wherein when a particulate-laden fluid flows through the pipe, a plurality of particulates move towards the nodes and away from a wall of the pipe; and a function generator electrically coupled to the one or more transducers and configured to drive the one or more transducers.

2 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , wherein the waveform matches a resonant frequency of the pipe.

3 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more transducers has ring shape, a strip shape, a sheet shape, a spot shape, or any combination thereof.

4 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , where a plurality of transducers are configured to generate waveforms of the same frequency.

5 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of transducers are configured to generate waveforms of one or more different frequencies.

6 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic standing wave creates one or more relatively high and relatively low pressure regions, wherein the one or more low pressure regions are away from the wall of the pipe, and wherein the plurality of particulates gather at or near the one or more low pressure regions.

7 . The acoustic brake system of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic standing wave creates an ultrasonic field within the pipe, wherein when the particulate-laden fluid flows through the pipe, the ultrasonic field creates an acoustic radiation force on a plurality of particulates which slows down the speed of the plurality of particulates and pushes the plurality of particulates away from the wall of the pipe.

8 . An acoustic brake system, comprising:
one or more transducers coupled to a wall of a pipe, the one or more transducers configured to generate an ultrasonic field within the pipe, wherein when a particulate-laden fluid flows through the pipe, the ultrasonic field creates an acoustic radiation force on a plurality of particulates which pushes the plurality of particulates away from a wall of the pipe; and a function generator electrically coupled to the one or more transducers and configured to drive the one or more transducers.

9 . The acoustic brake system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more transducers form one or more rings around the pipe.

10 . The acoustic brake system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasonic field creates one or more relatively high and relatively low pressure regions, wherein the one or more low pressure regions are away from the wall of the pipe, and wherein the plurality of particulates gather at or near the one or more low pressure regions.

11 . The acoustic brake system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more transducers are disposed on or adjacent to a curved portion of the pipe.

12 . The acoustic brake system of claim 8 , wherein the ultrasonic field has a waveform which matches a resonant frequency of the pipe.

13 . The acoustic brake system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more transducers are disposed on an external wall of the pipe.

14 . The acoustic break system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more transducers are actuated in a burst-mode.

15 . The acoustic break system of claim 8 wherein the one or more transducers are actuated continuously.

16 . The acoustic break system of claim 8 wherein the one or more transducers are actuated through amplitude-modulation.

17 . The acoustic break system of claim 8 wherein the one or more transducers are actuated through frequency modulation.

18 . The acoustic break system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more transducers are disposed within the pipe.

19 . A method of reducing particulate impact in a pipe, comprising:
coupling an acoustic brake system to an external wall of a pipe, the acoustic brake system comprising one or more transducers; coupling the one or more transducers to the external wall of the pipe; transmitting a signal from the function generator to the one or more transducers; generating a standing wave within the pipe, the standing wave comprising one or more nodes; and pushing a plurality of particulates towards the one or more nodes and away from a wall of the pipe when a particulate-laden fluid flows through the pipe.

20 . The method of claim 19 , comprising:
generating an ultrasonic field within the pipe; creating one or more relatively high and relatively low pressure regions, wherein the one or more low pressure regions are away from the wall of the pipe, and forcing the plurality of particulates towards the one or more low pressure regions.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the standing wave matches a resonant frequency of the pipe.

22 . The method of claim 19 , where a plurality of the one or more transducers are configured to generate waveforms of the same frequency or of one or more different frequencies.

Assignees

• Mitri Farid G
• Chevron Usa Inc

Inventors

• Mitri Farid G

Classifications

• E21B17/1007 Primary

  for the internal surface of a pipe, e.g. wear bushings for underwater well-heads · CPC title

• E21B43/12

  Methods or apparatus for controlling the flow of the obtained fluid to or in wells (E21B43/25 takes precedence; valve arrangements E21B34/00) · CPC title