Swivel Sealing Device With Pressurized Viscous Medium
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealing solutions for swivels, particularly in the oil industry, are inadequate for compact multi-channel swivels as they require dismantling for seal replacement, leading to production downtime and high costs due to leakage issues from material failure, scaling, scratches, wear, or seal puncture.
Innovation Solution
A sealing device with a sealing body and pressurized sealing medium circuit, utilizing a pressure transmission unit to maintain fluid-tight connections without dismantling, where the sealing medium has a viscosity over 500 cst, and is integrated with the existing barrier fluid system to facilitate easy repair and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If a spare seal is mounted on the actual swivel for easy replacement, then the ease of repair is improved, but the device complexity increases and this solution is not suitable for compact multi-channel swivels
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing medium is supplied in advance to the sealing body through supply lines that are pre-installed and connected to the pressure transmission unit. This preliminary preparation of the sealing medium delivery system enables immediate sealing action when leakage is detected, without requiring preliminary assembly of spare seals or complex replacement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
A viscous sealing medium (viscosity >500 cst) acts as an intermediary substance that is forced through the sealing body to create or restore the sealing effect. This sealing medium serves as the active agent that repairs seal leakage by physically blocking leakage paths, eliminating the need for mechanical spare seal storage and replacement.
2Reliability
If the swivel is dismantled to replace a damaged seal, then the reliability is improved by replacing the failed seal, but the productivity decreases due to production downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system performs self-repair by automatically injecting the viscous sealing medium through the sealing body when leakage is detected. The barrier fluid system self-activates the repair process by triggering the pressure transmission unit, which forces sealing medium through the sealing body to restore the seal, all without external intervention or production shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing medium is supplied continuously or on-demand through the supply lines to maintain the sealing function. The barrier fluid system ensures continuous monitoring and immediate activation of the sealing medium supply when needed, maintaining uninterrupted production while restoring seal integrity through the active sealing mechanism.
3Measurement precision
If barrier oil consumption is monitored to detect seal leakage, then the measurement precision of leakage detection is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to barrier oil consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the physical parameter of the sealing medium by using a viscous fluid (viscosity >500 cst) instead of low-viscosity barrier oil. This parameter change reduces the sealing medium's tendency to leak while maintaining its sealing effectiveness, thereby reducing substance loss while preserving the ability to detect and respond to leakage through pressure changes.
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
Enables continuous operation with a damaged primary seal by using the sealing medium to maintain a fluid-tight connection, reducing production downtime and costs by allowing for simple and reliable repair without disassembling the swivel.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure transmission unit, wherein supply lines for the sealing medium extend from the pressure transmission unit to the sealing body
Implementation Method 2
The sealing medium is normally supplied at a pressure that is equal to or higher than the process pressure in the fluid transfer channel that has to be sealed
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sealing device for a swivel, an improved attachment device and a method for improving a seal in a swivel, where a sealing medium is composed according to the viscosity and chemical composition of the application concerned and has a viscosity substantially over 500 cst and where the sealing medium is pressurized by a pressure transmission unit.