Apparatus and method for density separator for drilling fluid

摘要

An apparatus is disclosed for separating minerals in drilling fluid based primarily on density. The separator creates and maintains a slurry with a controllable density for separating minerals from drill cuttings. The density is controlled through the use of an electrode array. The separator comprises a primary separation chamber containing the dense slurry, and a multiple number of secondary separation chambers used to separate cuttings from the drilling fluid. The invention also contains inlet hardware allowing the mixed mineral suspension to enter the first separation chamber, and hardware allowing the three outlet (separated) streams to exit the device. One of the three outlet streams carries the minerals that have a density greater than the user selectable density set point, while the second carries the minerals that have a density less than the density set point, and the third carries clean drilling fluid.

主权项

1. A system for separating material from a fluid mixture, the system comprising:
an inlet for the fluid mixture; and a primary chamber coupled to the inlet for receiving fluid from the inlet, the primary chamber comprising:
a first zone, wherein the first zone comprises an electrode array having at least two electromagnetic plates positioned one above the other to suspend a first material of the fluid mixture between the at least two electromagnetic plates;a second zone situated above the first zone, wherein the second zone receives a second material of the fluid mixture that results above the first material; anda third zone situated below the first zone to receive a third material that results below the first suspended material.