Ball Valve Tertiary Seal Assembly with Configurable Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball valve designs face challenges in maintaining effective seals, especially under high pressure, and require different upstream and downstream seal assemblies for tertiary seal operation, making them costly and complex to change.
Innovation Solution
A ball valve seal assembly with configurable primary, secondary, and tertiary seals using a single set of seats, where bi-directional seals are formed by selectively mounting sealing rings in grooves, allowing for seamless transition between configurations without requiring different seat assemblies, and utilizing a tertiary seal activated by leakage of the secondary seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If different upstream and downstream seal assemblies are used for tertiary seal operation, then effective sealing in high pressure is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is designed with multiple grooves that can accommodate different sealing ring configurations. The same seat assembly can be used for both dual seal and tertiary seal operations by selectively mounting sealing rings in different grooves, making the seat assembly universal and multi-functional. This eliminates the need for different upstream and downstream seal assemblies while maintaining effective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly is segmented into multiple independent sealing rings that can be selectively mounted in different grooves on the same seat assembly. This segmentation allows the system to switch between dual seal and tertiary seal configurations by simply changing which sealing rings are installed, rather than requiring completely different seal assemblies.
2Reliability
If different upstream and downstream seal assemblies are used for tertiary seal operation, then effective sealing in high pressure is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat assembly is designed with multiple grooves that can accommodate different sealing ring configurations. The same seat assembly can be used for both dual seal and tertiary seal operations by selectively mounting sealing rings in different grooves, making the seat assembly universal and multi-functional. This eliminates the need for different upstream and downstream seal assemblies while maintaining effective sealing.
3Reliability
If different upstream and downstream seal assemblies are used for tertiary seal operation, then effective sealing in high pressure is improved, but ease of operation and maintenance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into multiple independent sealing rings that can be selectively mounted in different grooves on the same seat assembly. This segmentation allows the system to switch between dual seal and tertiary seal configurations by simply changing which sealing rings are installed, rather than requiring completely different seal assemblies.
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure ball valve seal assembly utilizes primary, secondary, and tertiary seals to withstand debris, caustic fluids, high pressure, and high temperature. The seal assembly comprises first and second inner seats and first and second outer seats which are retained within the valve body. First inner and outer seats are mounted on a first side of a closure member in the valve cavity and second inner and outer seats mounted on a second side of the closure member opposite the first side. A plurality of sealing rings are provided, whereby the sealing rings may be arranged to provide a tertiary upstream seal physically located on the downstream side of the ball valve.