Washing assembly for valves and related devices, apparatus, systems, and methods

Abstract

Valve assemblies, systems, and methods may include at least one purge assembly including at least one purge port (120) extending through a valve body or housing (104) for supplying purge fluid into the valve body or housing. The at least one purge port is positioned on the valve body or housing to redirect a portion of the purge fluid as it exits the at least one purge port.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application serial number 17 / 751,739, entitled “PURGE ASSEMBLIES FOR VALVES AND RELATED DEVICES, APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS,” filed on May 24, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to purge assemblies and systems for valves, and more particularly to purge assemblies positioned and configured to redirect a portion of a purge fluid as it exits a purge port of the purge assembly, and related assemblies, systems, and methods. Background Art

[0004] Various types of valves have been used to shut off and control the flow of fluids in pipes or other flow paths. Each of these valves offers certain advantages, but also has other disadvantages. Some types of valves include plug valves, ball valves, globe or globe valves, angle valves, butterfly valves, and gate valves.

[0005] The ball valve includes a valve or flow control element (e.g., a rotatable spherical member) having a through hole corresponding to a fluid flow path and one or more valve seats (seats) for sealing with the surface of the spherical member. A typical ball valve has a valve body and a valve member (e.g., a spherical member), and the valve member is operatively connected to the valve body through an upstream seal and a downstream seal. The valve body defines a flow channel having an upstream flow end (e.g., a front end), a downstream flow end (e.g., a tail end) and a valve receiving chamber or cavity between the upstream flow end and the downstream flow end of the flow channel. The valve member is located in the valve receiving chamber and includes a through hole or a process fluid flow channel that allows a fluid to travel through the valve member. The seal or valve seat defines a cavity around the valve member together with the valve member and the valve receiving chamber. In order to prevent valve leakage, the seal or valve seat is pressed against the valve member with a given or fixed sealing pressure, which is at least partially based on the maximum pressure environment in which the valve may be installed.

[0006] The valve member is coupled to the actuator via a valve stem that can selectively rotate to rotate the valve member within the valve receiving chamber between a fully open position and a fully closed position. Typically, in a bidirectional valve, the fully open position occurs when the through hole is aligned with the flow passage and rotated zero degrees from the centerline of the flow passage, while the fully closed position occurs when the valve member is rotated ninety degrees from the centerline.

[0007] In various processes, valves may be used to control or isolate the flow of fluids that contain or form solids or other foreign matter, collectively referred to as "debris." During operation of a flow control element (e.g., a rotatable ball), a process fluid may communicate with a cavity between a valve body and the flow control element, wherein entrained matter may deposit and promote corrosion and / or interfere with the seal or operation of the valve. The ball of the valve may be cleaned, wherein a relatively clean cleaning fluid is introduced from the exterior of the ball valve into the cavity surrounding the flow control element. In some cases, when the valve is not operated (e.g., when the flow control element is in a fully open position or a fully closed position), the cleaning fluid may maintain a positive pressure in the body cavity to at least partially inhibit the ingress of process fluid and / or debris. However, when the valve is operated between the fully open and fully closed positions and the process fluid is in communication with the cavity, such valve cleaning may not always be effective in preventing entrained matter from entering the cavity, particularly when the flow rate of the process fluid is much greater than the flow rate of the cleaning fluid, as is the case with typical operating conditions. Summary of the invention

[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly comprising: a valve body; a valve member positioned within a cavity in the valve body and configured to selectively enable fluid to pass through the valve body via at least one passage in the valve member; and at least one cleaning assembly comprising at least one cleaning port extending through the valve body for supplying a cleaning fluid into the valve body, the at least one cleaning port being positioned on the valve body to supply a first portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly into the at least one passage of the valve member and a second portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly to a portion of the cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and the valve member.

[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one cleaning port is positioned on the valve body to direct a cleaning fluid to one or more surfaces of a valve member to redirect a direction of fluid flow of at least one of a first portion of the cleaning fluid and a second portion of the cleaning fluid.

