Capillary actuator device

Abstract

A pressure storage device includes a porous material; and a non-wetting fluid having a glass transition temperature above a normal exposure temperature for the device and method.

1 . A pressure storage device comprising:
 a porous material; and   a non-wetting fluid having a glass transition or material melting temperature above a normal exposure temperature for the device.   
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the porous material is silica-based. 
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid is water, organo-liquid, metal or metal-alloy. 
   
   
       4 . A method for storing pressure for later use comprising:
 heating a non-wetting fluid above a glass transition or material melting temperature thereof;   forcing the fluid into a porous material non-wettable thereby while maintaining the temperature of the fluid above the glass transition or material melting temperature; and   reducing a temperature of the fluid to below the glass transition or material melting temperature thereof.   
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the forcing is pressurizing the non-wetting fluid above a threshold intrusion pressure for the porous material. 
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the method further comprises heating the fluid to above the glass transition or material melting temperature to release pressure stored. 
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the method further comprises further heating the fluid after achieving the glass transition or material melting temperature to increase pressure of the fluid. 
   
   
       8 . A downhole actuator device comprising:
 a porous material; and   a non-wetting intrusion fluid introduced into the porous material under pressure and at a temperature above a glass transition or material melting temperature of the fluid and retained in the porous material at a temperature below the glass transition or material melting temperature of the fluid.   
   
   
       9 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising a heater in operable communication with the porous material. 
   
   
       10 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 8  further comprising a defeatable member having a pre-selected defeat pressure. 
   
   
       11 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the defeatable member is a rupture member. 
   
   
       12 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the defeatable member is positioned to retain pressure released from the porous material upon heating to above the glass transition or material melting temperature of the fluid disposed therein, until the pressure reaches the pre-selected defeat pressure. 
   
   
       13 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the defeatable member enables a pressure pulse action from the actuator device. 
   
   
       14 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the heater is actuable selectively. 
   
   
       15 . The downhole actuator device as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the heater is electrically activated. 
   
   
       16 . An actuation system comprising:
 a plurality of combinations of porous materials and non-wetting intrusion fluids introduced into the porous materials under pressure and at a temperature above a glass transition or material melting temperature of the fluid and retained in the porous material at a temperature below the glass transition or material melting temperature of the fluid.   
   
   
       17 . The actuation system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each combination of material and fluid is configured for a selected glass transition or material melting temperature. 
   
   
       18 . The actuation system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the temperature selected is different for at least one combination than at least one other combination. 
   
   
       19 . The actuation system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the temperature is selected among the plurality of combinations to enable sequential release of stored pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The actuation system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein at least one of the combinations further includes a defeatable member to resist pressure release until a threshold pressure is achieved. 
   
   
       21 . The actuation system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the combinations create a wave effect in pressure profile released.