Fluidic oscillators for use with a subterranean well
AssigneeHalliburton Energy Services, Inc.
InventorsRoger L. Schultz, Robert Pipkin, Travis Cavender
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A well tool can comprise a fluid input, a fluid output and a fluidic oscillator which produces oscillations in a fluid which flows from the input to the output. The fluidic oscillator can include a vortex chamber with inlets, whereby fluid enters the vortex chamber alternately via the inlets, the inlets being configured so that the fluid enters the vortex chamber in different directions via the respective inlets, and a fluid switch which directs the fluid alternately toward different flow paths in response to pressure differentials between feedback fluid paths. The feedback fluid paths may be connected to the vortex chamber. The flow paths may cross each other between the fluid switch and the outlet.
Claims20
A fluidic oscillator, comprising:
- a vortex chamber with an output and first and second inlets, whereby fluid enters the vortex chamber alternately via the first and second inlets, the first and second inlets being configured so that the fluid enters the vortex chamber in different directions via the respective first and second inlets;
- a fluid switch which directs the fluid alternately toward first and second flow paths in response to pressure differentials between first and second feedback fluid paths;
- and
- the first and second feedback fluid paths being radially connected to the vortex chamber between the output and the first and second inlets.
A method, comprising:
- flowing a fluid through a well tool, the well tool comprising a fluid input, a fluid output, and a fluidic oscillator which produces oscillations in flow of a fluid, the fluidic oscillator including a vortex chamber with first and second inlets, whereby fluid enters the vortex chamber alternately via the first and second inlets, the first and second inlets being configured so that the fluid enters the vortex chamber in different directions via the respective first and second inlets, and a fluid switch which directs the fluid alternately toward first and second flow paths in response to pressure differentials between first and second feedback fluid paths, wherein the first and second feedback fluid paths are connected to the vortex chamber between the output and the first and second inlets.
A well tool, comprising:
- a fluid input through which a fluid enters the well tool;
- a fluid output through which the fluid exits the well tool;
- and
- a fluidic oscillator which produces oscillations in the fluid when the fluid flows from the input to the output, the fluidic oscillator including a vortex chamber with first and second inlets, whereby the fluid enters the vortex chamber alternately via the first and second inlets, the first and second inlets being configured so that the fluid enters the vortex chamber in different directions via the respective first and second inlets, and a fluid switch which directs the fluid alternately toward first and second flow paths in response to pressure differentials between first and second feedback fluid paths, the first and second feedback fluid paths being connected to the vortex chamber between the output and the first and second inlets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.