Differential Valve Porous Filter Gas Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas evacuation systems for flexible tubular pipes in underwater oil exploitation are not entirely reliable, as they can allow water or solid particles to enter the valve chamber when closed, and may become obstructed, leading to gas accumulation and corrosion issues.
Innovation Solution
A differential valve with a porous filter as the main evacuation path and a secondary valve that opens in case of saturation, providing two independent paths for gas evacuation, ensuring controlled and reliable gas release to prevent solid particle intrusion and maintain functionality even when the primary path is obstructed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drainage valve is used to evacuate gases from the annular zone, then gas evacuation is achieved, but water or solid particles can enter the valve chamber when the valve is closed
Solution Approach 1:
A porous plug is introduced as an intermediary element between the valve chamber and the annular zone. This porous plug allows gas molecules to pass through via permeation while blocking water and solid particles, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving gas evacuation and preventing harmful substance intrusion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous plug made of porous material with specific pore size and structure. The porous structure enables selective permeation based on molecular size and properties, allowing gas to pass while preventing larger water molecules and solid particles from entering the valve chamber
2Device complexity
If a single evacuation path is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the path may become obstructed leading to gas accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The evacuation system is segmented into multiple independent paths: a primary path through the porous plug and a secondary path through the drainage valve. This segmentation ensures that if one path becomes obstructed, the other can still function, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a backup evacuation path as a preventive measure against potential obstruction of the primary path. This redundancy acts as beforehand cushioning, ensuring continuous gas evacuation capability even when the primary evacuation route becomes blocked
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 solution ensures reliable and efficient evacuation of gases, preventing overpressure and corrosion by providing a secondary evacuation path when the primary path is saturated, thus maintaining the integrity and longevity of the flexible tubular pipes.
Implementation Method 1
a certain number of gases and molecules that these hydrocarbons contain are likely to diffuse through the wall of said internal pressure sheath
Implementation Method 2
the flow of said gases along said main evacuation path through said porous part
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~2d
AI summary
The invention relates to a differential valve for discharging gases from an underwater flexible tubular pipe, said valve comprising a valve body (1) capable of communicating with an annular area of the pipe by a lower communication passage and with the outside by at least one gas discharge path, said body comprising an inner chamber (6) wherein a main valve (7) and a secondary valve (29) are mounted between open and closed positions, respectively, of said lower communication passage and said path for discharging to the outside. According to the invention, said inner chamber communicates with the outside via a main discharge path (38) including a porous part (23) acting as a filter, the flow of said gases along said main discharge path through said porous part being independent from the open or closed position of said secondary valve.