Actuating Device Non-Use Position Pressure Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuating devices for control mechanisms in oil and natural gas production, particularly in maritime settings, fail to automatically displace into a safe non-use position during power outages under specific pressure conditions between the conveying medium and the inner medium, especially when the conveying medium pressure is lower than the inner medium pressure.
Innovation Solution
The actuating device incorporates a mechanism to displace the piston beyond the use position into a second non-use position using pressure application, ensuring safe displacement into a closed position regardless of pressure conditions, with the aid of a pressure compensator and emergency devices like batteries or mechanical actuators for power outages, and utilizes a modular design for easy assembly and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the actuating device relies on pressure application from the conveying medium to automatically displace into non-use position, then automatic displacement works when conveying medium pressure is higher than inner medium pressure, but automatic displacement fails when conveying medium pressure is lower than inner medium pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device is divided into two separate chambers: a first chamber that receives pressure from the conveying medium and a second chamber that receives pressure from the inner medium. Each chamber has its own piston that can independently respond to pressure conditions, allowing the device to adapt to different pressure scenarios by utilizing the appropriate chamber
Solution Approach 2:
A pressure compensator is introduced as an intermediary component between the two chambers. This pressure compensator equalizes pressure differences and enables the second chamber to maintain sufficient pressure to displace the actuating device into the non-use position even when the conveying medium pressure is lower than the inner medium pressure
2Device complexity
If the actuating device uses a compact design with motor-gear unit and thread drive, then device complexity and component count are reduced, but the device cannot ensure safe displacement into non-use position under all pressure conditions during power outages
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating device utilizes the existing pressure differential between the conveying medium and the inner medium as a self-service mechanism to automatically displace into the non-use position during power outages. The two-chamber design with pressure compensator enables this self-service function to work under all pressure conditions without requiring additional complex components
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure compensator serves multiple functions: it equalizes pressure between chambers, enables automatic displacement under reverse pressure conditions, and maintains system reliability during power outages. This multi-functionality allows the compact design to achieve reliable operation without significantly increasing component count
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable and safe displacement into non-use positions both when the conveying medium pressure is higher or lower than the inner medium pressure, maintaining the control device in a closed position during power outages, and allows for controlled displacement with minimal power requirements, even at balanced pressures.
Implementation Method 1
the piston of the actuating device and the control device connected thereto are displaceable beyond the use position into a second non-use position by corresponding pressure application
Data Source
AI summary
An actuating device or displacing a control device, such as a valve, gate valve or other control mechanism, in particular for use in oil or gas production systems, comprises a motor-gear unit (21) and a thread drive (22) which is operable by said motor-gear unit (21) and which comprises at least a threaded spindle (23) and a screw nut (24). The threaded spindle (23) is displaceable in an essentially axial direction so as to displace the control device (2) between a use position (7) and a non-use position (8, 9, 19, 20). To ensure a safe displacement into the non-use position in a simple way and independently of the pressure conditions prevailing between conveying medium and inner medium, the threaded spindle (23) is substantially axially displaceable beyond the use position (7) into a second non-use position (9). The invention also refers to a corresponding method for displacing the actuating device.