Fluid End Sleeve Sealing for High-Pressure Erosion Wear
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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 burdening the more expensive fluid end body rather than transferring wear to less complex and less expensive components.
Innovation Solution
The technology involves forming endless grooves in the fluid end body to mount seals that transfer erosion wear to less complex and less expensive components such as discharge and suction plugs, reducing the complexity and cost of repairs by shifting the wear from the fluid end body to these components, and applying erosion-resistant surface treatments like HVOF coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If seals are mounted directly to the fluid end body, then sealing is achieved, but erosion wear occurs on the expensive fluid end body
Solution Approach 1:
A sleeve component is introduced as an intermediary between the fluid end body and the seal. The sleeve mounts the seal and transfers erosion wear away from the fluid end body to the sleeve, which is less expensive and easier to replace. The sleeve has an outer surface that seals against the fluid end body while providing a mounting surface for the seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed as a sacrificial component that absorbs erosion wear instead of the expensive fluid end body. When the sleeve becomes eroded, it is replaced rather than repairing the fluid end body, reducing maintenance costs and downtime.
2Reliability
If the fluid end body is repaired when erosion occurs, then leakage is fixed, but downtime and operating cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is segmented into separate components: the fluid end body, the sleeve, and the seal. This allows the sleeve and seal to be replaced as a modular assembly without affecting the fluid end body, significantly reducing repair time and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is designed to be discarded when eroded rather than repaired. The modular design allows for quick replacement of the sleeve-seal assembly, minimizing downtime. The fluid end body is preserved and can be reused with new sleeves and seals.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If erosion-resistant surface treatments are applied, then body erosion is reduced, but complexity and cost of the fluid end body increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying erosion-resistant treatments to the entire fluid end body, the erosion resistance is localized to the sleeve component. The sleeve can be made from erosion-resistant materials or treatments while the fluid end body remains simpler and less expensive.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve serves as a disposable erosion-resistant component that protects the fluid end body without requiring the body itself to be complex or expensive. When the sleeve erodes, it is replaced rather than treating the entire body.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid end assembly comprising a housing having multiple conduits formed therein. A tubular sleeve is installed within one of the conduits and is configured to house a plurality of packing seals. A seal is installed within a groove formed in the walls of the housing surrounding the tubular sleeve such that the seal engages an outer surface of the tubular sleeve.