Ball valve with spring groups

Abstract

The utility model relates to pipeline fittings intended for use as a device for changing the direction of the flow of a working medium in turbo-piston units included in systems for measuring the quantity and quality of oil and petroleum products, in particular to a ball valve. A ball valve with groups of springs, comprising a valve body forming channels for the flow of a medium, having an inlet and outlet for the medium, as well as a ball chamber, inside which a ball plug is located, configured to rotate for controlling the flow of a medium through the valve body, wherein each medium outlet comprises a flange, a sleeve, and a seat, on the surface of which groups of springs are located, capable of exerting pressure on the ball. The technical result consists in increasing the operational reliability of the ball valve. 5 clauses, 2 figs.

Description

[0001] Technical field

[0002] The utility model relates to pipeline fittings intended for use as a device for changing the direction of the flow of the working medium in turbo-piston units included in systems for measuring the quantity and quality of oil and oil products, in particular to a ball valve.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] Ball valves for separating media are known from the prior art. They utilize a metal bellows design. This design limits the service life of the valve's distribution unit due to cyclic loads, susceptibility to fatigue failure, and loss of mechanical properties under thermal stress. Furthermore, the bellows require regular maintenance and replacement, increasing operating costs. Repairs are often complicated by the need to dismantle the components, further increasing costs and reducing overall system reliability. Such devices include ball valves from Velan, Saudi Arabian Oil Company, and others.

[0005] A four-way valve is known, registered by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Aramco Services Company (international application WO2016164442, priority date 06.04.2016). The four-way valve has a body with an inlet and an outlet, a first circulation port and a second circulation port, the four-way valve additionally has a valve plug located inside the valve body, with valve body seals that seal the fluid between the valve body and the valve plug, the valve plug can rotate between a forward seat position to direct fluid from the inlet to the first circulation port and a reverse seat position to direct fluid from the inlet to the second circulation port. The disadvantage of this solution is a complex and unreliable damping system that requires adjustment, low reliability, and the possibility of sudden failures due to the lack of a pressure relief device.

[0006] There are solutions that eliminate the use of bellows in the design by replacing this structural element with springs, such ball valves also have their own characteristics and disadvantages.

[0007] A number of patents from ASF-Razvitie disclose a ball valve design that utilizes spring-loaded seats, eliminating the bellows. Patent RU234024, with a priority date of March 19, 2025, for a ball valve with a throttling plate stack aims to reduce flow cavitation by incorporating flow dividers in the form of a throttling plate stack with through holes. Drawbacks of this solution arise when using this ball valve with dense and heterogeneous working fluids, which are typical in oil and gas processes: liquids and gases with inclusions, cracking; the plate system with flow dividers is functional for conditions close to normal conditions (NC).When solid particles, two- or three-phase liquids (including liquids of varying densities, air, and other fluids) are present, such a system will be fragile due to clogging of the holes and labyrinth channels, reducing the flow rate of the assembly and the overall efficiency of the ball valve. Patent RU235614, priority date April 13, 2025, for a ball valve with perforated seats discloses a valve design comprising seats on the inlet and outlet flanges with end perforations along a plane perpendicular to the flow and directed toward the pipeline, and a set of seat springs. In this particular case, the holes on the end surface of the seat are designed as a petal groove.The disadvantage of this solution is a reduction in the valve's efficiency and reliability due to the clogging of the openings by inhomogeneities in the working fluid during operation, especially in the oil and gas industry. Conversely, this creates a large area of ​​resistance to the flow of the fluid, which will lead to additional cavitation, the need for repairs, difficulties in cleaning, reduced reliability, and jamming. The proposed solution eliminates the use of flow elements in the seat design, but adds blind holes for spring installation and proposes the use of spring assemblies to improve reliability.

