Downhole graphene heat exchanger
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorChristopher Michael McMillon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A graphene heat exchanger for absorbing thermal energy and located in a downhole tool. The downhole tool is located in a borehole intersecting an earth formation and comprising a thermal component. The heat exchanger includes graphene and is thermally coupled to the thermal component. The heat exchanger is configured to absorb thermal energy from the thermal component or absorb ambient thermal energy from the earth formation.
Claims19
A downhole apparatus for performing a task in a borehole intersecting an earth formation and having downhole temperature due to ambient thermal energy of the formation, comprising:
- a thermal component having an operating temperature condition below that of the downhole temperature in the borehole and operable to generate thermal energy;
- and
- a heat exchanger comprising graphene layers, wherein the heat exchanger is thermally coupled to the thermal component and configured to absorb the thermal energy generated from the thermal component such that the thermal component temperature condition is maintained below the downhole temperature, wherein each layer yields a logarithmic increase in thermal absorption according to a size of each layer.
A method of absorbing thermal energy in a borehole intersecting an earth formation and having downhole temperature due to ambient thermal energy of the formation, comprising:
- running a downhole tool comprising a thermal component having an operating temperature condition below that of the downhole temperature in the borehole;
- generating thermal energy with the thermal component;
- and
- absorbing at least some of the thermal energy from the thermal component using a heat exchanger comprising graphene layers such that the thermal component temperature condition is maintained below the downhole temperature, wherein each layer yields a logarithmic increase in thermal absorption according to a size of each layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.