Modular Throttling Valve Trim for Cavitation and Freezing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Throttling valves in the oil and gas industry face severe erosion, corrosion, and the Joule-Thomson effect, leading to unreliable operation, downtime, and costly maintenance due to fluid turbulence, impingement, and temperature changes, despite the use of erosion-resistant materials.
Innovation Solution
A throttling valve design that allows for the removal and replacement of flow trims without disassembling the valve from the flow line, eliminating the need for actuator recalibration, and features a direct actuator connection using 90-degree and Y-shaped configurations to reduce cavitation and temperature loss through multiple pressure drops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional throttling valves use erosion and corrosion resistant materials (tungsten carbide, chrome stainless, stellite, ceramics) for valve seats and members, then resistance to erosion and corrosion is improved, but valve failures still occur due to altered control characteristics and unreliable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into modular components: a replaceable flow trim assembly (including seat and trim elements) that can be independently removed and replaced without replacing the entire valve body or actuator. This segmentation allows worn erosion-resistant components to be quickly swapped while maintaining the integrity of the overall valve system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention provides multiple interchangeable flow trim assemblies with different orifice configurations, seat angles, and trim geometries. By changing the parameters of the flow trim (orifice size, seat contour, trim shape), the valve can adapt to different service conditions and compensate for wear without replacing the entire valve.
2Ease of repair
If conventional throttling valves require complete disassembly for flow trim replacement, then proper maintenance can be performed, but downtime and maintenance complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow trim assembly is designed as a self-contained modular unit that includes the seat, trim elements, and retaining mechanisms. This complete segmentation of the flow control components from the valve body allows the entire flow trim assembly to be removed and replaced as a single unit without disassembling the valve body or actuator connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve is designed with pre-configured access paths and retaining mechanisms that allow the flow trim assembly to be removed from the outside of the valve body. The actuator mounting is also designed to remain attached to the valve body, preserving calibration without requiring preliminary disassembly of the entire valve.
3Stress or pressure
If conventional throttling valves experience Joule-Thomson effect causing temperature drop, then pressure reduction is achieved, but fluid freezing and hydrate formation occur restricting valve openings
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure reduction function is divided into multiple stages using a multi-orifice flow trim assembly. Instead of one large pressure drop, the fluid passes through multiple smaller orifices that create incremental pressure reductions. This segmentation of the throttling process reduces the temperature drop at each stage, preventing the cumulative temperature decrease that causes freezing and hydrate formation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If direct actuator connection is used in 90-degree and Y-shaped configurations, then cavitation and temperature loss are reduced through multiple pressure drops, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mounting is directly integrated into the valve body for 90-degree and Y-shaped configurations, eliminating the need for separate bracket and socket linkages. This merging of the actuator connection system with the valve body simplifies the overall device while enabling the direct connection that reduces cavitation and temperature loss through multiple pressure drops.
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 extends the life of throttling valves, reduces maintenance costs, and prevents freezing issues by allowing for easier maintenance and direct actuator connection, thereby enhancing reliability and reducing downtime.
Implementation Method 1
a flow trim mounted in the axial bore between the inlet and the outlet, for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the valve body
Implementation Method 2
conventional throttling valves frequently suffer from a phenomenon known as Joule-Thomson effect, which is also sometimes referred to as the 'JT effect.' In accordance with the JT effect, temperature of a fluid, such as a real gas or liquid, can change significantly when such fluid passes through a throttling valve; notably, the temperature of the fluid can drop drastically when said fluid experiences a rapid pressure drop.
Implementation Method 3
The erosion and corrosion is a combination of several conditions, which are particularly prevalent in the oil and gas industry. Fluids in the oil and gas industry frequently contain sand-like mineral particles, brine, and acid gases. The erosive and corrosive characteristics of petroleum fluids in throttling valves is aggravated by the effects of increased fluid turbulence, impingement on metal surfaces, and fluid cavitational phenomena.
Implementation Method 4
The erosive and corrosive characteristics of petroleum fluids in throttling valves is aggravated by the effects of increased fluid turbulence, impingement on metal surfaces, and fluid cavitational phenomena.
Data Source
AI summary
A throttling valve that allows an operator to remove and replace the flow trim of the throttling valve without disassembling and/or removing the throttling valve from a flow line, and without removing an actuator, which eliminates the need to recalibrate said actuator. The throttling valve also allows drops in fluid pressure to be staged upstream and/or downstream of a main multi-port-disc trim within the same valve body to help prevent cavitation and freezing of fluids contained within the valve. The throttling valve also allows direct connection of actuators to a valve body.