Gate Valve Sealing Assembly with Activation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gate valve arrangements face challenges in ensuring efficient shearing of elongated members and proper sealing of well bores, as cut parts may get stuck during closure, leading to inadequate sealing and potential fluid leakage.
Innovation Solution
A gate valve assembly with a movably arranged gate element featuring a cutting portion and a seal assembly with additional sealing force activation, allowing for efficient shearing and sealing by displacing the seal assembly into a sealing position during closure, ensuring the cutting process is complete before sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the gate element is provided with a cutting portion for shearing the elongated member, then the gate valve can cut tubing or wire line, but the cut parts may get stuck during closure preventing proper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The gate element is segmented into distinct functional zones: a cutting portion with cutting edges for shearing the elongated member, and a sealing portion with sealing surfaces for sealing against seal seats. This segmentation allows the cutting and sealing functions to be spatially separated, enabling the cutting portion to effectively cut while the sealing portion ensures reliable sealing without interference from cut parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly acts as an intermediary between the gate element and the seal seats. It includes sealing surfaces that contact the seal seats and sealing activation means (such as springs) that provide additional sealing force. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even if cut parts are present in the throughbore, the sealing assembly can reliably seal by applying sufficient force to overcome any interference.
2Productivity
If the gate element moves transversely to shear the elongated member, then cutting can be performed, but ensuring complete cutting before sealing becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting and sealing functions are merged into a single gate element structure. The gate element simultaneously provides cutting edges for shearing the elongated member and sealing surfaces for sealing against the seal seats. This merging eliminates the need for separate cutting and sealing operations, simplifying the control sequence while maintaining both cutting efficiency and sealing reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gate element is designed so that the cutting portion performs the cutting action first during its transverse movement, and only after the cutting is complete does the sealing portion engage with the seal seats. This preliminary action sequence is built into the geometry and movement path of the gate element, ensuring cutting is always completed before sealing without requiring complex external control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If spring elements are used to enhance sealing force, then sealing reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing activation means, such as springs, are self-contained within the seal assembly and automatically provide the necessary sealing force when the gate element is in the closed position. The springs are compressed or tensioned as the gate element moves into place, and they automatically exert the required force on the sealing surfaces without requiring external activation or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism simplifies the overall device structure while ensuring reliable sealing.
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 shearing and sealing of well bores, preventing fluid leakage and ensuring the integrity of the gate valve's sealing function.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing activation means is arranged in a compressed state in an initial mode and has a releasing state in an activation mode, the sealing activation means being arranged to provide an additional sealing force
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A gate valve assembly is provided for shearing an elongated member and controlling a fluid flow through a through bore of the gate valve assembly. The through bore is adapted for fluid communication with a well bore and is configured for receiving an elongated member. The gate valve assembly comprises at least one gate element movably arranged in a direction transverse to the through bore, wherein the gate element is provided with a cutting portion for shearing the elongated member in the through bore. The gate valve assembly further comprises first and second seal seats which are arranged for sealing with the at least one gate element. Further, a seal assembly is provided with at least one sealing surface for sealing with at least one of the first and second seal seats. The seal assembly has activation means for providing an additional sealing force in the engagement between the at least one sealing surface of the seal assembly and at least one of the first and second seal seats. The seal assembly is arranged in a portion of the gate element which is located outside the through bore in an open position of the gate element. The seal assembly is displaceable in the transverse direction into a sealing position when the gate element is in a closed position, wherein the sealing assembly has an activation mode in which the sealing activation means provides additional sealing force to the engagement between the at least one sealing surface of the seal assembly and at least one of the first and second seal seats. The invention also concerns a method for shearing an elongated member arranged in a through bore of a gate valve arrangement and closing the through bore.