Radial Flow Injection Valve Actuation for Compact High-Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection valves face challenges in maintaining consistent flow rates and preventing hydrostatic fall-through at high flow rates, especially in downhole environments where space is restricted, due to the need for large flow areas and pressure differentials that can lead to adverse forces and hysteresis issues.
Innovation Solution
The injection device features a radial flow port arrangement with a moveable flow sleeve actuated by inlet pressure and a biasing arrangement, allowing for infinite variation in flow area without increasing the size of the flow sleeve actuator, thereby maintaining a fixed inlet pressure independent of outlet pressure and minimizing hysteresis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large flow area is used to handle high flow rates, then the flow capacity is improved, but the device size increases and space requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The flow area is segmented into multiple radial flow ports distributed around the outlet sleeve, allowing the total flow capacity to be increased without increasing the axial length of the device. The flow sleeve controls multiple ports simultaneously, achieving high flow rates in a compact configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow ports are arranged radially around the outlet sleeve rather than linearly, transitioning from a one-dimensional to a two-dimensional flow area distribution. This allows the flow area to be increased by utilizing the circumferential dimension, achieving high flow capacity without increasing device volume.
2Reliability
If a large sensor piston area is used to overcome pressure forces, then the valve control reliability is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor piston area is increased by utilizing the radial dimension, with the piston having a diameter larger than the outlet sleeve. This allows the piston area to be significantly larger than the valve seat area without increasing the axial dimensions of the device, improving pressure force generation while maintaining compact size.
3Measurement precision
If a fixed pressure differential is maintained to control flow, then the flow regulation precision is improved, but hysteresis and adverse forces increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of the sensor piston area being larger than the valve seat area (conventional approach), the invention inverts this relationship by making the outlet sleeve and flow ports the primary flow control elements, with the sensor piston providing just enough area to overcome the pressure differential. This reduces the adverse forces and hysteresis associated with large area ratios.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the flow sleeve actuator size is increased to provide infinite flow variation, then the flow control versatility is improved, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sleeve is designed with a length greater than the outlet sleeve, allowing it to overlap with multiple radial flow ports along its axial movement path. This enables continuous flow variation from fully closed to fully open positions without requiring a large actuator, achieving infinite flow control in a compact design.
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
This solution enables a compact injection device to handle high flow rates with variable flow performance at uniform inlet pressure, addressing issues of hydrostatic fall-through and hysteresis while maintaining a fixed equilibrium inlet pressure, even under varying outlet pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing arrangement arranged to apply a biasing force on the flow sleeve actuator to bias the flow sleeve towards the closed position
Implementation Method 2
operable by a biasing arrangement and inlet pressure at the inlet of the housing to permit the flow sleeve to be selectively moved between its first and second positions
Data Source
AI summary
An injection device comprises a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet and an outlet sleeve mounted within the housing and comprising at least one radial flow port therethrough for permitting fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet. A flow sleeve is mounted over the outlet sleeve and is arranged to move between a first position in which the at least one radial flow port is at least partially closed and a second position in which the at least one radial flow port is opened. The injection device also includes a flow sleeve actuator operable by a biasing arrangement and inlet pressure at the inlet of the housing to permit the flow sleeve to be selectively moved between its first and second positions to vary flow through the at least one radial flow port between the inlet and the outlet.