Rotary Fluid Transfer Apparatus and Associated Methods

Abstract

A fluid transfer device ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910, 1010, 1110 ) and corresponding method of transferring fluid. The device ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910, 1010, 1110 ) comprises an inner member ( 46, 146, 246, 346, 446, 546, 646, 746, 846, 946, 1046, 1146 ) with a central axis ( 28, 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 728, 728, 828, 928, 1028, 1128 ) and comprising an outer surface ( 48, 148, 248, 348, 448, 548, 748, 748, 848, 948, 1048, 1148 ); and an outer member ( 42, 142, 242, 342, 442, 542, 742, 742, 842, 942, 1042, 1142 ) coaxially arranged with the inner member ( 46, 146, 246, 346, 446, 546, 646, 746, 846, 946, 1046, 1146 ) and comprising an inner surface ( 44, 144, 244, 344, 444, 544, 744, 744, 844, 944, 1044, 1144 ) radially spaced from the outer surface of the inner member ( 46, 146, 246, 346, 446, 546, 646, 746, 846, 946, 1046, 1146 ) to define a space between the inner ( 46, 146, 246, 346, 446, 546, 646, 746, 846, 946, 1046, 1146 ) and outer members ( 42, 142, 242, 342, 442, 542, 742, 742, 842, 942, 1042, 1142 ). The device ( 10, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, 910, 1010, 1110 ) has a first axial member and a second axial member. There is at least one variable fluid chamber ( 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720, 720, 820, 920, 020, 1120 ) defined in the space, with a fluid inlet ( 22, 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 722, 722, 822, 922, 1022, 1122 ) to the at least one fluid chamber ( 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 20, 720, 720, 820, 920, 1020, 1120 ); and a fluid outlet ( 24, 124, 224, 324, 424, 524, 20 724, 724, 824, 924, 1024, 1124 ) from the at least one fluid chamber. At least one of the first and/or second axial member/s is rotatable about the central axis ( 28, 128, 228, 328, 428, 528, 728, 728, 828, 928, 1028, 1128 ) to vary a volume of the at least one fluid chamber ( 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720, 720, 820, 920, 1020, 1120 ). The volume of the at least one fluid chamber ( 20, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 720, 720, 820, 920, 1020, 1120 ) corresponds to a rotational position of the first and/or second axial member/s.

1 . A fluid transfer device comprising:
 an inner member with a central axis and comprising an outer surface;   an outer member coaxially arranged with the inner member and comprising an inner surface radially spaced from the outer surface of the inner member to define a space between the inner and outer members;   a first axial member;   a second axial member;   at least one fluid chamber defined in the space;   a fluid inlet to the at least one fluid chamber; and   a fluid outlet from the at least one fluid chamber;   at least one of the first and/or second axial member/s being rotatable about the central axis to vary a volume of the at least one fluid chamber,   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a pump. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the volume of the at least one fluid chamber corresponds to a rotational position of the first and/or second axial member/s. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device or inner member comprises a throughbore. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber is an annular fluid chamber defined in the space between the first and second axial members. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a further or second inner member with a second inner member throughbore, the further or second inner member being mounted or provided in or within the first inner member and being relatively rotatable with respect to the first inner member. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to translate the first axial member in a first axial direction and the second axial member in a second axial direction during rotation or at least one phase or cycle of a rotation of the first and/or second axial member/s. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the second axial member is defined by a first cam arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second axial member/s is/are configured to selectively open and/or close the inlet/s and/or outlet/s according to a rotational position. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and/or second axial member/s is/are configured to maintain the inlet open when there is rotation such that the at least one fluid chamber volume is increasing. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and/or second axial member/s is/are configured to maintain the inlet closed when there is rotation such that the at least one fluid chamber volume is decreasing such that the inlet is closed when overpressure in the at least one fluid chamber is created or present. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inner member is configured to connect to an external apparatus, such as a toolstring, coiled tubing, tubular, slickline, wireline, motor or the like. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second axial member/s is driven by the inner member. 
     
     
         22 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second axial members are configured to move in antiphase with each other. 
     
     
         23 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second axial member/s is/are configured to move axially relative to the inner and/or outer member/s. 
     
     
         24 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to transfer fluid substantially radially. 
     
     
         25 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to transfer fluid substantially axially. 
     
     
         26 . An apparatus comprising a plurality of devices as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of transferring a fluid, the method comprising:
 providing a fluid transfer device comprising an inner member with a central axis, and an outer member coaxially arranged with the inner member;   radially spacing an inner surface of the outer member from an outer surface of the inner member to define a space between the inner and outer members;   defining a rotational path about the central axis;   providing a first axial member in the space;   providing a second axial member in the space;   defining at least one variable fluid chamber in the space between the first and second axial members;   flowing a fluid into the at least one fluid chamber via a fluid inlet;   rotating at least one of the first and/or second axial member/s;   varying a volume of the at least one fluid chamber in accordance with a rotational position of the first and/or second axial member/s; and   flowing a fluid out of the at least one fluid chamber via a fluid outlet.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising varying the at least one fluid chamber volume according to an axial position of the first and/or second axial member/s. 
     
     
         33 . (canceled)