1. Function and classification of drilling fluid agitators
Drilling fluid agitators are very important supporting equipment for drilling fluid solid control systems. Their purpose is to agitate the drilling fluid in the drilling fluid tank to ensure that the useful solid phase in the drilling fluid is evenly suspended in the drilling fluid. Drill cuttings are the main component of harmful solid phases. To remove harmful solid phases, they must be suspended and then injected into desanders, desilters and centrifuges. Useful solid phases, such as various weighting materials (hematite powder, barite powder) and a small amount of bentonite, also need to be suspended to keep the density and other properties of the drilling fluid stable.
Drilling fluid agitators can be divided into the following types according to the type of reducer they are equipped with:
(1) Belt-driven agitator: The motor drives the agitator through a belt drive plus a bevel gear-stage reduction:
(2) Worm-driven agitator: The motor drives the agitator through a worm reducer;
(3) Gear-driven agitator: The motor drives the agitator through a hard-toothed two-stage reducer.
According to the installation type of the motor, the agitator can be divided into: horizontal agitator and vertical agitator.
2. Use, operation and maintenance of the mud agitator
1) Installation of the drilling fluid agitator
The drilling fluid agitator must be firmly installed on a beam with sufficient rigidity on the top surface of the drilling fluid tank. If necessary, a shock-absorbing pad must be added to prevent vibration when the agitator is working.
The distance between the impeller and the bottom of the drilling fluid tank is usually 250~400mm.
When the impeller shaft is long, in order to prevent the impeller shaft from swinging when the agitator is working, a straightening mechanism should be added to the bottom of the drilling fluid tank.
The connection between the impeller shaft and the reducer should be firm and reliable.
2) Use of the agitator
Before starting the agitator, the power connection should be adjusted so that the rotation direction of the agitator is consistent with the rotation direction mark on the guard.
Usually, when the agitator leaves the factory, the reducer is not filled with oil for the convenience of transportation. Before starting, be sure to fill the reducer with sufficient lubricating oil according to the requirements of the manual. Usually, N320 extreme pressure gear oil is added to the reducer to the center line of the oil mark
3) Maintenance of the agitator
The agitator gears are lubricated with oil and the bearings are lubricated with grease. Check the amount of gear oil in the reducer regularly and replenish it in time. Add lithium-based grease to the bearings regularly every shift.
Check the working condition of the reducer regularly and deal with it in time.
The motor should be checked and cleaned regularly, and there should be no accumulated dust on the casing.
Inspect it every six months or refer to the product use and maintenance manual that comes with it.