[0008] Fisher Controls patent RU 2721467 is known for a top-entry ball valve, an installation device, and a method for using it. It describes a top-entry ball float valve comprising a valve body, an inlet and outlet, a ball chamber with a ball, a valve seat, and a spring configured to press the ball axially along a fluid flow path toward the valve seat. The spring is a disc spring formed by multiple disc washers or a cylindrical helical spring matching the diameter of the inlet. A disadvantage of this solution is the placement of a single giant spring in the side wall of the ball chamber along the inlet axis, which has several drawbacks. Firstly, placing the spring at the fluid inlet regulates the pressure and expansion of the medium, but by the time the fluid is discharged, the pressure changes and cannot be adjusted in the proposed design.Secondly, the placement of springs of such dimensions may involve the accumulation of fluid between the plates, which leads to fatigue failure, shear, rusting and failure, which requires a complete replacement of the spring.

[0009] Patent RU 2721467 was accepted as a prototype due to the overlap of most of the essential design features. However, the proposed solution allows for the regulation of pressure drops and thermal expansion at the outlet, eliminates contamination and the need to replace large components by placing spring groups at each fluid outlet, and extends service life by placing spring groups in blind holes in the seat.

[0010] The technical result is increased operational reliability of the ball valve by arranging spring groups at the fluid outlets so that at least three spring groups are evenly distributed between the seat and flange. This compensates for thermal expansion of the assembly, stabilizes the ball position, and reduces maintenance and repair periods, thereby increasing the overall reliability of the ball valve. An additional technical benefit is the ease of spring replacement.

[0011] Essence Revealed

[0012] The ball valve operates by rotating ball plug 5 in chamber 4 of body 1 to open / close the flow of fluid through inlet 2 and outlet 3. When ball plug 5 rotates, its opening aligns with or is perpendicular to the flow direction. Seats 6 with groups of springs 8, evenly spaced (at least three) between flange 11 and seat 6 at each outlet, ensure tightness. Sleeve 9 in the body stabilizes the seat and allows steam flow during blowdown. A blind hole in seat 10 prevents springs 7 from falling out and becoming misaligned within spring group 8.

[0013] The technical result is achieved by using a ball valve with a seat and a bushing located within the body for each fluid outlet. The springs are grouped into spring groups, and the spring groups are evenly distributed across the seat surface, exerting pressure on the ball plug. The spring groups are located around the perimeter of the seat and press the seat against the ball plug, adhering to the flange. This also compensates for thermal expansion of the metal components, maintains the required seat-to-ball plug contact force, and provides effective vibration isolation during equipment startup and shutdown. An additional technical benefit is the ease of spring replacement.

[0014] The solution differs from its closest analogue in that groups of springs are installed on the seat surface at each medium outlet with the ability to exert pressure on the ball plug.

[0015] Brief description of drawings

[0016] Fig. 1 - Ball valve with spring groups, embodiment with 8 spring groups, 3 springs per group;

[0017] Fig. 2 - Ball valve with spring groups in section, spring stroke, where

[0018] 1 - crane body;

[0019] 2 - environment input;

[0020] 3 - environment output;

[0021] 4 - ball chamber;

[0022] 5 - ball plug;

[0023] 6 - saddle;

[0024] 7 - spring;

[0025] 8 - spring group;

[0026] 9 - bushing;

[0027] 10 - blind hole in the seat;

[0028] 11 - flange.

[0029] Implementation

[0030] The ball valve comprises a valve body 1 made of durable materials resistant to environmental influences and providing adequate protection of internal components from corrosion, most often made of metal, in particular stainless steel. Valve body 1 is the main cast or forged element forming a ball chamber 4 for accommodating a ball plug 5. It has connections for medium inlet 2 and outlet 3, and flanges 11 for installation in the pipeline. Valve body 1 contains a ball chamber 4 inside, in which a ball plug 5 is installed. Body 1 ensures rigidity, centering of the ball plug, and protection from external loads. In this modification, the body is adapted for uniform distribution of spring groups 8 (at least 3 on the seat), which reduces localized deformation of the seats.

[0031] The working fluid or gas enters the ball chamber 4 through the medium inlet 2. The medium inlet interacts with the seat 6 and the ball plug 5, directing the flow of the working fluid perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ball plug 5.

