System and Method for Harvesting Energy Down-Hole from an Isothermal Segment of a Wellbore
AssigneeSaudi Arabian Oil Company
InventorMohamed Nabil Noui-Mehidi
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Abstract
Systems and methods of generating power in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation are described. A swirling flow of pressurized fluid is passed through a vortex tube to generate a temperature differential between first and second outlets of the vortex tube. The temperature differential is applied to a thermoelectric generator configured to convert the temperature differential into a voltage. The thermoelectric generator produces electrical power that is transmittable to down-hole tools within the wellbore such as an inflow control valve.
Claims18
A power generation system for generating electric power in a wellbore formed in a subterranean formation, the power generation system comprising:
- a source of pressurized fluid;
- a thermoelectric generator operable to generate a voltage in response to an applied temperature differential;
- and
- a vortex tube operatively coupled to the thermoelectric generator to apply the temperature differential thereto, the vortex tube comprising:
- an elongate hollow body;
- an inlet in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid;
- a first outlet in thermal communication with a radially outer region of the elongate hollow body, the first outlet operatively associated with a high temperature input to the thermoelectric generator;
- and
- a second outlet in thermal communication with a radially inner region of the elongate hollow body, the second outlet operatively associated with a low temperature input to the thermoelectric generator.
A power generation system for harvesting energy in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, the power generation system comprising:
- a thermoelectric generator operable to generate a voltage in response to an applied temperature differential;
- and
- a vortex tube operatively coupled to the thermoelectric generator to apply the temperature differential thereto, the vortex tube comprising:
- an elongate hollow body;
- an inlet operable to be in fluid communication with the subterranean formation and operable to generate a swirling flow of a production fluid along a radially outer region of the elongate hollow body;
- a first outlet disposed in the radially outer region of the elongate hollow body and operable to discharge a first portion of the swirling flow of production fluid, the first outlet operatively Coupled to a high temperature input to the thermoelectric generator;
- a restrictor operable to redirect a second portion of the flow of production fluid from the radially outer region of the elongate hollow body to a radially inner region of the elongate hollow body;
- and
- a second outlet disposed in the radially inner region of the elongate hollow body and operable to discharge a second portion of the swirling flow of production fluid, the second outlet operatively coupled to a low temperature input of the thermoelectric generator.
A method of generating power in a wellbore extending through a subterranean formation, the method comprising:
- (i) producing a production fluid from the subterranean formation into the wellbore;
- (ii) passing the production fluid through a vortex tube to generate a temperature differential between first and second outlets of the vortex tube;
- and
- (iii) converting the temperature differential into a voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.