Flow Diversion Valve Segmented Housing and Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submersible pumps in hydrocarbon wells face issues with reverse fluid flow and solid entrainment, leading to mechanical damage and increased downtime due to the inability to prevent solids from falling back into the pump, and existing solutions either lack compatibility with progressive cavity pumps or have limited run life and disassembly issues.
Innovation Solution
A flow diversion valve with a multi-part housing, a shuttle to cover spill ports, and a releasable locking member to prevent relative movement, allowing for disassembly and replacement of worn parts, and featuring a non-metallic sleeve and ferromagnetic components for durability and retrieval, is designed to divert solids and fluids away from the pump during shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow diversion valve is installed to prevent solids from falling back into the pump, then pump reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve body is divided into an upper housing and a lower housing that can be separated from each other. This segmentation allows the valve to be disassembled for maintenance and inspection, reducing downtime while maintaining reliability. The shuttle mechanism is also segmented with separate components that can be individually replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
A non-metallic sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the rod string and the valve internals. This sleeve reduces friction and wear, extending the run life of the valve without adding significant complexity. The ferromagnetic component acts as an intermediary for retrieval purposes.
2Ease of repair
If the valve is designed to be disassembled for maintenance, then ease of repair is improved, but reliability during operation may worsen due to potential failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The releasable locking member is pre-positioned to secure the upper housing to the lower housing before operation begins. This preliminary locking action ensures operational stability while allowing easy release for maintenance. The threading configuration is pre-designed to resist torque-induced loosening during normal operation.
3Ease of operation
If a releasable locking member is used to secure the housing, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but the risk of unintended movement or failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism combines threading (a mechanical system) with a releasable locking member that may incorporate non-mechanical or simplified mechanical features. The threading provides continuous mechanical engagement while the releasable locking member provides secure locking without complex assembly procedures.
4Duration of action of moving object
If the valve components are made from durable materials like ferromagnetic components and non-metallic sleeves, then duration of action is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve utilizes composite material construction, combining ferromagnetic materials for certain components with non-metallic materials for the sleeve and other parts. This composite approach extends run life by selecting materials optimized for specific functions (corrosion resistance, magnetic retrieval, friction reduction) while maintaining manufacturability through standard material joining techniques.
Data Source
AI summary
A flow diversion valve comprising: a valve body including an upper housing releasably connected to a lower housing, the upper housing and lower housing being configured to receive a rotating rod therethrough; a shuttle positioned within the valve body, the shuttle being configured to move to cover one or more spill ports of the valve body; and a releasable locking member, wherein the releasable locking member is releasably connected to the valve body and positioned between the upper housing and the lower housing to assist in preventing relative movement therebetween.