High-Pressure Process Swivel Sealing Against Leakage and Abrasives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing process swivel assemblies face challenges in maintaining effective fluid transfer across rotating interfaces in marine production systems, particularly in high-pressure environments, due to issues with fluid leakage and contamination from abrasive particles, which can compromise the integrity of the seals and lead to inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A rotary interface design featuring annular seal carriers with balanced pressure-sensitive surfaces, integrated filters, and a splined connection mechanism that maintains concentricity and reduces backlash, ensuring effective sealing and fluid containment through a combination of static and dynamic seals, while allowing for rotational movement of outer housings relative to inner housings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional seals are used in high-pressure rotary interfaces, then fluid transfer capability is maintained, but fluid leakage and contamination from abrasive particles occur compromising seal integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary interface is divided into multiple sealing zones with separate seal carriers positioned at different locations. Each seal carrier handles specific sealing functions, allowing independent optimization and replacement of seals without affecting the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter element is introduced as an intermediary component between the fluid source and the seals. This filter captures abrasive particles before they can reach and damage the seal surfaces, protecting seal integrity while maintaining fluid transfer capability.
2Reliability
If seal carriers are positioned close to fluid exchange chamber for effective sealing, then sealing efficiency improves, but exposure to abrasive particles and contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter element serves as a protective intermediary positioned between the fluid exchange chamber and the seal carriers. It allows fluid to pass through while trapping abrasive particles, enabling seals to operate close to the fluid exchange chamber without direct exposure to contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing approach transitions from a single-plane seal to a multi-dimensional sealing system with filters positioned in the fluid flow path and seals positioned at the rotary interface, creating spatial separation between contamination sources and seal surfaces.
3Strength
If rigid connection between inner and outer housings is used for structural stability, then structural strength is maintained, but radial expansion and backlash occur under high pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between inner and outer housings transitions from a rigid fixed connection to a dynamic splined connection. The splines allow controlled radial movement and expansion under high pressure while maintaining concentricity through their geometric configuration, preventing backlash while preserving structural strength.
4Reliability
If multiple seal carriers are used to protect against contamination, then protection effectiveness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seal carriers are designed as multi-functional components that simultaneously provide sealing, support filter elements, and maintain concentricity. This integration reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall device structure while maintaining effective contamination protection.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sealing functions and filtration capabilities are merged into integrated seal carrier assemblies. Each seal carrier combines seal elements, filter support, and structural support functions, reducing the total number of discrete components while enhancing contamination protection.
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 high-pressure fluid containment and protection against contamination, maintaining efficient fluid transfer and reducing leakage, even under abrasive conditions, by utilizing pressure-balanced seals and a splined connection that minimizes radial expansion and backlash.
Implementation Method 1
The filter may comprise an annular seal filter disposed in the rotary gap between the throat gap portion of the rotary gap and the seal carrier and configured to protect the first inner seal and the first outer seal from fluid contaminates
Implementation Method 2
The outer and inner pressure sensitive surface areas may be pressure balanced
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary interface comprising an inner housing and an outer housings rotatably supported on the inner housing, an annular fluid exchange chamber formed at a rotary interface between the outer and inner housings, an annular seal carrier disposed in a rotary gap between an inner-facing surface of the outer housing and an outer-facing surface of the inner housing, the rotary gap comprising an annular throat gap portion having a maximum radial width less than a maximum radial width of the seal carrier, at least an annular first outer seal disposed in an outer carrier gap between an outer-facing carrier surface of the seal carrier and the inner-facing surface of the outer housing, and at least an annular first inner seal disposed in an inner carrier gap between an inner-facing carrier surface of the seal carrier and the outer-facing surface of the inner housing.