Systems for thermally insulating sensitive downhole equipment
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorsRae Andrew Younger, Jamie Cochran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A downhole electronics enclosure system may include a tool body, a carrier body, a phase change media, and a support mechanism. The tool body defines an interior cavity. The carrier body may be removably provided within the interior cavity, and the carrier body may define an interior compartment for receiving electronics. The phase change media may be sealed within the interior compartment of the carrier body. The support mechanism may suspend the carrier body within the interior cavity of the tool body, such that a space is defined between an outer surface of the carrier body and an inner surface of the tool body.
Claims20
A downhole electronics enclosure system, comprising:
- a tool body defining an interior cavity providing an inner surface with a first diameter;
- a carrier body removably provided within the interior cavity, the carrier body providing an outer surface along an entire length of the carrier body with a second diameter and defining an interior compartment for receiving electronics;
- a phase change media sealed within the interior compartment of the carrier body;
- and
- a support mechanism that suspends the carrier body within the interior cavity of the tool body,
- wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter such that the outer surface of the carrier body does not contact the inner surface of the tool body.
A carrier for housing electronics within a downhole tool, comprising:
- a carrier body defining an open top end, an interior compartment, and an open bottom end, wherein the open top end and the open bottom end are in communication with the interior compartment;
- an upper end cap provided at the open top end of the carrier body and generating a sealed interface with the open top end;
- a lower end cap provided at the open bottom end of the carrier body and generating a sealed interface at the open bottom end;
- and
- a phase change media sealed within the interior compartment of the carrier body via the upper end cap and the lower end cap,
- wherein:
- the upper end cap and the lower end cap each include a shaft, a plurality of spokes extending from a first end of the shaft, and a base extending from a second end of the shaft,
- the base is disposed within either the open top end or the open bottom end of the carrier body, and
- the plurality of spokes radially extend from the shaft for suspending the carrier body such that heat is conducted to the carrier body through the plurality of spokes, the shaft, and the base.
A method, comprising:
- providing electronics within an interior compartment of a carrier body;
- sealing a phase change media within the interior compartment via at least one end cap, wherein the carrier body having the at least one end cap sealed thereon defines a carrier;
- suspending the carrier within an interior cavity of a tool body such that an outer surface defined along an entire length of the carrier body does not contact an inner surface of the tool body;
- and
- at least partially evacuating air or gas from a space defined between the carrier body and the tool body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.