[0010] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one cleaning port is positioned to direct cleaning fluid to a junction between an inner surface of a valve member defining the at least one passageway and an outer surface of the valve member.

[0011] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the engaging portion of the valve member includes an arcuate edge of the valve member extending around an opening of the at least one passageway at a radial side of the valve member.

[0012] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one cleaning port is positioned on the valve body to direct cleaning fluid to one or more surfaces of the valve member to separate the flow of the cleaning fluid into a first portion of the cleaning fluid and a second portion of the cleaning fluid.

[0013] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one cleaning port is positioned on the valve body to direct a cleaning fluid to one or more surfaces of the valve member, so that a first portion of the cleaning fluid can continue along a flow path into the at least one channel of the valve member, and a second portion of the cleaning fluid is redirected into the portion of the cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and the valve member.

[0014] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one purge port is positioned on the valve body to direct purge fluid toward an obstruction in the valve body to divert at least one of a first portion of the purge fluid and a second portion of the purge fluid.

[0015] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly, wherein the valve assembly includes a ball valve, and the valve member includes a ball rotatably positioned in a valve body.

[0016] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly that also includes a purge drain valve configured to drain a purge fluid supplied to a valve body using the at least one purge assembly.

[0017] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one purge port comprises a single purge port.

[0018] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve assembly wherein the at least one purge port comprises a plurality of purge ports (eg, two to eight purge ports, or more).

[0019] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve system comprising: a valve assembly comprising a valve body and a valve member, the valve member being positioned within a cavity in the valve body and being configured to selectively enable fluid to pass through the valve body via at least one channel in the valve member; and at least one cleaning assembly comprising at least one cleaning port extending through the valve body to supply a cleaning fluid into the valve body, the at least one cleaning port being positioned on the valve body and being configured to redirect a portion of the cleaning fluid when the cleaning fluid leaves the at least one cleaning port.

[0020] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve system in which the valve assembly includes a ball valve and the valve member includes a rotatable ball positioned within a valve body.

[0021] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve system wherein the at least one purge port is configured and positioned to redirect the portion of the purge fluid to a portion of a cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and a valve member.

[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve system wherein the at least one cleaning port is also constructed and positioned to direct another portion of the cleaning fluid into the at least one channel of the valve member while supplying the portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly to a portion of the cavity in the valve body.

[0023] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a valve system that also includes a cleaning fluid source fluidly coupled to the at least one cleaning port.

[0024] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of cleaning a valve, the method comprising: directing a cleaning fluid into a housing of a valve through at least one cleaning port extending through the housing of the valve; supplying a first portion of the cleaning fluid from the at least one cleaning port to at least one passage defined through a valve member, the valve member being received in a cavity defined in the housing of the valve; and substantially simultaneously supplying a second portion of the cleaning fluid to a portion of the cavity in the housing extending between the housing of the valve and the valve member.

[0025] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes redirecting a second portion of the cleaning fluid using at least one surface of the valve member to direct the second portion of the cleaning fluid into the portion of the cavity.

[0026] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes enabling a first portion of a cleaning fluid to pass substantially unchanged from the at least one cleaning port into the at least one passage defined through the valve member.

[0027] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method that also includes redirecting at least one of a first portion of the cleaning fluid and a second portion of the cleaning fluid using an obstruction positioned within a housing of the valve. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim what are regarded as embodiments of the present disclosure, various features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure may be more readily ascertained from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of a valve in a closed position including a purge assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A front cross-sectional view of a valve in a closed position including a purge assembly is shown in FIG.

[0031] Figure 3 is in the open position Figure 1 and Figure 2 A side cross-sectional view of a valve including one or more valve seats.

[0032] Figure 4 is a side view of a valve including various potential locations for a purge assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] Figure 5 is a fluid model of a valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating fluid flow provided by a purge assembly in the valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The illustrations presented herein are not meant to be actual views of any particular fluid exchanger or its components, but are merely idealized representations used to describe illustrative embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Elements common between the figures may retain the same reference numerals.

