Thermal management solutions for a traction robot for use in downhole extreme conditions

Accurate techniques for testing production sections are important when developing horizontal wells, but appropriate methods are also needed for transporting loggers through horizontal well segments. The reciprocating grip traction robot is a pipeline robot that has already been tested and broadly accepted for use in horizontal wells. Reciprocating grip traction robots have received a great deal of attention because they are very (more than 40%) efficient, although many other tractors are only 10% to 20% efficient, the remaining energy being converted to waste heat. However, even an efficiency of 40% may constitute a serious thermal problem in high-temperature environments, and cooling methods must be used to remove the heat produced by the waste energy. The research presented here is mainly focused on the development of a thermal management system for the electronics in traction robots. Numerical simulations are used to optimize heat sink and skeleton structure to mitigate the effects of high temperature.