Line-Stopping Sealing Plug Assembly With Dual Seals and Bleed Lance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealing plugs for pipes fail to maintain a seal at high pressures, leading to leaks and safety hazards, especially when dealing with flammable or caustic liquids, and are compromised by solid debris or materials that swell the sealing elements.
Innovation Solution
A sealing plug assembly with two separate sealing elements and an isolation zone that can be accessed by a bleed lance, allowing for the removal of trapped product and reducing pressure on the downstream sealing element, thereby enhancing leak resistance and safety at higher pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional single sealing element is used in a sealing plug, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of sealing at high pressures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is divided into multiple functional segments: a first sealing element for initial sealing, a second sealing element for enhanced sealing, and an isolation plate for pressure management. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function, improving overall sealing reliability at high pressures while keeping each individual component relatively simple in design.
2Reliability
If a single sealing element is used, then the device complexity is low, but the sealing element is compromised by solid debris or swelling materials
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the sealing function into two separate sealing elements positioned at different locations, the system protects against debris and swelling materials. The first sealing element handles initial sealing while the second provides backup sealing, and the isolation plate prevents contaminants from reaching the sealing elements, thereby improving durability without requiring complex protective mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolation plate acts as an intermediary component between the sealing elements and the product flow. It isolates the sealing elements from direct contact with potentially harmful substances such as solid debris or swelling materials, thereby protecting the sealing elements and improving their durability while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
3Reliability
If product is trapped between sealing elements, then the isolation zone provides pressure relief, but the device complexity increases due to additional access mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The isolation plate is pre-configured with a port that provides access to the isolation zone before the sealing operation is complete. This preliminary arrangement allows for easy connection of a bleed lance to remove trapped product and equalize pressure, improving pressure management capability while avoiding the need for complex access mechanisms during 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 dual sealing element design with an isolation zone effectively seals at high pressures, reducing the risk of leaks and accidents, and allows for the safe removal of trapped product, improving operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the elastomeric face has a circular groove extending a circular groove depth into the elastomeric face
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a sealing plug assembly for stopping flow of a product in a pipe, the assembly having two sealing elements and having an isolation zone in the assembly which can be drained by a bleed lance to maintain pressure in the isolation zone within a safe limit. The present disclosure further provides sealing elements, bleed lances, systems, and methods of using the same. A benefit of the sealing plug assembly, and methods of using the same, can include forming safer seals during line stopping and the efficiency of recovering product.