High pressure shear nozzle for inline conditioning of drilling mud

A system for conditioning drilling fluid comprising:

• a pump configured to pump drilling fluid from a drilling fluid source to a conditioning device, the conditioning device comprising:
• a first conduit configured to receive the drilling fluid;
• a flow restriction disposed adjacent the first conduit, the flow restriction comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• an impact plate disposed downstream of the flow restriction;
• a first chamber disposed between the flow restriction and the impact plate;
• and
• a second chamber disposed downstream of the impact plate, wherein the first chamber is fluidly connected to the second chamber;
• and
• a second conduit fluidly connected to the second chamber, wherein the second conduit is configured to transport the drilling fluid from the second chamber to conditioned drilling fluid storage area.

A method for conditioning drilling fluid using a conditioning device, the method comprising:

• pumping a drilling fluid through a flow restriction;
• accelerating the drilling fluid into a mixing chamber;
• subjecting the drilling fluid to elongational shearing;
• decelerating the drilling fluid against an impact plate;
• subjecting the drilling fluid to impact shearing;
• and
• emptying drilling fluid from the mixing chamber.