Apparatus and method for drilling fluid density separator using magnets

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 electric coil and magnets to create a magnetic field or 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:
a feed box to collect the fluid mixture and magnetic particles; a pump to pump the fluid mixture and a first material comprising the magnetic particles from the feed box into a primary hydrocyclone chamber; and an electric coil surrounding the primary hydrocyclone chamber, wherein the electric coil is configured to create a field so as to suspend the first material in the primary hydrocyclone chamber, wherein a second material of the fluid mixture results above the first suspended material and a third material results below the first suspended material in the primary hydrocyclone chamber.