[0032] The fluid outlet 3 is a branch pipe of the body for diverting the flow of the working fluid after the ball plug 5, containing a group of springs 8 between the flange 11 and the seat 6. The ball valve has several outlets - two fluid outlets for a three-way valve, three fluid outlets for a four-way valve. For each fluid outlet 3, there is a valve seat 6 located in contact with the ball plug 5 and the groups of springs 8. Evenly distributed groups of springs 8 between the flange 11 and the seat 6 at each outlet 3 increase the pressure of the seat 6 on the ball plug 5, compensating for wear and ensuring tightness during operation. This interaction prevents cavitation and water hammer, increasing reliability: the valve withstands pressure and temperature changes without leakage. Outlets 3 are fixed by flange 11, where springs 7 as part of the spring group 8 dampen vibrations, reducing fatigue wear.

[0033] Body 1 contains a ball chamber 4, which contains a ball plug 5, which is spherical in shape with through holes and rotates inside the body of the valve 1, changing the direction of the flow of the working fluid. When the holes in the ball plug 5 coincide with the nodes of the medium outlet 3 in the body 1, the unimpeded movement of the medium is ensured, allowing the open flow of liquid or gas through the flange 11. The ball chamber 4 in the body 1 is a cavity in which the ball plug 5 is located with the ability to rotate to adjust the flow of the working fluid. The ball chamber 4 interacts with all outlets of the medium 3 through the seat of the valve 6, providing spherical contact, and the springs through the flange 11 uniformly press the seats, minimizing backlash and transmitting the force of the springs 7 in the group of springs 8, compensating for deformations from temperature and pressure, which increases reliability. The ball chamber 4 is protected from the accumulation of dirt.

[0034] Ball plug 5, with holes for the passage of the fluid, is located inside ball chamber 4 and is rotated by a spindle (not shown) either mechanically or automatically. Ball plug 5 contacts seats 6 at the outlet, where spring groups 8, through flange 11, provide constant pressure at at least three points, compensating for wear and ensuring a tight seal. Uniform distribution of forces reduces friction, preventing jamming due to vibrations and increasing reliability by reducing the rotation torque. Ball plug 5 also interacts with chamber 4, minimizing cavities.

[0035] The seat 6 is a sealing ring located in contact with the ball plug 5 with the ability to press the ball axially along the medium flow channel between the ball plug 5 and the body 1. The groups of springs 8 are evenly distributed over the surface of the seat 6, interacting with the flange 11 and the groups of springs 8, pressing the seat 6 to the ball plug 5. There are known embodiments where, in order to increase the fixation of the group of springs 8, blind holes 10 are made in the seat, matching the springs in diameter and compensating for their mixing.

[0036] The springs 7 in the design functionally replace the bellows and are located between the flange 11 and the seat 6. To increase the pressure on the ball plug 5, the springs 7 are collected in spring groups 8. The spring groups 8 rest on the seat 6 on one side and the flange 11 on the other, depending on the characteristics of the flow of the medium in the valve, the springs 7 and the spring groups 8 can compensate for the thermal expansion of the ball plug 5, dampen the impacts of the flow of the medium due to non-uniformity, which adjusts it to the requirements of the system. In particular, when the flows of the working medium pass through the ball plug 5, the springs 7 can be compressed or expanded to adapt to changing conditions, ensuring stable operation, mainly compensating for the thermal expansion of the metal components of the body 1 and the ball plug 5, the required seat 6 seat contact force is maintained. Spring stroke (Fig.2) determines the difference in positions between the “open” position of the spring, where the passage of hot steam flows is ensured, and the “pressed” position, where compensation for geometric changes in the components of the structure during operation is visible due to the elasticity of the springs 7, as well as openness for the passage of steam in any of the intermediate positions.

[0037] This design improves reliability over a wide pressure range, preventing microgaps and extending service life while reducing maintenance intervals. For the proposed implementation, coil compression springs with equal diameters along their entire length and equal spacing between coils are preferred. Disc springs are also available, and the spring parameters are matched to the valve's specifications.