[0035] As used herein, relational terms such as "first", "second", "top", "bottom", etc. are generally used for clarity and convenient understanding of the present disclosure and the drawings, and do not represent or rely on any particular preference, orientation or order unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0036] As used herein, the term "and / or" means and includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0037] As used herein, the terms "substantially," "approximately," or "about" when referring to a given parameter mean and include the degree to which a given parameter, characteristic, or condition is satisfied to a lesser degree of variation, such as within acceptable manufacturing tolerances, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. For example, a substantially satisfied parameter may be at least 90% satisfied, at least 95% satisfied, at least 99% satisfied, or even 100% satisfied.

[0038] As used herein, the term "fluid" may refer to and include fluids of any type and composition. The fluid may take the form of a liquid, a gas, or a combination thereof, and in some cases, the fluid may include some solid material (e.g., particles, debris, etc.).

[0039] Embodiments of the present disclosure include cleaning assemblies, systems, and configurations that can be used with valves (e.g., ball valves or other types of valves) for controlling fluid flow in systems operating under normal ambient conditions and / or in high pressure and / or high temperature systems. In some embodiments, such systems can include industrial applications (e.g., power plants, processing systems, mineral extraction, etc.), vehicles (e.g., ships, tankers, submarines, locomotives, etc.), or control systems (e.g., hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, etc.).

[0040] As described above, in some embodiments, a cleaning system may be implemented in a ball valve. Ball valves are used in many different technical applications, sometimes under extreme operating conditions of high temperature and pressure (e.g., in the oil industry and / or energy industry), where the applied process media are typically relatively dirty fluids. For safe and reliable operation, the valve may be cleaned using a carefully designed cleaning system in which a cleaning medium is delivered through a high pressure cleaning system port to clean one or more of the surface of the ball, the body cavity, and / or other internal components of the valve, depending on the location of the port.

[0041] Such ball valves may be critical safety components of various industrial facilities. Embodiments of the present disclosure may enable such valves to be cleaned during operation using a discharge port and a cleaning port located on the valve body. Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a competitive advantage by providing environmentally friendly operation in a given application at least in part by reducing cleaning time and the amount of cleaning medium used. For example, reducing the amount of cleaning medium helps reduce recycling and energy consumption, which also means reducing CO2 emissions (decarbonization).

[0042] Cleaning the valve according to the embodiments of the present disclosure can generally achieve reliable and safe operation. For example, the correct placement of the cleaning port used to clean the body cavity can improve the effectiveness of the cleaning process. According to some embodiments currently disclosed, one or more body cavity cleaning ports of the valve can guide the incoming jet to a position close to an obstruction, such as a junction (e.g., an edge) between two or more surfaces of a valve member. For example, the body cavity cleaning port can guide the incoming jet to the junction between the process fluid flow channel through the valve member and the outer surface of the valve member. The process fluid flow channel can be defined by the inner surface of the valve member (e.g., a spherical member), wherein the process fluid flow channel extends laterally or radially through the rotatable spherical member, wherein the outer surface of the valve member can at least partially surround the process fluid flow channel. In some embodiments, the junction may include a combined area (e.g., one or more protrusions) or include another additional structure used as a diverter for cleaning the fluid flow.

[0043] With the above arrangement, the incoming cleaning fluid jet can be at least partially diverted (e.g., separated, diverted), wherein some of the cleaning medium (e.g., cleaning fluid) directly enters (e.g., continues into a substantially straight line or path) the process fluid flow channel, while the remaining flow can be diverted and flows to the cavity surrounding the valve member (e.g., the cavity defined between the housing of the valve and the ball contained in the valve). This diversion concept enables direct and substantially simultaneous cleaning of the cavity surrounding the valve member and the process fluid flow channel. This cleaning can serve to facilitate relatively faster and more effective cleaning of the ball valve. The cleaning port can be operated in the closed position, open position and / or partially open position of the valve.

