Modular Valve Assembly with Axial Actuation for High-Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing valve assemblies in oil and gas wells face challenges in effectively controlling fluid flow, particularly in preventing backflow and maintaining pressure integrity, especially in high-pressure and high-temperature environments, due to limitations in design and materials used in current non-return valves.
Innovation Solution
A valve assembly with a modular design featuring a flapper valve mechanism, where the valve member is actuated between open and closed configurations by axial movement within the body, utilizing a displacement mechanism such as a spring to manage pressure differentials and prevent backflow, and incorporating a seal to ensure reliable fluid control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional flapper valve with pivot pin and torsion spring is used, then the valve structure is simple, but the reliability is insufficient in high-pressure and high-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The valve is divided into a valve member and a valve housing that can move independently relative to each other. The valve housing translates axially within the body, while the valve member pivots relative to the housing. This segmentation allows the complex functions of pressure differential response, sealing, and flow control to be distributed across separate components, improving reliability in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve member is nested within the valve housing, which itself is nested within the body. This nested configuration allows the valve member to pivot within the housing while the housing translates within the body, enabling compact arrangement of multiple degrees of freedom in a constrained space while maintaining structural integrity under high pressure and temperature.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the valve member is directly connected to the body, then the structure is simple, but the ability to respond to pressure differentials is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing acts as an intermediary between the body and the valve member. It translates axial movement within the body into pivotal movement of the valve member, mediating the response to pressure differentials. This intermediary mechanism enables the valve to adapt to varying pressure conditions while maintaining a manageable structural complexity.
3Reliability
If a seal is added between the valve housing and body, then pressure integrity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible seal is employed between the valve housing and the body to maintain pressure integrity. The flexible nature of the seal allows it to accommodate the axial translation of the valve housing while maintaining effective sealing, thereby improving pressure integrity without significantly increasing device complexity.
4Productivity
If the valve housing is fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but the ability to control fluid flow dynamically is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The valve housing is designed to move dynamically within the body in response to pressure differentials, translating axially to control the pivotal position of the valve member. This dynamic configuration enables efficient fluid flow control by allowing the valve to automatically adjust its opening degree based on operating conditions, while the movement is driven by the pressure differential itself, avoiding the need for complex external actuation mechanisms.
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 provides reliable fluid flow control, prevents backflow, and maintains pressure integrity in high-pressure environments, enhancing the safety and efficiency of drilling operations by using a modular and resilient design that adapts to varying pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
including a displacement mechanism adapted to urge the valve housing axially within the body
Implementation Method 2
the valve is adapted to be opened by a pressure differential, arising from flow of fluid in the throughbore in an uphole to downhole direction, acting across the valve
Data Source
AI summary
A valve assembly (1) has a valve (14), for example a flapper valve, that is contained within an axially movable valve housing (11) in the form of a cartridge (10) that is received within the bore of a tubular member (5). More than one cartridge (10) may be connected in series. The valve (14) and cartridge (10) are pivotally connected (13) and axial movement of the cartridge (10) pivots the valve (14) around this connection (13) to open or close the valve (14). The valve assembly (1) can be actuated by an actuator assembly (50) having an actuator (61) for actuating the valve (14), and a resettable shuttle device (80) that retains the actuator (61) in different configurations within the actuator assembly (50). The actuator (61) can be moved relative to the valve (14), engaging the shuttle device (80) and changing the configuration of the shuttle device (80).