[0038] In one embodiment, spring groups 8 can be placed in blind holes in seat 10. Reliability is also increased by the fact that the design is disassemblable and that faulty springs 7 can be easily replaced. Furthermore, the service life of springs using spring groups 8 and placed in blind holes in seat 10 is extended, even in comparison to similar valves using springs.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, a four-way ball valve used to conduct a liquid or gas working medium under pressure uses eight spring groups, each of which includes three springs (Fig. 1).

[0040] The sleeve 9 is a cylindrical element and is installed at each outlet of the medium 3, pressing the flange 11 and the seat 6 together.

[0041] The blind holes in seat 10 are designed to accommodate groups of springs 8, which transmit force from flange 11 without leakage. The hole is common to each group.

[0042] Flange 11 is part of body 1 at medium outlet 3 for connection to the consumer pipeline (not shown) via a flanged joint. Flange 11 has a through hole in the body for the flow of the working medium, and the body directly presses spring groups 8 against seat 6.

[0043] The device operates as follows.

[0044] Depending on the position of the ball plug 5, the openness of the medium flows in the body of the valve 1 changes, which allows directing the working medium to the desired outlet of the medium 3. If the direction of the ball plug 5 coincides with the outlet of the medium 3, the ball chamber 4 is completely sealed due to the tight fit of the ball plug 5 to the seat 6. Springs 7, which are part of the group of springs 8, placed evenly over the surface of the seat 6, press the seat 6 in contact with the flange 11 to the ball plug 5, and also compensate for the thermal expansion of the metal components, providing pressure on the ball plug 5, minimizing its displacement and thermal expansion of the body 1, the ball plug 5 and the flanges 11.

[0045] For implementation with groups of springs 8, the pressure on the seat occurs from each group of springs, while it has been experimentally confirmed that in order to minimize the tilt of the seat 6 and evenly distribute the pressure on the ball plug 5, it is preferable to use at least three groups of springs, Fig. 1 shows the implementation of the detailing of the medium outlet with eight groups of springs 8, each group has three springs 7.

[0046] In one preferred embodiment, each group of springs 8 includes a multiple of two springs 7.

[0047] In one preferred embodiment, each group of springs 8 includes a multiple of three springs 7.

[0048] In the most preferred embodiment of the utility model, each group of springs 8 is located in a blind hole in the seat 10.

[0049] The number of spring groups (8) and the number of springs (7) per group are individually selected to suit the ball valve's parameters. Other parameter combinations within the described solution are available and are presented in the specified design unit and are aimed at increasing the reliability of the ball valve.

[0050] Thus, because the ball valve contains a flange, sleeve, and seat for each fluid outlet, with springs grouped together and evenly distributed across the seat surface to exert pressure on the ball plug, the ball plug position is stabilized and displacement of the structural components is minimized. This also compensates for thermal expansion of metal components, maintains the required seat-to-ball plug contact force, and provides effective vibration isolation during equipment startup and shutdown, all of which contribute to increased reliability of the ball valve.

Claims

1. A ball valve with spring groups, comprising a valve body that forms channels for the flow of a medium, having an inlet and outlet of the medium, as well as a ball chamber, inside which a ball plug is located, configured to rotate to control the flow of the medium through the valve body, wherein each outlet of the medium contains a flange, a sleeve and a seat with springs, characterized in that the springs are combined into groups, and the spring groups are arranged uniformly over the surface of the seat with the ability to exert pressure on the ball plug.

2. A ball valve with spring groups according to paragraph 1, characterized in that at least three groups of springs are located on the surface of the seat.

3. A ball valve with spring groups according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the spring group includes a number of springs that is a multiple of two.

4. A ball valve with spring groups according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the spring group includes a number of springs that is a multiple of three.

5. A ball valve with spring groups according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the seat has blind holes for partial placement of springs.

6. A ball valve with spring groups according to paragraph 1, characterized in that each spring group is located in a blind hole in the seat.

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