Fluid End Seal Assembly That Shifts Erosion Wear to Replaceable Closures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-pressure fluid end bodies in oil and gas production systems experience erosion and corrosion, leading to premature leakage and costly repairs, with existing solutions transferring wear to the more expensive and complex fluid end body rather than the less expensive mating components.
Innovation Solution
The technology involves forming endless grooves in the fluid end body to mount seals that extend and press against less complex and less expensive components like discharge and suction plugs, transferring erosion wear from the body to these components, and applying erosion-resistant surface treatments to further enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are mounted to extend from the closure and seal against the body, then sealing is achieved, but erosion wear occurs on the expensive and complex fluid end body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional sealing arrangement by mounting seals on the body rather than on the closure. The seal carrier is attached to the body and the seal extends from the body to engage the closure, reversing which component the seal is mounted on. This causes wear to occur on the inexpensive closure instead of the expensive body, resolving the technical contradiction between achieving reliable sealing and preventing erosion wear on the body.
2Reliability
If the fluid end body is repaired when erosion causes leakage, then leakage is fixed, but repair is cumbersome and causes downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing system into separate components: the seal carrier mounted on the body, the seal itself, and the closure. When erosion causes leakage, only the inexpensive closure and/or seal need to be replaced rather than repairing the entire body. This segmentation allows for simple, quick replacement of worn components, resolving the contradiction between maintaining leakage prevention and ensuring ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designates the closure as a sacrificial, inexpensive component that will wear instead of the expensive body. The closure can be easily replaced when eroded, serving as a cost-effective, short-living protective element. This resolves the contradiction by accepting that the closure will need periodic replacement to maintain leakage prevention, but this replacement is simple and causes minimal downtime compared to body repair.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If erosion-resistant surface treatments are applied to components, then durability is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies erosion-resistant surface treatments selectively to specific areas where wear occurs, such as the closure and seal carrier surfaces that contact the seal. Rather than treating the entire body uniformly, only the localized contact surfaces receive the protective treatment. This resolves the contradiction between enhancing component durability and maintaining ease of manufacture by limiting the treatment to only the necessary locations.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method contemplating a high pressure fluid end assembly having a body defining a body bore and defining a groove in the body intersecting the body bore. A closure is joined to the body and forms a sealing surface. A seal is mounted to the body in the groove and configured to extend from the groove beyond the body bore to seal against the sealing surface formed by the closure.