Coupled Valve Assembly With Single-Actuator Flow Diversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil and gas wellbore systems face challenges with large, complex, and expensive devices for routing produced fluids to either production or test headers, such as multiport selector valves or multiple actuator systems, which complicate and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A coupled valve assembly with two or more valves in separate housings connected to a single actuator via a common coupling, allowing simultaneous operation of the valves 90 degrees out of phase, reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a multiport selector valve is used to route fluids, then the fluid routing function is achieved, but the device becomes large, heavy, and requires a complex and expensive actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides a single complex multiport selector valve into multiple simpler ball valves (first ball valve and second ball valve), each housed separately. This segmentation reduces the complexity of individual components while maintaining the overall fluid routing capability through coordinated operation of the divided elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple ball valves with a common actuator through a coupling mechanism. The actuator is shared between the first and second ball valves, merging their actuation functions into a single device. This reduces the number of actuators needed and simplifies the overall system while preserving the ability to route fluids to different destinations.
2Ease of operation
If multiple valves with separate actuators are used for each inlet, then fluid routing control is achieved, but the system becomes expensive and complex due to multiple actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the actuation of multiple ball valves into a single common actuator. The actuator is coupled to both the first ball valve stem and the second ball valve stem through separate couplings, allowing one actuator to control multiple valves. This significantly reduces the number of actuators required and lowers system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The common actuator serves multiple functions by controlling both the first ball valve and the second ball valve. This single actuator performs the work of what would traditionally require multiple separate actuators, demonstrating multi-functionality that reduces system complexity while maintaining full fluid routing control capability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional multiport selector valves are used, then fluid routing is achieved, but the system requires complex and expensive actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the fluid routing function into multiple simple ball valves instead of using a single complex multiport selector valve. Each ball valve is actuated by a simple quarter-turn mechanism, avoiding the need for complex multiport selector valve actuators while maintaining routing flexibility through coordinated valve operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple simple ball valve actuators into a single common actuator that controls all valves. This merging approach achieves the same fluid routing flexibility as traditional multiport selector valves but with significantly reduced actuator complexity, as the common actuator uses simple quarter-turn mechanics rather than complex multi-position actuation.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupled valve assembly comprises two valves disposed within separate housings and connected with a common coupling, such that a single actuator causes rotation of the valve stems within both valves. The two valves are configured 90 degrees out of phase with each other, such that the actuator will cause one valve to open at the same time it causes the other valve to close. The coupled valve assembly may be used to selectively divert the flow of production fluids from a wellbore to either a production header or a test header within a production manifold.