Fracking Pump Annular Seal for Debris Exclusion Under Pressure Pulsation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current seals in high-pressure hydraulic fracturing pumps deform during rapid pressure events, allowing fracking fluid debris to contaminate the sealing gland, leading to seal failure and increased maintenance costs due to reduced sealing force and wear.
Innovation Solution
An annular seal with a specific geometry that deforms to create an exclusion lip and self-energizes to fill the sealing gland, using high-modulus cross-linked elastomers or thermoplastics for enhanced extrusion resistance and stability during pressure spikes, featuring a heel side, sealing side with a concave portion, and leading side with a flat surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional seals are used in high-pressure fracking pumps, then the pump can operate, but the seals deform during rapid pressure events allowing debris to enter the sealing gland, causing wear and seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is pre-configured with a specific geometry including a protrusion that extends into the sealing gland. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that when pressure events occur, the seal is already positioned to effectively block debris from entering the sealing gland, preventing contamination before it can cause wear or failure
Solution Approach 2:
The seal uses high-modulus cross-linked elastomers or thermoplastics with specific geometric parameters (protrusion depth, cross-sectional shape) that change how the seal responds to pressure. These parameter changes enable the seal to deform in a controlled manner during rapid pressure events, maintaining sealing effectiveness while blocking debris
2Force
If the seal deforms to fill the sealing gland, then sealing force is improved, but debris can enter the sealing gland and cause wear
Solution Approach 1:
The seal geometry is pre-designed with a protrusion that extends into the sealing gland area. This preliminary configuration ensures that when the seal deforms under pressure to increase sealing force, the protrusion is already in position to block debris from entering the sealing gland, preventing metal removal while maintaining high sealing force
Solution Approach 2:
The seal has different geometric properties at different locations: the protrusion portion extends into the sealing gland to block debris, while the main sealing surface deforms to provide sealing force. This local differentiation of geometric quality allows the seal to simultaneously achieve high sealing force and debris protection
3Reliability
If backup pumping equipment is maintained to ensure continuous operation, then operational reliability is improved, but the oilfield footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The improved seal design is intended to be a durable, long-lasting component that prevents pump failures. By using high-modulus materials and optimized geometry, the seal can operate for extended periods without failure, reducing the need for backup equipment and minimizing the oilfield footprint while ensuring continuous operation
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 seal effectively prevents contamination from entering the sealing gland, enhances stability, and increases sealing force during pressure spikes, reducing maintenance needs and downtime in hydraulic fracturing operations.
Implementation Method 1
High-modulus cross-linked elastomers or thermoplastics, such as polyurethane, may be used to aid in seal extrusion resistance, and also may enable resistance to large amounts of seal deformation for preventing sealing gland contamination from sealing lip deflection
Data Source
AI summary
An annular seal, such as for use in a fracking pump, that is designed to exclude debris from entering the sealing gland, and is designed to enhance seal stability and extrusion resistance during high-pressure pulsation events. The seal includes a heel side configured to fit within an annular groove of a first component, a sealing side opposite the heel side that is configured to seal against a second component, and opposite leading and trailing sides that are radially interposed between the sealing and heel sides. The heel side may have a flat heel surface in transverse cross-section. The sealing side may have a concave portion that is configured to open toward and face the second component. The leading side is configured to face toward upstream fluid, and may have a flat leading surface in transverse cross-section that is oriented perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the seal.