Choke Valve Reinforcement for High Backpressure Axial Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydraulic choke valves face excessive axial loading due to backpressure, leading to potential failure of the valve body and actuator components, requiring costly modifications and downtime for maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A detachably connected reinforcement member is attached to the valve body and actuator housing, which absorbs excessive axial loading and increases the maximum pressure the valve can handle before failure, using a plate section with openings to distribute the load and prevent catastrophic failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the valve body and actuator components are designed to handle high backpressure, then the maximum pressure capacity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement is divided into separate detachable members (first reinforcement member attached to valve body, second reinforcement member attached to actuator housing) rather than integrating reinforcement into the main components. This segmentation allows the base components to remain simpler while adding strength only where needed through attachable reinforcements.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines different structural elements - the base valve body and actuator housing with additional reinforcement members made of suitable materials. This composite approach allows each component to be optimized independently, maintaining simplicity where possible while adding strength through the reinforcement members.
2Reliability
If larger, stronger components are used to handle excessive axial loading, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement members are designed to be detachably attached, allowing the system to dynamically adapt. During normal operation, the full reinforcement is engaged for high reliability. When maintenance is needed, the reinforcement members can be detached, and the system can be serviced without replacing entire valve or actuator assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
By separating the reinforcement function into distinct detachable members, the solution achieves high reliability through reinforced structures while avoiding the complexity of permanently modified or oversized base components.
3Reliability
If shearable relief means are used to prevent damage from excessive backpressure, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates due to required valve downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement members are detachable and can be removed without taking the entire valve out of service. This segmentation allows maintenance personnel to access and service internal components while the reinforcement remains attached, or to detach reinforcements for storage during servicing, significantly improving ease of repair compared to permanent reinforcement methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable nature of the reinforcement members creates a dynamic maintenance system where the reinforcement can be engaged during operation for protection and disengaged during maintenance, allowing the valve to be serviced without complete disassembly and reducing downtime.
Data Source
AI summary
A choke valve comprising: a body having an axial through hole and a radial entry port; a valve seat coaxially housed in the body axial through hole on a first side of the radial entry port; a pressure balanced valving member axially reciprocable within the body axial through hole between a first sealing position bearing against the valve seat and a second position spaced away from the seat; an actuator housing operably connected to the valving member; and a detachably connected reinforcement member detachably connected to the actuator housing and increasing the axial load that the actuator housing can take before failure of the actuator housing.