Jay-Selector Chemical Injection Flow Control for Stable Backpressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Chemical injection systems face issues with maintaining a stable flow rate and pressure, leading to premature failure of high cracking-pressure relief valves due to intermittent operation and vapor cavity formation, which results in system damage and operational inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a jay-selector mechanism with a rotatable jay-piston and multiple ports, actuated by pressure differentials across flow restrictors, to manage flow rates and pressures, ensuring consistent chemical injection while preventing backflow and maintaining system integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If a high cracking-pressure check or relief valve is installed to mitigate the U-tube effect, then system back pressure is maintained, but the valve experiences intermittent operation and premature failure due to continuous opening and closing cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem back pressureVSAvoidvalve operational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the single high cracking-pressure valve into multiple lower cracking-pressure valves arranged in parallel. Each valve handles a portion of the flow, preventing any single valve from experiencing excessive cycling. The segmentation of flow paths through multiple valves reduces the frequency of opening/closing operations for each individual valve, thereby extending operational life while maintaining required backpressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically allocates flow among multiple valves based on operating conditions. As flow rate requirements change, the valves open and close in a sequenced manner rather than all simultaneously, reducing mechanical stress and cycling frequency on each valve. This dynamic load distribution prevents premature failure while maintaining stable backpressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stress or pressure

If pressure is maintained sufficiently high to support the fluid column, then chemical injection stability is improved, but sudden large pressure drops occur through the relief valve causing vapor cavity formation and system damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid column support pressureVSAvoidvapor cavity formation and pressure shock

Core Design Contradiction:

Stress or pressureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the total pressure drop requirement across multiple valves, each valve experiences a smaller individual pressure differential. This segmentation prevents sudden large pressure drops that would cause vapor cavity formation. The cumulative effect of multiple valves opening in sequence achieves the required pressure regulation without creating harmful pressure shocks or cavitation conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system预先 cushions against pressure shocks by using multiple valves to gradually release pressure rather than allowing a sudden drop through a single valve. The staged opening of multiple valves acts as a cushioning mechanism that prevents rapid pressure changes, thereby avoiding vapor cavity formation and protecting the system from pressure shock damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If a single valve is used to control flow, then device complexity is reduced, but flow rate regulation precision and pressure stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve configuration simplicityVSAvoidflow rate regulation precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flow control function is segmented across multiple valves, each responsible for a specific flow range. This allows for more precise flow rate regulation as each valve operates within an optimized range rather than a single valve attempting to control the entire flow spectrum. The segmented approach improves regulation precision while maintaining relatively simple valve architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a single valve at full capacity, the system employs multiple valves operating at partial capacities. This partial action approach allows for finer control resolution and better flow rate precision, as each valve operates in a more controlled regime rather than being pushed to extreme positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 jay-selector system effectively regulates flow rates and pressures, reducing valve failure and system damage by incrementally opening additional flow paths, thereby ensuring continuous and efficient chemical injection while maintaining acceptable backpressure.

Implementation Method 1

actuated by pressure differentials across flow restrictors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a plurality of flow restrictors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow restriction: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentUS11280417B2Chemical injection system with jay-selector

Publication Date: 2022.03.22 HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES INC

AI summary

Systems for chemical injection. An example system includes a pilot valve comprising: a hydraulic piston, a poppet, and a biasing device. The system further comprises a jay-selector comprising: a rotatable jay-piston having jay-slots, and a plurality of ports. The system additionally comprises a plurality of flow restrictors.