Pipeline Plug Seal Assembly With Tapered Rings for Pressure Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipeline isolation methods are inadequate for effectively isolating sections of pipelines during maintenance, repairs, or pressure testing, as they lack efficient sealing mechanisms that can handle varying pipeline diameters and maintain fluid isolation under differential pressures.
Innovation Solution
A seal assembly comprising a pressure head, primary and secondary tapered rings, a primary seal ring, and a squeezer assembly, which includes a wedge squeezer face and a bowl, is integrated into a pipeline plug. This assembly uses tapered faces and wedge configurations to radially expand and maintain contact with the pipeline, ensuring fluid isolation by compressing the seal ring and utilizing differential forces for actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pipeline isolation methods are used, then pipeline sections can be isolated, but they fail to maintain effective sealing under differential pressures and varying pipeline diameters
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly incorporates movable tapered rings that can dynamically adjust their radial position and expansion force in response to differential pressure and pipeline diameter variations. The tapered geometry allows the rings to self-expand under pressure, maintaining continuous contact with the pipeline wall across varying conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable sealing and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly utilizes parameter changes by allowing the tapered rings to change their radial expansion parameter in response to pressure differential. As pressure differential increases, the rings automatically expand to maintain sealing contact, enabling the system to adapt to varying pressure conditions and pipeline diameters while maintaining reliable sealing.
2Reliability
If continuous compressive force is applied to maintain sealing, then fluid isolation is maintained, but the system requires continuous energy input and cannot self-actuate
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is designed to self-actuate using the differential pressure across the pipeline plug itself as the actuating force. The tapered rings automatically expand when pressure differential exists, eliminating the need for external continuous compressive force. The system uses its own operating conditions (pressure differential) to maintain sealing, achieving both reliable fluid isolation and zero continuous energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal assembly converts the differential pressure (which could be considered a harmful force trying to breach the seal) into a beneficial actuating force that automatically expands the tapered rings to maintain sealing. The pressure differential that threatens to compromise the seal is instead harnessed to enhance the sealing action, eliminating the need for continuous external compression.
3Device complexity
If simple sealing mechanisms are used, then device complexity is reduced, but they cannot effectively isolate pipeline sections under differential pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The seal assembly is segmented into multiple independent tapered rings rather than using a single complex sealing element. Each ring can independently respond to pressure differential and expand to maintain sealing contact. This segmentation achieves reliable isolation under differential pressure while keeping individual components simple and the overall mechanism relatively straightforward.
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 fluid isolation across varying pipeline diameters and maintains sealing under differential pressures, allowing for efficient pipeline section isolation during maintenance and testing without the need for continuous compressive force, and can self-actuate under pressure differences.
Implementation Method 1
maintain sealing under differential pressures
Implementation Method 2
tapered faces and wedge configurations to radially expand and maintain contact with the pipeline
Implementation Method 3
compressing the seal ring and utilizing differential forces for actuation
Data Source
AI summary
A seal assembly for a pipeline plug may include a pressure head including a forcing face. The seal assembly may include a primary tapered ring including an expansion face. The expansion face may abut the forcing face. The seal assembly may include primary seal ring. The seal assembly may include a squeezer assembly, the squeezer assembly including at least one seal face, the seal face abutting the primary seal ring. The seal assembly may include a secondary tapered ring, the secondary tapered ring including a wedge squeezer face, the wedge squeezer face abutting a wedge face of the squeezer assembly. The seal assembly may include a bowl, the bowl including a wedge face, the wedge face in abutment with an expansion face of the secondary tapered ring.