Rotary transformer for power transmission on a drilling rig system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016222731-A1
Application number	US-201514614267-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a drilling system. The drilling system includes drill string actuation mechanism having a first component and a second component configured to be rotated relative to the first component by a driving mechanism of the drill string actuation mechanism. The drilling system also includes a rotary transformer having a power input winding and a rotating power output winding. The power input winding is configured to be coupled to a power source and to the first component of the drill string actuation mechanism, and the rotating power output winding is configured to be coupled to the second component of the drill string actuation mechanism.

First claim

1 . A drilling system, comprising:
a drill string actuation mechanism having a first component and a second component configured to be rotated relative to the first component by a driving mechanism of the drill string actuation mechanism; and a rotary transformer having a power input winding and a rotating power output winding, wherein the power input winding is configured to be coupled to a power source and to the first component of the drill string actuation mechanism, and the rotating power output winding is configured to be coupled to the second component of the drill string actuation mechanism.

2 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a top drive, wherein the drill string actuation mechanism includes or is proximate to the top drive.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first component of the drill string actuation mechanism comprises a top drive and the second component of the drill string actuation mechanism comprises a quill coupled to the top drive.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the drill string actuation mechanism comprises a casing drive system having at least one of the first component and the second component.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drill string actuation mechanism comprises a pipe handler including features corresponding to at least one of the first component or the second component.

6 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a drill floor, wherein the drill string actuation mechanism is proximate to the drill floor.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the drill floor is the first component.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drill string actuation mechanism comprises a differential speed disengage including features corresponding to at least one of the first component and the second component.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the drill string actuation mechanism comprises an iron roughneck including features corresponding to at least one of the first component and the second component.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotary transformer is configured to transfer electric power and data from the power input winding to the rotating power output winding via a magnetic flux generated by electric current provided to the power input winding via the power source.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating power output winding is communicatively coupled with and configured to provide electric power to a mud valve, a saver sub, a wireless torque turn sensor, or a combination thereof.

12 . A power transmission system for a drilling rig, comprising:
a rotary transformer; a stationary input winding of the rotary transformer coupled to a stationary component of a drill string actuator of the drilling rig; and a rotating output winding of the rotary transformer coupled to a rotating component of the drill string actuator, wherein the stationary input winding of the rotary transformer is configured to electrically couple with a power source to receive a first electric current and generate a magnetic flux through the rotating output winding to induce a second electric current in the rotating output winding without physical contact between the stationary input winding and the rotating output winding.

13 . The power transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the stationary input winding and the rotating output winding are centered radially on a longitudinal axis.

14 . The power transmission system of claim 13 , wherein the stationary input winding and the rotating output winding are disposed in plane with respect to the longitudinal axis or are axially staggered with respect to the longitudinal axis.

15 . The power transmission system of claim 11 , wherein the rotary transformer is disposed proximate to a top drive of the drilling rig, wherein the stationary component of the drill sting actuator comprises a first portion of the top drive and the rotating component of the drill string actuator comprises a sub driven by a quill of the top drive.

16 . The power transmission system of claim 11 , wherein the rotary transformer is disposed proximate to a drill floor of the drilling rig, wherein the rotating component of the drill string actuator comprises a first portion of the drill floor, a first portion of a differential speed disengage, a first portion of power tongs, or a first portion of an iron rough neck, and the rotating component of the drill string actuator comprises a second portion of the differential speed disengage, a second portion of the iron rough neck, or a second portion of the power tongs.

17 . The power transmission system of claim 12 , wherein the rotary transformer is configured to transfer electric power and data from the stationary input winding to the rotating output winding, and the rotating output winding is configured to provide the electric power and data to a mud valve, a saver sub, a wireless torque turn sensor, or a combination thereof.

18 . A method for providing power to a component on a drilling rig, comprising:
transmitting a first electric current from a power source to a primary coil coupled to a first component of the drilling rig to generate a magnetic flux through the primary coil and through a secondary coil disposed proximate to the primary coil, wherein the secondary coil is coupled to a first rotating component of the drilling rig and the magnetic flux through the secondary coil induces a second electric current in the secondary coil; and transmitting the second electric current from the secondary coil to the first rotating component or to a second rotating component configured to rotate with the first rotating component.

19 . The method of claim 18 , comprising transmitting data from the primary coil to the secondary coil, from the secondary coil to the primary coil, or both.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first component is a top drive, the first rotating component is a quill or a saver sub, or the second rotating component is the quill, the saver sub, or a controller.

Assignees

• Tesco Corp

Inventors

• Bowley Ryan Thomas
• Yajure Edgar Fernando

Classifications

• E21B47/13

  by electromagnetic energy, e.g. radio frequency · CPC title

• E21B3/02 Primary

  Surface drives for rotary drilling · CPC title

• E21B17/0283

  characterised by the coupling being contactless, e.g. inductive · CPC title

• E21B3/022 Primary

  Top drives · CPC title