[0044] In a typical cleaning port, the centerline of the inlet port is typically coincident with the normal to the spherical ball surface, wherein the cleaning medium typically flows radially into the body cavity or process fluid flow channel. In this configuration, the cleaning fluid is typically directed simply toward the ball surface. Since the process fluid flow channel in the ball and the remainder of the body cavity volume are typically defined as relatively well-separated areas when the valve is closed, the entire or a large portion of the volume cannot be effectively cleaned using this previous design and method.

[0045] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a valve 100 (eg, a ball valve) including one or more valve seats 112 is shown in a closed position. Figure 2 Another cross-sectional view of the valve 100 is shown in a closed position (e.g., taken transverse to Figure 1 A front view taken in the direction of the side cross-sectional view).

[0046] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the ball valve 100 can include a valve member (e.g., a ball 102, a barrier, etc.) that is movably positioned (e.g., floating or mounted) in a cavity 101 of a valve body 104 to control fluid flow through the valve 100. As shown, the valve body 104 can include a center housing having two end caps, wherein one end cap and the center housing can be joined together to define a two-piece structure.

[0047] The valve body 104 can define a conduit 106 (e.g., a path, passage, port, etc.) through the valve body 104. The ball 102 can include a process fluid flow passage 108 (e.g., a port, hole, path, etc.) through the ball 102, which is selectively arranged to communicate with the passage 108 when the valve 100 is in the open position. The valve stem 110 can extend through the valve body 104 and be operatively coupled to the ball 102. The ball 102 can be configured to selectively inhibit (e.g., block, at least partially inhibit, substantially block, substantially prevent, etc.) fluid flow through the ball valve 100 when the ball 102 is in the closed position (e.g., positioned such that the passage 108 is not aligned with the conduit 106), such as Figure 1 The valve stem 110 can rotate the ball about the longitudinal axis 118 of the valve stem 110 between a closed position and an open position (eg, wherein the ball 102 is positioned so that the passage 108 is aligned with the conduit 106, as shown in FIG. 1 ). Figure 3 shown).

[0048] A valve seat 112 (e.g., a seal, annular ring, etc.) may be positioned within the valve body 104 where the ball 102 and the conduit 106 in the end cap meet. Each valve seat 112 forms a substantially fluid-tight seal by engaging with a portion of the valve 100, such as the valve member or ball 102 and the valve body 104. By defining one or more seals between the ball 102 and the valve body 104, the valve seat 112 may at least partially or substantially completely inhibit the flow of fluid around the ball valve 100 when the ball 102 is in the closed position and / or the open position.

[0049] The ball 102 can rest adjacent to and / or against the valve seat 112. The valve seat 112 can be annular (e.g., ring-shaped, substantially annular, etc.). The valve seat 112 can be configured to form a seal between the ball 102 and the valve body 104. In some embodiments, the valve seat 112 can have a shape complementary to the ball 102. For example, the valve seat 112 can have a conical shape (e.g., a frustoconical shape) with an inclined inner surface. In some embodiments, the valve seat 112 can have a complex shape (e.g., a cross-section that is at least partially arcuate), such as a hemispherical slice (e.g., having substantially the same radius) configured to complement the spherical shape of the ball 102.

[0050] The ball valve 100 can include a cleaning assembly or system that includes one or more cleaning ports 120 (e.g., a single port 120, two or more cleaning ports 120, etc.) positioned on and extending through the valve body 104. As shown, the cleaning ports 120 can be positioned along the longitudinal axis 118 (e.g., mirrored relative to the centerline 130 of the passage 108). As described below, the one or more cleaning ports 120 can be positioned at various locations on the valve body 104. In addition, as described above, the positioning of the cleaning ports 120 can allow the ball valve 100 to be cleaned in the open position of the ball 102, the closed position of the ball 102, or a position between the open and closed positions of the ball 102.

[0051] In some embodiments, the cleaning port 120 can be aligned such that a fluid flow of the cleaning fluid is provided in a direction transverse to (e.g., substantially perpendicular to) the longitudinal axis 118. For example, the cleaning port 120 can be aligned such that a fluid flow of the cleaning fluid is provided in a direction substantially parallel to the centerline 130 of the passage 108.

