Shuttle Valve Flow Management Backflow Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Downhole production strings with pumps and valves face maintenance challenges due to fluid conditions and velocities outside intended operating ranges, leading to equipment fouling, plugging, and damage, resulting in lost production and increased expenses in the oil and gas industry, where there is a reluctance to adopt improved designs for bypass valves.

Innovation Solution

A valve with a shuttle mechanism that includes a spill port and a chamber with specific seat and spring configurations, allowing the valve to adjust flow paths based on fluid conditions, isolating the pump and valve from backflows and solids, and protecting them from damage by redirecting flow when conditions are unfavorable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If improved bypass valve designs are adopted, then production process reliability is improved, but industry reluctance due to familiarity with existing equipment and risk of untested equipment prevents adoption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction process reliabilityVSAvoidwillingness to adopt improved designs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve is designed as a modular assembly with distinct components including a body, shuttle, spring mechanism, and seat closures that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows for improved design adoption by reducing integration risks while maintaining reliability benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shuttle acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the main flow path and the bypass path. This intermediary mechanism enables reliable flow diversion while providing a tested, proven design approach that reduces industry reluctance to adopt improved valve designs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If pumps and valves operate outside intended operating range, then fluid velocity and condition variations occur, but this leads to equipment fouling, plugging, and damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperating range flexibilityVSAvoidequipment fouling and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve incorporates a dynamic shuttle mechanism that automatically adjusts its position based on real-time fluid conditions and pressure differentials. This dynamic response allows the valve to adapt to operating range variations while preventing harmful factors by diverting problematic flows before they reach the pump.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded shuttle mechanism provides continuous feedback-based adjustment of the bypass flow path. As fluid conditions change, the pressure differential feedback automatically positions the shuttle to maintain optimal flow separation, preventing fouling and damage while accommodating operating range flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If production strings include pumps and valves for lifting fluids, then fluid lifting capability is achieved, but maintenance and downtime issues arise due to hard to reach locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid lifting capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve design extracts the maintenance-critical components (shuttle, spring, seat closures) as accessible elements within the valve body that can be serviced without removing the entire production string. This extraction principle reduces maintenance downtime while preserving fluid lifting capability by allowing in-situ repairs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If valve isolates pump and valve from backflows and solids, then protection from damage is achieved, but flow management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from backflows and solidsVSAvoidflow management structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bypass valve merges the protection function with the flow management function in a single integrated device. The shuttle simultaneously directs flow away from harmful conditions and manages overall flow distribution, achieving protection without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 valve effectively manages fluid flow, preventing damage from solids and maintaining production by isolating the pump and valve from adverse conditions, thereby reducing downtime and maintenance costs while improving production string reliability.

Implementation Method 1

A spring is located substantially between the shuttle spring end and a fixture coupled to the valve body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10711568B2Valve with shuttle for use in flow management systems

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 ANYTHING FOR A BUCK INC

AI summary

A valve with a shuttle for use in a flow management system is capable of bypassing a backflow.