Expandable Pipeline Plug for Secure Sealing and Gripping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipeline isolation technologies face challenges in effectively isolating sections of pipelines for maintenance, repair, or pressure testing, particularly in ensuring secure sealing and gripping mechanisms that can accommodate varying pipeline diameters and withstand pressure differentials.
Innovation Solution
A pipeline plug system comprising a pressure head, seal assembly, seal expansion ring, gripper bodies, sliding grippers, and an actuator, which uses a two-stage gripper assembly to radially expand and secure the seal assembly against the pipeline, ensuring fluid isolation and grip, while accommodating varying diameters through adjustable taper angles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pipeline plug is used to isolate pipeline sections, then fluid isolation is achieved, but secure gripping and sealing under pressure differentials becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The pipeline plug is segmented into distinct functional components: a body, a seal assembly with expandable seal elements, and a gripper assembly with expandable gripping elements. This segmentation allows each component to independently perform its specific function (sealing vs. gripping) while being actuated by the same pressure differential, thereby achieving both reliable fluid isolation and secure gripping strength simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The seal and gripper elements change their physical parameters (dimension, shape) in response to pressure differential. The seal elements expand radially to contact the pipeline wall for sealing, while the gripper elements expand to engage the pipeline for gripping. This parameter change enables the plug to adapt to varying pressure conditions and maintain both isolation and secure attachment
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pipeline plug uses expandable seal and gripper elements, then adaptability to varying pipeline diameters is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The expandable seal and gripper elements serve multiple functions: they provide sealing, gripping, and automatic adaptation to different pipeline diameters. The elements are designed to expand and contract in unison, allowing a single device to accommodate a range of pipeline sizes without requiring multiple specialized plugs for different diameters
Solution Approach 2:
The seal and gripper elements are passively actuated by the pressure differential across the plug. The higher pressure on one side automatically forces the elements to expand against the pipeline wall, eliminating the need for complex external actuation mechanisms, motors, or control systems. The plug self-adjusts to the pipeline diameter through this pressure-driven expansion
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 system provides reliable fluid isolation and secure gripping of pipeline sections, allowing for maintenance, repair, or pressure testing, with the ability to adapt to different pipeline sizes and withstand pressure differentials, enhancing operational safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a seal assembly, a seal expansion ring
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of gripper bodies, each gripper body coupled to the seal expansion ring; a sliding gripper slidingly coupled to a radially outer surface of the gripper body
Data Source
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AI summary
A pipeline plug includes a pressure head; a seal assembly; a seal expansion ring; a plurality of gripper bodies, a sliding gripper, and an actuator. Each gripper body is coupled to the seal expansion ring. Radial expansion of the gripper bodies supports radial expansion of the seal expansion ring. Additionally, radial expansion of the seal expansion ring supports radial expansion of the gripper bodies. The sliding gripper is slidingly coupled to a radially outer surface of the gripper body.