[0052] like Figure 2108, the cleaning port 120 can be positioned to direct the fluid flow into the valve body 104 and at least partially redirect one or more portions of the fluid flow provided by the cleaning port 120. For example, the cleaning port 120 can be positioned so that the fluid flow of the cleaning medium is provided to the passage 108 and also provided to the portion of the open volume portion (e.g., the volume portions 114, 116) of the cavity 101 of the valve body 104 that is defined between the ball 102 and the valve body 104. In some embodiments, the cleaning port 120 can be positioned so that the fluid flow impinges on one or more surfaces within the valve body 104. For example, the cleaning port 120 can be positioned to direct the fluid flow to the junction 122 (e.g., an edge, ridge, annular ridge, etc.) of the outer surface 124 of the ball 102 and the inner surface 126 of the ball 102 that defines the passage 108. In such an embodiment, the fluid flow can be divided into a first flow that travels substantially directly into the volumes 114, 116 of the chamber 101 positioned around the ball 102, and a second flow that continues (e.g., travels substantially directly) into the passage 108 within the ball 102. With such a flow split, most of the volumes within the ball valve 100 can have a direct supply of fluid to facilitate direct cleaning of these portions without requiring the fluid to travel through the middle portion of the ball valve 100 before reaching the desired volume to be cleaned.

[0053] In other words, the cleaning ports 120 can directly supply fluid to one or more portions of the ball valve 100 (e.g., by supplying the fluid simultaneously, substantially simultaneously, without requiring the fluid to travel through other portions of the ball valve 100). For example, the cleaning ports 120 can each provide multiple fluid streams that simultaneously travel from the cleaning ports 120 to various portions of the ball valve 100 (e.g., the passage 108, and the volumes 114, 116 of the cavity 101 between the ball 102 and the valve body 104) without having to travel through an intermediate portion of the ball valve 100 before reaching the intended portion of the ball valve 100 to be cleaned.

[0054] The contact of the fluid flow with the joint 122 can cause at least a portion of the fluid flow to be redirected to a different portion of the ball valve 100. For example, the fluid flow can contact the joint 122, and at least a portion of the fluid flow (e.g., between 1% and 99%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%) can be redirected to one or more volumes 114, 116 of the cavity 101 of the valve body 104. In some embodiments, the remaining fluid flow can continue to enter the channel 108 in a substantially same unaltered direction (e.g., enter the channel 108 substantially straightly in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis 118). In additional embodiments, multiple portions of the fluid flow can be redirected to various volumes of the ball valve 100 that need to be cleaned.

[0055] In additional embodiments, flow redirectors may be implemented near the fluid outlet and / or within the cleaning port 120 to achieve a diverted flow configuration. For example, one or more flow redirectors may be implemented in the cleaning port 120 and / or in the valve body 104 (e.g., on the valve body 104 itself and / or on the ball 102) to direct fluid flow to a desired volume within the ball valve 100.

[0056] The ball valve 100 may include a discharge port 128 (e.g., positioned at a lower or lowermost portion of the valve body 104). In concert with the one or more cleaning ports 120, the discharge port 128 forms one or more flow paths through the valve body 104. This configuration may facilitate fluid flow from the cleaning port 120 through the passage 108 and the volume portions 114, 116 of the cavity 101, and exit through the discharge port 128.

[0057] In some embodiments, each of the cleaning ports 120 can include an aperture 132 defined through the valve body 104. As shown, a fluid line 134 (e.g., a tube) can be at least partially received within the corresponding aperture 132. The fluid line 134 can be fluidly connected (e.g., directly or indirectly) to a cleaning fluid source 136.

[0058] Each of the cleaning ports 120 can terminate at a fluid outlet 138 defined by a portion of the cleaning port 120 (e.g., defined by the orifice 132 and / or the fluid line 134). The cleaning fluid can exit the cleaning port 120 at the fluid outlet 138, where one or more portions of the cleaning fluid can be diverted as described above (e.g., by the junction 122 or an edge of the ball 102, or by another fluid diverting feature). For example, an arcuate edge defined by the junction 122 can extend around the opening of the passage 108 on one radial side of the ball 102, which can serve as a diverter for each cleaning port 120 positioned around the arcuate junction 122 of the ball 102.

