Vacuum insulated dewar flask
AssigneeBaker Hughes Incorporated
InventorsBorislav J. Tchakarov, Paul G. Junghans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for protecting temperature sensitive components from the extreme temperatures a hydrocarbon producing wellbore. The apparatus comprises an inner housing encompassed by an exterior housing, where a plenum is formed between the two housings. A vacuum is formed within the plenum. The temperature sensitive components are stored within the inner housing. An aerogel composition is placed on the outer surface of the inner housing thereby providing added insulation for protecting the temperature sensitive component. Optionally the aerogel composition can be added to the inner surface of the outer housing. Yet further optionally, a reflective foil may be disposed over the aerogel composition of the inner housing.
Claims23
An insulating flask comprising:
- an external housing having a closed end;
- an internal housing having a closed end and disposed within said external housing;
- a vacuum space between the external housing and the internal housing;
- a reflective layer disposed in the vacuum space, spaced apart from the internal housing, spaced apart from the external housing, and in the space between the closed ends of the internal and external housing;
- and
- an insulating layer disposed between said internal housing and said external housing, wherein the insulating layer comprises a low density porous solid having very small pores.
A method of insulating a downhole component against downhole temperature comprising:
- inserting a downhole component into an inner housing;
- circumscribing the inner housing with an outer housing, wherein space is provided between the inner housing and the outer housing;
- providing a reflective layer in the space and spaced apart from the inner housing and the outer housing;
- and
- disposing an insulating composition between the housing and the outer housing, wherein the insulating composition comprises a low density porous solid having very small pores.
An insulating flask comprising:
- an outer housing;
- an inner housing disposed within said outer housing;
- a reflective layer between said inner housing and said outer housing spaced apart from the inner housing and the outer housing;
- and
- spaced apart supports comprised of an aerogel composition affixed between a side of the reflective layer and one of the inner housing and outer housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.