Patent Application
20140291238
Many applications require that fluids be screened to remove solids (such as foreign objects, rocks, and particulates). Some examples include water treatment applications, hazardous material handling applications, and drilling applications. For example, in oilfield environments, fluid used in oilfield activities must be filtered via a screening process. Conventionally, screens used in such screening processes are flat screens mounted on metal frames. Construction and repair of such metal screens is time consuming, inefficient, and costly. Metal screens also put a great amount of wear on drilling equipment such as shaker screen beds.
In many oilfield environments, operating space is extremely limited and equipment size and weight limits are important. Conventional metal screens are heavy and difficult to install and remove.
Further, efficient screening reduces the time required to filter the fluid. Increased fluid capacity of screens allows the filtering process to complete quickly.
The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings.
In the drawings:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description and drawings are not meant to be limiting and are for explanatory purposes. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the drawings, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, each of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure.
This disclosure is drawn to systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods, related to screening fluid. Specifically, the disclosed systems, devices, apparatuses, and/or methods relate to screening fluid using a screen having an increased screening area.
In some examples, screen frame 100 may be manufactured as one piece or may be assembled from multiple pieces. Screen frame 100 (or pieces thereof) may be manufactured using known techniques, including, for example, injection molding.
In some examples, screen frame 100 may include a first end 102 and a second end 104, which may be substantially parallel. First member 106 and second member 108 may both separately be coupled to first end 102 and second 104. First member 106 and second member 108 may also be substantially parallel to each other.
In some examples, base portion 110 may extend in a horizontal plane (e.g., parallel to the Earth's surface). In such examples, projections 120 may extend perpendicular to such horizontal plane (e.g., perpendicular to the Earth's surface).
In some examples, screen frame 100 may include support(s) 150 coupled to projection(s) 120. Supports 150 may contact and/or support screen 130. In some examples, projection(s) 120 and support(s) 150 may be coupled at a various heights. For example, one projection 120 may meet support 150 at a first height, while another projection 120 may meet support 150 at a different, second height. In some examples, supports 150 may intersect projection(s) 120 at about a 90 degree angle such that supports 150 and projections 120 exist in in substantially perpendicular planes. Example supports 150 may be formed from composite materials and/or non-composite materials.
In some examples, supports 150 and projections 120 may include and/or may form openings and/or apertures in which fluid may flow through after flowing through screen 130. In this manner, supports 150 and projections 120 may not restrict the flow of fluid, thus the flow of fluid through the screening apparatus as a whole may not be impeded.
Screen frame 100 may receive and/or engage a screen (e.g., a three-dimensional screen) 130 for screening fluid. Projections 120 may support and/or contact screen 130. Some example screens 130 may be wire cloth screens. Screen frame 100 may include a coupling portion 140 that allows screen 130 to be coupled (e.g., temporarily, permanently) to screen frame 100. In some examples, coupling portion 140 may be coupled to or integrated with base portion 110. More than one screen 130 may be coupled to screen frame 100 simultaneously. Each screen 130 may be coupled to screen frame 100 using known coupling mechanisms, including, for example, screws, glues, dovetail joints, plastic welding, and the like.
Some example screens 130 may include screen reinforcement(s). Screen reinforcement(s) may provide some rigidity and/or structure to screen 130. In this manner, screen 130 may more easily conform to the three-dimensional shape formed by the configuration of projections 120 and supports 150. Some example screen reinforcement(s) may include metal (e.g., steel) and/or composite (e.g., glass filled polypropylene) materials.
Some example apparatuses for screening fluid may be manufactured by molding a screen frame 100 from a composite material. A screen 130 (e.g., wire cloth) may be positioned adjacent the top surface of screen frame 100. Screen 130 may then be fused to screen frame 100.
In some examples, screen frame 100 may include molding a composite material around reinforcement material(s) (which may include composite materials and/or non-composite materials)
In some examples, screen 130 may be fused to screen frame 100 by melting the composite material such that a portion of the composite material flows through screen 130. The composite material may be cured through and/or around screen 130, effectively fusing screen 130 to screen frame 100. In some examples, fusing may include applying a fusing source to (or at least near) a top surface of screen frame 100. Example fusing sources may include a heat source (e.g., hot plate) and/or vibration source (e.g., ultrasonic welder).
Some example apparatuses for screening fluid may be manufactured by molding screen frame 100 from a composite material, where screen frame 100 includes projections 120 forming a three-dimensional configuration. Wire cloth 130 may be fused to at least a portion of projections 120. Fusing may include heating at least a portion of projections 120 such that the heated projections 120 at least partially flow and/or extend through the screen 130. Heated projections 120 may then cure to set as a fusing mechanism.
In some examples, screen frame 130 may also include a supports 150 intersecting projections 120. Fusing may include heating at least a portion of projections 120 and/or supports 150 such that the heated projections 120 and/or supports 150 at least partially flow and/or extend through the screen 130.
In some examples, projections 120 may be removable and/or replaceable, thus creating a modular system. In some examples, a small piece of screen 130 may be fused to a portion of projections 120 to form modular pieces. Several modular pieces of screen 130 fused to projections may be simultaneously coupled to screen frame 100. In this manner, maintenance may occur on only a subset of the entire apparatus, such as one modular piece. For example, if screen 130 includes a tear or hole, only that specific modular piece with a damaged screen may be removed for repair or replacement.
A three-dimensional screen may contact and rest upon projections 322, 324 and/or supports 350. In some examples, the three-dimensional screen may be formed in a wavelike shape similar to the wavelike shape formed by projections 322, 324 and supports 350. In this manner, three-dimensional screen may closely mimic or conform to projections 322, 324 and supports 350. The three-dimensional screen may extend substantially along the entire length and/or the entire width of the example apparatus for screening fluid.
A three-dimensional shape (such as a wavelike shape) may increase the surface area of screen 130. In this manner, compared to a conventional planar screen, more fluid may flow through screen 130 because of the increased surface area. Since more fluid may flow through screen 130, screening capacity and/or rate may be increased due to the three-dimensional shape.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus for screening fluid may include a screen frame having a base portion and a projections extending from the base portion. At least one projection may extend a first distance from the base portion, and at least one projection may extend a second distance from the base portion.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus for screening fluid may include a frame, projections, and a three-dimensional screen. The projections may be coupled to the frame. At least one projection may have first height greater than the frame's height, and at least one projection may have second height greater than the first height. The three-dimensional screen may contact and/or rest on the projections. The three-dimensional screen may substantially conform to a three-dimensional shape formed by the configuration of the projections.
In some aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus for screening fluid may include a first end, a second end, a first member, a second member, and projections. The first end and the second end may be substantially parallel to each other. The first member and the second member may be separately coupled to the first end and the second end, and may be substantially parallel to each other. The projections may be substantially parallel to the first end and the second end. Each projection may be coupled to the first member and the second member. At least one projection may have a first height, and at least one projection may have a second height.
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