[0059] Figure 3 1 shows a cross section of the ball valve 100 in an open position. In the open position, the passage 108 through the ball 102 can be substantially aligned with the conduit 106 through the valve body 104, so that fluid can pass through the ball valve 100. In some embodiments, in the open position, the cleaning port 120 can no longer be aligned with the passage 108 through the ball 102. When the ball valve 100 is returned to the closed position (e.g., Figure 1 and Figure 2 ) or during closing (eg, in a partially closed position), the cleaning port 120 may be aligned with the passage 108 through the ball 102 again so that the cleaning port 120 may be utilized to clean the ball valve 100 .

[0060] Figure 4 2 is a side view of a valve 200 including various potential positions of a cleaning assembly 202. Figure 4 As shown, the dashed circle represents the flow position 204 of the cleaning assembly 202. As will be understood, each of the flow positions 204 is positioned in a 360-degree configuration to align with a portion of the channel 108 of the ball 102 (e.g., Figure 2 One or more of flow positions 204 may be selected for a given application taking into account the size, properties, and / or other flow characteristics of the fluid to be manipulated. Although a total of eight flow positions 204 are depicted, one flow position 204, all eight flow positions 204, or even more than eight flow positions 204 may be implemented as desired in a given application.

[0061] In some embodiments, the flow locations 204 can be positioned in a mirrored configuration (e.g., arranged substantially 180 degrees relative to each other). In additional embodiments, smaller or larger spacings around 360 degrees can be achieved (e.g., ±45 degrees, ±60 degrees, ±75 degrees, ±90 degrees, etc.).

[0062] Figure 5 3 is a fluid model 300 of a valve illustrating fluid flow provided by a purge assembly in a valve according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the fluid model 300 illustrates relative residence times of fluids (e.g., wherein relatively darker areas represent current or recent flow, while relatively lighter areas represent less recent or stagnant flow conditions). In other words, relatively darker areas represent areas or volumes of active flow, while relatively lighter areas represent areas or volumes of less active or stagnant flow.

[0063] like Figure 5 As shown, the cleaning port 320 can provide a diverted fluid flow that enters the channel 308 within the valve element 302 while also directly supplying the fluid flow around the valve element 302. As shown, the fluid flow can be divided into one or more flows (e.g., a first flow 304 and a second flow 306) by an obstacle 322 (e.g., an inner surface, edge, joint, etc. in the valve). For example, the first flow 304 can supply a portion of the fluid flow directly to the outer surface 324 of the valve element 302 to clean these surfaces substantially directly, while the second flow 306 supplies another portion of the fluid flow substantially directly to the inner surface 326 of the valve element 302.

[0064] As described above, this configuration with separated or shunted streams 304, 306 can limit the total amount of time required for the cleaning medium to travel to a location that is an ideal location for a cleaning operation to be performed. As shown, each of the cleaning ports 320 can supply a separated or shunted first stream 304 and second stream 306 to a location in the valve to be cleaned. As described above, the number and location of the cleaning ports 320 can be selected to achieve a desired level of direct cleaning using any number of separated streams 304, 306.

[0065] In use, the diverted flow cleaning configuration can enable fluid to be supplied directly to a location desired for cleaning for a given application via the cleaning port 320. The cleaning port 320 is positioned to supply fluid substantially directly to a desired volume (e.g., a passage 308 of a valve element 302 in substantially unimpeded flow). Using a portion of the valve (e.g., an edge of the valve element 302), the fluid can be diverted to be supplied directly to another volume in the valve housing (e.g., a cavity 301 surrounding at least a portion of the valve element 302).

[0066] In some embodiments, the drain port 328 enables cleaning fluid to exit the valve housing by forming a fluid flow path extending through the valve and between the clean port 320 and the drain port 328 .

