Shut-off and control ball valve

Abstract

This utility model relates to pipeline valves, specifically to a device for changing the flow direction of a working fluid in turbo-piston units included in systems for measuring the quantity and quality of oil and petroleum products, and to a shut-off and control 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 shut-off and control valve. This technical result is achieved by using a shut-off and control 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 of S. 2 c.p. phyl., 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 fluidly 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] 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 valve's shut-off and control element and reduces its reliability. Furthermore, the scope of this design is limited to water supply systems.

[0009] 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.

[0010] The technical challenge is to create an improved design of a ball valve with a lightweight structure that maintains its strength characteristics.

[0011] Essence Revealed

[0012] 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 fluid 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.

[0013] The technical result is achieved by using a tap with a stem of diameter D, which has a blind internal cavity of diameter d.

[0014] Brief description of drawings

[0015] Fig. 1 - general view of the shut-off and control ball valve.

[0016] Fig. 2 - parameters of the shut-off and control ball valve.

[0017] Fig. 3 - comparison of the design of the modified hollow rod with an analogue.

[0018] Fig. 4 - values ​​of the parameters of the shut-off and control ball valve in one of the design options, where

[0019] 1 - ball plug,

[0020] 2 - rod,

[0021] 3 - saddle,

[0022] 4 - bellows bushing,

[0023] 5 - bellows,

[0024] 6 - crane body

[0025] D - rod diameter;

[0026] d - diameter of the inner cavity of the rod;

[0027] S - wall thickness between the ball cavity and the stem;

[0028] R - thickness of the ball plug walls.

[0029] Implementation

[0030] The claimed utility model is implemented as follows.

[0031] The shut-off and control ball valve comprises a body 6, which ensures the mechanical strength and tightness of the valve structure. It is made of durable materials resistant to external influences and providing adequate protection of internal components from corrosion, most often made of metal. Housing 6 contains a ball plug 1, shaped like a sphere with a wall thickness of the ball plug R. It rotates within the 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 holes in the plug align with the outlets in the body, ensuring unimpeded fluid flow. The plug is moved by 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 plug changes the direction of the oil product flow.The plug is clamped between seats 3 by bellows 5 at each valve outlet. Bellows bushing 4 provides a seal and protects the surface of bellows 5 from the valve's working fluid.

[0032] Stem 2 has a blind internal cavity with a diameter d, while the diameter of the stem itself is D. The thickness S of the wall between the cavity of the ball plug 1 and stem 2 depends on the thickness R of the walls of the ball plug 1 such that S is 0.25 * R. The parameter modeling method confirmed that these parameter values ​​​​are optimal, and with a wall thickness of less than 0.22 * R, there is a risk of plastic deformation of the stem, and with a wall thickness greater than 0.4 * R, the efficiency of the technical result decreases, since heat transfer from the thickness of the stem walls increases, and the value of the thickness R of the walls of the ball valve, equal to 0.25 * R, allows for an optimal reduction in the weight of the unit without losing strength characteristics and negative effects.

[0033] The internal cavity diameter of the stem depends on the stem diameter such that d equals 0.5*D. The stem cavity is equally centered, ensuring uniform wall thickness. Parameter modeling confirmed that a cavity diameter of d<0.5D poses a high risk of plastic deformation during torque transmission from the drive. A cavity diameter of d≥0.65D achieves a slight reduction in product weight and insufficient heat transfer to achieve the required technical result in crane operation. Therefore, a value of d equal to 0.5*D allows for optimal weight reduction without sacrificing strength or adverse effects.

[0034] When the value of the internal cavity diameter of the stem d is less than 95 mm, or when the value of the wall thickness S between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem is less than 56.55 mm, the priority quantitative changes in mass and thermal conductivity, which the technical result is aimed at, are not achieved.

[0035] 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 shut-off and control 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 60С2А GOST 14959-2016, 60С2 GOST 14959-2016, 50ХФА GOST 14959-2016, 50Х GOST 14959-2016 steel.

[0036] The values ​​of the piston rod parameters for other design variants with piston rod diameters D of 190 mm, 200 mm, 210 mm, 220 mm, 230 mm and internal cavity diameters d of 95 mm, 100 mm, 105 mm, 110 mm, 115 mm, respectively. The technical result is achieved for all parameter values.

[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, wherein the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d is equal to half the diameter of the stem D with an equal wall thickness, and the wall thickness S is equal to a quarter of the thickness R, 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 shut-off and control 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 of the valve, the 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 cavity of the stem is made blind, wherein the diameter of the internal cavity of the stem d is equal to half the diameter of the stem D, and the thickness of the wall S between the cavity of the ball plug and the stem is equal to a quarter of the thickness of the wall of the ball plug R.

2. A shut-off and control ball valve according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the stem is made of steel.

3. A shut-off and control ball valve according to item 1, characterized in that the cavity of the stem is located in the stem in an equally centered manner.

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