Rotating control head radial seal protection and leak detection systems

A system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• a passageway formed in one of said members;
• a unidirectional flow of a fluid in said passageway for circulating the fluid into, with and out of the rotating control head;
• a first seal positioned with one of the members for providing a predetermined flow value of the fluid between the first member and the second member;
• and
• a port formed in one of the members, the port communicating with the first seal to regulate the fluid flowing by the first seal.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• one of the members having a thermal transfer surface;
• a first seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member while the first member moves relative to the second member;
• a second seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member, wherein the first seal allows flow of fluid at a first pressure and the second seal allows flow of fluid at a second pressure different than the first pressure;
• a thermal transfer fluid circulated with at least one of the members;
• said second member defining a passageway formed to extend about the thermal transfer surface;
• and
• the thermal transfer surface transferring thermal units through a unidirectional flow of the thermal transfer fluid in said passageway traversing about the thermal transfer surface.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• a seal carrier having a thermal transfer surface;
• the seal carrier being a component of one of the members;
• a first seal positioned with the seal carrier for sealing the first member and the second member;
• a thermal transfer fluid circulated with at least one of the members;
• said second member defining a passageway formed to extend around the thermal transfer surface more than once;
• and
• the thermal transfer surface transferring thermal units through the thermal transfer fluid in said passageway adjacent the first seal.

A system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• a passageway formed in one of said members;
• a unidirectional flow of a fluid in said passageway for circulating the fluid with the rotating control head;
• one of the members having a seal carrier;
• a first seal positioned with the seal carrier for sealing the first member with the second member while providing a predetermined flow value of the fluid between the first member and the second member;
• and
• a port formed in the seal carrier, the port communicating with the first seal to regulate the fluid flowing by the first seal.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• one of the members having a thermal transfer surface;
• a first seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member;
• a second seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member, wherein the first seal allows flow of fluid at a first pressure and the second seal allows flow of fluid at a second pressure different than the first pressure;
• a thermal transfer fluid circulated with at least one of the members;
• said second member defining a passageway formed to extend around the thermal transfer surface more than once;
• and
• the thermal transfer surface transferring thermal units through the thermal transfer fluid in said passageway adjacent the first seal and the second seal.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a first member rotatable relative to a second member, comprising:

• the second member having a seal carrier;
• the seal carrier having a surface adjacent to a portion of the second member;
• the second member having at least one passageway adjacent to the seal carrier surface;
• and
• the at least one passageway extending more than once around the seal carrier surface.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a first member rotatable relative to a second member, comprising:

• the second member having a seal carrier;
• the seal carrier having a surface adjacent to a portion of the second member;
• the second member having at least one passageway defined by the seal carrier surface;
• and
• the at least one passageway extending a distance equal to more than once around the seal carrier along a tortuous path on the seal carrier surface.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a first member rotatable relative to a second member, comprising:

• the second member having a seal carrier;
• the seal carrier being adjacent to the first member;
• at least one passageway in the second member defined by the seal carrier;
• and
• the at least one passageway making at least one revolution around the seal carrier
• wherein the passageway comprises a spiral slot formed with one of the members.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• the second member having a seal carrier;
• the seal carrier being adjacent to the first member;
• at least one passageway in the second member defined by the seal carrier;
• and
• the at least one passageway making at least more than one revolution around the seal carrier.

A thermal transfer system adapted for use with a rotating control head, comprising:

• a first member movable relative to a second member;
• a first seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member;
• and
• a second seal positioned with one of the members for sealing the first member with the second member, wherein the first seal allows flow of fluid at a first predetermined pressure and the second seal allows flow of fluid at a second predetermined pressure different than the first predetermined pressure.