Ball valve

Abstract

The utility model relates to pipeline valves, namely to a device for changing the direction of the working fluid flow in turbo-piston units included in systems for measuring the quantity and quality of oil and petroleum products, and to a ball valve. The technical result consists in reducing the overall weight of the structure, decreasing heat transfer from the ball to the drive mechanism, reducing the load on the sealing elements, and increasing the rotation speed of the distribution element. The technical result is achieved by using a ball valve with a stem that has a blind internal cavity of diameter d and a wall thickness between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem of S, wherein the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d does not exceed 0.65 of the diameter of the stem D, and the wall thickness S between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem does not exceed 0.4 of the wall thickness of the ball plug R. 4 fig.

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 petroleum products.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] The prior art discloses a three- and four-way coking diverter valve, the Velan Coker Diverter Valve (https: / / velan.com / products / coker-diverter-valves-three-and-four-way / - access date 11 / 11 / 2025), comprising a robust one-piece body, an annular seal with a steam block, the ability to purge the bellows and body with steam, while the design contains an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic drive, which operate depending on the operating conditions.

[0005] The disadvantage of the known technical solution is that in this four-way valve, the flow direction is regulated by rotating the ball, the stem of which is made as a single structure, which leads to excessive heat transfer from the working medium, increased metal consumption during production, an increase in the weight of the structure, which increases the risk of failure due to high loads on the supporting units and seals.

[0006] A four-way valve is known (international application WO 2016164442, priority date 06.04.2016), which has a valve body with an inlet, 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, when using a solid cast stem, which leads to excessive heat transfer from the ball to the drive mechanism, and also increases the weight of the structure.

[0007] A spherical valve with a media separator is known according to patent RU 2720907, where the stem is made in the form of a stepped cylinder with holes, i.e. hollow, the stem with the sphere have interconnected holes, while the stem and the sphere themselves are solid metal heavy structures to the design of the valve, which complicates control, in the patent - the handle, increases the risk of failure, increasing the load on the supporting units and seals, reducing the service life of the equipment.

[0008] A ball valve is known according to patent RU 2720061. It comprises a housing with inlet and outlet ports, containing a shut-off element with a flow channel in the form of a ball or ball segment with a lower rotation support and an upper rotation support mounted in an eccentric bushing capable of rotation on bearings within the housing. The lower rotation support is also mounted in the eccentric bushing, and the bushings are rigidly connected to each other by a connecting element either externally or internally. Elastic or metal spring-loaded seats with seals are installed within the housing. A disadvantage is the increased metal consumption due to the use of metal bearings, ball, stem, and rotation supports.

[0009] Also known is a control valve according to patent RU 2785978, comprising a ball valve with a through bore, a stem, a stem seal, and a ball valve seat. A throttling element is attached to the through bore of the ball valve. This throttling element is a plate with holes, shaped like a circular segment, attached to the inner wall of the through bore of the ball valve. A disadvantage is the use of a metal throttling plate, which will clog when operating with viscous, heterogeneous media, and the high heat and energy output of the stem, which is a single piece.

[0010] The prototype is based on RU patent 2799157 for a pressure-regulating ball valve. It comprises a shut-off and control element designed as a cylindrical stem with a central axial longitudinal channel and a lower stem channel located perpendicular to the axial longitudinal channel of the stem. The stem is movable up and down and mates with the plug channels, thereby regulating the pressure in the valve. This valve has a similar design to the proposed one, but the stem is continuous with several channels in different directions, designed to drain the fluid. A disadvantage is that these through channels can become clogged with the working fluid, as the fluid enters from the cavities of the ball plug when the shut-off and control element rotates. This is very critical for most working fluids and requires periodic cleaning.The document also fails to disclose the geometric parameters of the stem and seat cavities, which cannot guarantee sufficient strength characteristics of the ball valve and leads to a decrease in its reliability. Furthermore, the scope of application of this design is limited to plumbing systems.

[0011] A common significant problem with cast stem analogs is the use of heavy cast stems in the design, which leads to excessive heat transfer from the ball to the actuator, puts weight on the sealing elements (seats, bellows) and slows down the rotation speed of the distribution element.

[0012] The technical objective of the utility model is to create an improved design of a ball valve with a lightweight structure that maintains its strength characteristics.

[0013] Essence Revealed

[0014] The technical result is a reduction in the weight of the valve assembly by using a stem with a non-through internal cavity. This technical result, in turn, leads to a range of advantages, including reduced heat transfer from the working medium to external components, which is especially important when working with high-temperature and aggressive environments. Additional benefits include reduced load on the bearing assemblies and seals, reduced heat transfer from the ball to the drive mechanism, reduced load on the sealing elements, and increased ball rotation speed.

