Two-Piece Suction Valve Assembly for High-Pressure Pump Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
High pressure reciprocating pumps experience undue wear and cracks due to stress concentrations at the corners of discharge openings, leading to material damage and reduced operational life, particularly at pressures above 50,000 psi, and existing valve cartridges suffer from damage and leakage due to contaminant-induced cavitation erosion.
Innovation Solution
A two-piece suction valve assembly is introduced, comprising a ceramic hard sealing member and a stainless steel spring seat, designed to minimize stress concentrations and prevent cavitation erosion by using a ceramic material that can crush contaminants and prevent galling, with a sloped configuration to enhance sealing and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If small diameter discharge openings are used for very high fluid pressures, then the pump can achieve higher pressure output, but stress concentrations at the corners of the openings cause wear and cracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by rounding the corners of the discharge openings instead of using sharp corners. This spheroidality principle eliminates stress concentration points at the corners, allowing the pump to maintain high fluid pressures without causing wear and cracks in the material.
2Strength
If hard alloy materials are used to strengthen high stress areas, then material strength improves, but the materials are expensive and difficult to machine or round at the corners
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by rounding the corners of the discharge openings instead of using sharp corners. This spheroidality principle eliminates stress concentration points at the corners, allowing the pump to maintain high fluid pressures without causing wear and cracks in the material.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional valve materials are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but the materials are susceptible to galling and cavitation erosion from high velocity fluid jets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a soft seat material (such as elastomer or rubber) with a hard valve body material. The soft seat material provides resistance to cavitation erosion and galling from high velocity fluid jets, while the hard body provides structural strength. This composite construction maintains ease of manufacture while significantly improving reliability.
4Device complexity
If single piece valve assemblies are used, then device complexity is reduced, but sealing surfaces are susceptible to damage from contaminants and high stress concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the valve assembly into multiple pieces: a valve body, a separate valve member with sealing surface, and a spring assembly. This segmentation allows the sealing surfaces to be replaced independently when damaged, improving reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity. The soft seat material on the valve member provides resistance to cavitation erosion and galling.
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 two-piece suction valve assembly significantly reduces material wear and extends the operational life of high-pressure pumps by minimizing stress concentrations and preventing cavitation erosion, ensuring reliable operation even at extreme pressures.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member continuously urging the discharge valve member into sealing relation with the valve seat
Implementation Method 2
the plunger in the discharge stroke forcing fluid through the discharge valve member for unseating of the discharge valve member and discharge of pressurized fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A high pressure reciprocating pump for high fluid pressures having a valve cartridge positioned within a manifold block of the pump. The valve cartridge has a fixed body with a plurality of equally spaced suction openings. A central bore of the valve cartridge body has a valve assembly mounted therein. Valve assembly include a discharge valve member and a two-piece suction valve member mounted for sliding movement about the outer surface of discharge valve member. On the suction stroke, the two piece suction valve member is opened and fluid through suction openings enters the pump chamber. On the discharge stroke, high pressure fluid is discharged through the central bore and lateral slots of open discharge valve member past seat. The two-piece suction valve includes a spring seat and a hard sealing member.