[0067] Although the present disclosure has been described herein with respect to some illustrated embodiments, it will be recognized and appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as claimed herein, including the legal equivalents of the present disclosure. Furthermore, features of one embodiment may be combined with features of another embodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure as contemplated by the inventor.

Claims

1. A valve assembly, comprising: Valve body; a valve member positioned within a cavity in the valve body and configured to selectively enable fluid to pass through the valve body via at least one passage in the valve member; as well as at least one cleaning assembly, the at least one cleaning assembly comprising at least one cleaning port extending through the valve body to supply a cleaning fluid into the valve body, the at least one cleaning port being positioned on the valve body to supply a first portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly into the at least one passage of the valve member and a second portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly to a portion of the cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and the valve member.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one purge port is positioned on the valve body to direct the purge fluid to one or more surfaces of the valve member to redirect a direction of fluid flow of at least one of the first portion of the purge fluid and the second portion of the purge fluid.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one cleaning port is positioned to direct the cleaning fluid to a junction between an inner surface of the valve member defining the at least one passageway and an outer surface of the valve member.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The engagement portion of the valve member includes an arcuate edge of the valve member extending around an opening of the at least one passageway at a radial side of the valve member.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The at least one purge port is positioned on the valve body to direct the purge fluid to one or more surfaces of the valve member to separate the flow of the purge fluid into the first portion of the purge fluid and the second portion of the purge fluid.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The at least one cleaning port is positioned on the valve body to direct the cleaning fluid to one or more surfaces of the valve member, to enable the first portion of the cleaning fluid to continue along a flow path into the at least one passage of the valve member, and to redirect the second portion of the cleaning fluid into the portion of the cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and the valve member.

7. The valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The at least one purge port is positioned on the valve body to direct the purge fluid toward an obstruction in the valve body to divert at least one of the first portion of the purge fluid and the second portion of the purge fluid.

8. The valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The valve assembly includes a ball valve, and the valve member includes a ball rotatably positioned in the valve body.

9. The valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a purge drain valve configured to drain the purge fluid supplied to the valve body by the at least one purge assembly.

10. The valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The at least one cleaning port comprises a single cleaning port.

11. The valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The at least one cleaning port includes a plurality of cleaning ports.

12. A valve system, comprising: A valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising: a valve body; and a valve member positioned within a cavity in the valve body and configured to selectively enable fluid to pass through the valve body via at least one passage in the valve member; and and at least one purge assembly including at least one purge port extending through the valve body to supply a purge fluid into the valve body, the at least one purge port being positioned on the valve body and configured to redirect a portion of the purge fluid as it exits the at least one purge port.

13. The valve system according to claim 12, wherein: The valve assembly includes a ball valve, and the valve member includes a ball rotatably positioned in the valve body.

14. The valve system according to claim 12, wherein: The at least one purge port is configured and positioned to redirect the portion of the purge fluid to a portion of the cavity in the valve body extending between the valve body and the valve member.

15. The valve system of claim 14, wherein: The at least one cleaning port is also configured and positioned to direct another portion of the cleaning fluid into the at least one passage of the valve member while supplying the portion of the cleaning fluid substantially directly to the portion of the cavity in the valve body.

16. The valve system of any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising a cleaning fluid source fluidly coupled to the at least one cleaning port.

17. A method for cleaning a valve, the method comprising: directing a cleaning fluid into the housing of the valve through at least one cleaning port extending through the housing of the valve; supplying a first portion of the cleaning fluid from the at least one cleaning port into at least one passage defined through a valve member received within a cavity defined within the housing of the valve; as well as Substantially simultaneously, a second portion of the cleaning fluid is supplied to a portion of the cavity in the housing extending between the housing and the valve member of the valve.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: The second portion of the cleaning fluid is redirected using at least one surface of the valve member to direct the second portion of the cleaning fluid into the portion of the cavity.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: The first portion of the cleaning fluid is enabled to pass substantially unchanged from the at least one cleaning port into the at least one passage defined through the valve member.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, further comprising: At least one of the first portion of the cleaning fluid and the second portion of the cleaning fluid is redirected using an obstruction positioned within the housing of the valve.

Images