[0015] The technical result is achieved by using a ball valve with a stem that has a blind internal cavity with a diameter d and a wall thickness between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem S, wherein the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d does not exceed 0.65 of the diameter of the stem D, and the wall thickness S between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem does not exceed 0.4 of the wall thickness of the ball plug R.

[0016] Brief description of drawings

[0017] Fig. 1 - General view of the ball valve;

[0018] Fig. 2 - Ball valve parameters;

[0019] Fig. 3 - Comparison of the design of a hollow rod with an analogue;

[0020] Fig. 4 - Values ​​of the parameters of the ball valve in one of the design options,

[0021] where 1 is a ball plug,

[0022] 2 - rod,

[0023] 3 - saddle,

[0024] 4 - bellows bushing,

[0025] 5 - bellows,

[0026] 6 - body,

[0027] D - rod diameter,

[0028] d - diameter of the inner cavity of the rod,

[0029] S - wall thickness between the ball cavity and the stem,

[0030] R - thickness of the ball plug walls.

[0031] The utility model is implemented as follows.

[0032] The ball valve comprises a body 6, which provides mechanical strength and sealing. It is made of durable materials, resistant to environmental influences and providing adequate protection of internal components from corrosion, most often made of metal. Body 6 houses a ball plug 1, which is a shut-off element with a flow channel in the form of a ball or ball segment (in this case, a ball plug), with a wall thickness of R. It rotates within body 6, changing the direction of fluid flow. When the ball plug is in a position allowing an open flow of liquid or gas, the openings in the ball plug align with the outlets in the body, ensuring unimpeded flow of the medium. Movement of the ball plug is possible thanks to stem 2, which is connected at one end to an external control mechanism, allowing the operator to smoothly control the flow, and at the other end to ball plug 1.During operation, rotating the ball plug changes the direction of the oil flow. The ball plug is clamped between seats 3 by bellows 5 at each outlet. Bellows bushing 4 provides a seal and protects the surface of bellows 5 from the valve's operating fluid.

[0033] Rod 2 has a blind internal cavity with a diameter d, and the diameter of the rod itself is D. The wall thickness S between the cavity of ball plug 1 and rod 2 depends on the wall thickness R of ball plug 1 such that S does not exceed 0.4R. Parameter modeling confirmed that these parameter values ​​are optimal, and that a wall thickness greater than 0.4R reduces the efficiency of the technical result, since heat transfer from the rod wall thickness increases, and a thickness value R not exceeding 0.4R allows for optimal weight reduction without sacrificing strength characteristics or causing negative effects.

[0034] The internal diameter of the stem cavity depends on the stem diameter such that d does not exceed 0.65D. The stem cavity is equally centered, ensuring uniform wall thickness. Parameter modeling confirmed that a stem cavity diameter d greater than 0.65D results in a slight reduction in product weight and an insufficient reduction in heat transfer to achieve the required technical result in valve operation. Therefore, a stem internal cavity diameter d not exceeding 0.65D allows for optimal weight reduction without sacrificing strength or adverse effects.

[0035] The production of the rod from steel also influences the achievement of the technical result, reducing the weight and size characteristics and maintaining high wear resistance.

[0036] In the preferred embodiment, the stem has a diameter of 190 mm, the inner cavity of the stem has a diameter of 95 mm and a wall thickness between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem of less than 56.55 mm with a wall thickness of the ball valve of 225 mm. In this embodiment, the stem is made of ШХ15 steel GOST 801-2022, suitable for products requiring high hardness and wear resistance. Also possible are versions made of steels 60С2А GOST 14959-2016, 60С2 GOST 14959-2016, 50ХФА GOST 14959-2016, 50Х GOST 14959-2016.

[0037] By replacing the solid stem with a stem that has a blind internal cavity with a diameter d and a wall thickness between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem S, while the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d does not exceed 0.65D of the stem diameter with an equal wall thickness, and the wall thickness S does not exceed 0.4R, a reduction in the overall weight of the structure is achieved, a reduction in heat transfer from the ball to the drive mechanism, a reduction in the load on the sealing elements (seats, bellows) and an increase in the speed of rotation of the ball.

Claims

1. A ball valve comprising a housing in which a ball plug in the shape of a sphere is placed, which is clamped between seats by means of bellows at each outlet, the ball plug is designed with the possibility of rotation in the housing by means of a stem, which has an internal cavity, characterized in that the stem is made of steel, and the cavity of the stem is made blind so that the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d does not exceed 0.65 of the diameter of the stem D, and the wall thickness S between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem does not exceed 0.4 of the wall thickness of the wall thickness of the ball plug R.

2. A ball valve according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the cavity of the stem is located equally centered in the stem.

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