Compliant Compression Plate for Oilfield Slip Hanger Thermal Expansion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Oilfield equipment, such as slip hangers and packoffs, face challenges in maintaining effective sealing across varying temperatures due to rigid gland designs that do not accommodate thermal expansion or contraction, leading to potential extrusion and loss of sealing contact pressure.
Innovation Solution
A compliant compression plate with grooves or slots extending circumferentially is introduced, allowing the gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature, providing a preload and accommodating thermal effects through deformable machined features that offer adjustable spring stiffness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid gland design is used, then structural strength and stability are improved, but the sealing performance deteriorates under temperature variations due to inability to accommodate thermal expansion or contraction
Solution Approach 1:
The compression plate is divided into multiple segments or sections by the grooves, allowing each segment to move independently and accommodate thermal expansion or contraction while maintaining overall structural integrity and sealing contact
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate's physical state is changed from completely rigid to compliant by introducing grooves that allow controlled deformation and volume change in response to temperature variations, enabling the gland to adapt its shape while maintaining strength
2Ease of manufacture
If a rigid compression plate is used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to temperature changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is segmented into sections by grooves that allow independent movement of each section, enabling thermal adaptation while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process using conventional machining operations
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate functions as a flexible element with grooves that allow it to deform and adapt its shape in response to thermal changes, providing temperature adaptability while remaining manufacturable using standard techniques
3Reliability
If additional spring components are added to accommodate thermal effects, then sealing performance under temperature variations is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal compensation function is merged into the compression plate itself through the groove design, eliminating the need for separate spring components while maintaining sealing performance under temperature variations
Solution Approach 2:
The compression plate serves dual functions: maintaining compression force and accommodating thermal expansion/contraction. The grooves enable the plate to self-adjust to temperature changes without requiring additional active components
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
The compliant compression plate minimizes extrusion at high temperatures and maintains sealing contact pressure at low temperatures by flexing under load, ensuring consistent sealing performance across temperature variations without the need for additional spring components.
Implementation Method 1
accommodate thermal expansion or contraction
Implementation Method 2
flexing under load
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one embodiment, a compression plate to be used with a slip hanger or a packoff in oilfield equipment is disclosed. The compression plate includes one or more grooves or slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger or the packoff. The compression plate is to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger or the packoff and is to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger or the packoff.