Integrated Blind Plug Sealing for Compact Valve Blocks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional valve blocks in the oil and gas industry are excessively large and heavy due to the need for extensive layouts and numerous components, including blind flanges, which increases manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The use of blind plugs within the valve block to seal openings, reducing the overall size and weight by eliminating the need for large bodies and additional surface areas for blind flange attachment, while maintaining effective sealing and fluid control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blind flanges are used to close bores in conventional block manifolds, then sealing is achieved, but the overall size and weight of the manifold increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the external blind flange and relocates it inside the manifold body as an integral blind plug. This removes the need for large external flanges and their associated bolts, gaskets, and attachment hardware, significantly reducing the overall size and weight while maintaining the sealing function.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind plug is merged with the manifold body as an integral component rather than being a separate external attachment. This integration eliminates the need for additional attachment hardware and reduces the number of parts, thereby reducing weight and simplifying the overall structure while achieving the same sealing purpose.
2Reliability
If blind flanges with extensive bolt patterns are used, then sealing is achieved, but the number of parts and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the complex external blind flange assembly and relocates it as a simple integral plug inside the manifold body. This eliminates the need for multiple bolts, gaskets, nuts, and attachment hardware, reducing the number of parts from dozens to essentially one integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind plug is merged with the manifold body as an integral component, eliminating the need for separate attachment hardware. This integration reduces the number of parts and simplifies manufacturing while achieving the same sealing reliability through the plug's direct engagement with the manifold's internal bore.
3Reliability
If large external blind flanges are used, then sealing is achieved, but assembly time and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the complex external blind flange assembly and relocates it as a simple integral plug inside the manifold body. This eliminates the time-consuming processes of aligning and tightening multiple bolts, installing gaskets, and assembling complex flange connections, reducing assembly time significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind plug is merged with the manifold body as an integral component that requires no external assembly. This integration eliminates the need for field assembly of multiple parts, reducing installation time and complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness through the plug's direct engagement with the manifold's internal bore.
Data Source
AI summary
A valve block may be provided with a plurality of flow bores within a body the valve block. In addition, valve block may have a plurality of openings opening at an outer surface of the valve block and in fluid communication with the plurality of flow bores. Further, a blind plug may be within at least one of the openings. The blind may include a cap coupled to an inner surface of the at least one opening and a plug having a first end face in contact with the cap and a second end face extending into the flow bore. Furthermore, the blind plug may seal the at least one opening from a surrounding environment.