Test System And Methods For Evaluating Erosion of a Test Sample

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020371007-A1
Application number	US-202016848080-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2020
Priority date	May 21, 2019
Publication date	Nov 26, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Test systems and methods for evaluating erosion of a test sample. The test systems include a particulate distribution structure configured to receive a supplied particulate stream and to discharge a distributed particulate stream. The test systems also include a particulate acceleration structure configured to receive the distributed particulate stream and to generate an accelerated particulate stream. The test systems further include a test sample fixture configured to hold the test sample at a test sample location positioned such that the accelerated particulate stream is incident upon the test sample location. The methods include methods of operating the test systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A test system for evaluating erosion of a test sample, the test system comprising:
a particulate distribution structure having a distribution structure inlet, which is configured to receive a supplied particulate stream that includes particulate material, and a distribution structure outlet, which is oriented along a particulate flow axis of the test system and is configured to discharge a distributed particulate stream, wherein the particulate distribution structure is configured to distribute the supplied particulate stream such that the particulate material is at least substantially uniformly distributed within the distributed particulate stream; a particulate acceleration structure having an acceleration structure inlet arranged along the particulate flow axis, an acceleration structure outlet arranged along the particulate flow axis, and a motive gas inlet, wherein the particulate acceleration structure is configured to receive the distributed particulate stream via the acceleration structure inlet, to receive a motive gas stream of a motive gas via the motive gas inlet, to combine the distributed particulate stream with the motive gas stream to accelerate the particulate material and generate an accelerated particulate stream, and to discharge the accelerated particulate stream from the acceleration structure outlet; and a test sample fixture configured to hold the test sample at a test sample location that is positioned along the particulate flow axis such that the accelerated particle stream is incident upon the test sample location.

2 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the particulate distribution structure includes a rotating member configured to distribute the particulate material.

3 . The test system of claim 2 , wherein the particulate distribution structure further includes a screen structure positioned to receive the particulate material subsequent to the particulate material being distributed by the rotating member to further distribute the particulate material.

4 . The test system of claim 3 , wherein the rotating member is a first rotating member, and further wherein the particulate distribution structure includes a second rotating member positioned to receive the particulate material subsequent to the particulate material being distributed by the screen structure to further distribute the particulate material.

5 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the particulate acceleration structure includes at least one of a gas eductor, a gas ejector, a venturi, and a reverse venturi.

6 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system defines a straight particulate material supply conduit that extends at least between the distribution structure outlet and the test sample location.

7 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the particulate flow axis is at least substantially vertical.

8 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system further includes a particulate supply system configured to supply the supplied particulate stream at a particulate stream supply rate.

9 . The test system of claim 8 , wherein the particulate supply system further includes a feed mechanism configured to selectively vary the particulate stream supply rate.

10 . The test system of claim 9 , wherein the particulate supply system is configured to selectively regulate the particulate stream supply rate such that the accelerated particulate stream includes a target mass concentration of particulate material in the motive gas.

11 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system further includes a containment structure configured to receive the accelerated particulate stream after the accelerated particulate stream is incident upon the test sample location.

12 . The test system of claim 11 , wherein the containment structure is configured to separate the particulate material in the accelerated particulate stream from the motive gas in the accelerated particulate stream, wherein the containment structure includes:
(i) a gas discharge port, wherein the containment structure is configured to direct the motive gas from the accelerated particulate stream toward the gas discharge port as a gas discharge stream; (ii) a particulate filter configured to remove the particulate material from the gas discharge stream prior to flow of the gas discharge stream from the containment structure; and (iii) a particulate material retention region configured to retain the particulate material, wherein the containment structure further includes a particulate material discharge port configured to discharge the particulate material from the particulate material retention region.

13 . The test system of claim 12 , wherein the test system further includes a particulate material recycle structure configured to convey the particulate material from the particulate material retention region to a particulate supply system.

14 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system further includes a downpipe having an inlet pipe end and an opposed outlet pipe end and defining a downpipe conduit that extends along the particulate flow axis between the inlet pipe end and the outlet pipe end, wherein the downpipe is configured to receive the accelerated particulate stream via the inlet pipe end and to discharge the accelerated particulate stream from the outlet pipe end.

15 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test sample fixture includes a sample mounting structure configured to hold the test sample at the test sample location.

16 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system further includes a view port configured to facilitate viewing of an internal region of the test system from external the test system while the test system is being utilized to test the test sample.

17 . The test system of claim 16 , wherein the test system further includes a particulate material concentration detection structure associated with the view port and configured to detect a concentration of particulate material within the internal region of the test system.

18 . The test system of claim 1 , wherein the test system includes the particulate material, wherein the particulate material defines an effective particle diameter of at least 5 micrometers and at most 100 micrometers.

19 . A method of utilizing the test system of claim 1 , the method comprising:
providing the supplied particulate stream to the particulate distribution structure; distributing, within the particulate distribution structure, the supplied particulate stream to generate the distributed particulate stream; discharging the distributed particulate stream from the particulate distribution structure; accelerating the distributed particulate stream with the particulate acceleration structure to generate the accelerated particulate stream; and flowing the accelerated particulate stream incident upon the test sample to erode the test sample.

20 . The method of claims 19 , wherein the providing the supplied particulate stream includes regulating a particulate stream supply rate of the supplied particulate stream such that a concentration of the particulate material in the accelerated particulate stream is at most a threshold mass concentration of particulate material in the motive gas.

21 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the providing the supplied particulate stream includes selectively varying a particulate stream supply rate of the supplied particulate stream to regulate a concentration of the particulate m

Assignees

• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Jackson Matthew S
• Gallo Federico G
• Mayer Christian S
• Stojkovic Dragan
• Milton-Tayler David
• Goddings James

Classifications

• G01N3/56 Primary

  Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion · CPC title

• G01N3/567

  by submitting the specimen to the action of a fluid or of a fluidised material, e.g. cavitation, jet abrasion (G01N3/565 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B12/02

  Wear indicators · CPC title

• G01N3/565 Primary

  of granular or particulate material · CPC title