Titanium Connecting Sealing Ring Processing for Deep-Sea Corrosion Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current deep-sea oil drilling and production devices face challenges with steel components that suffer from poor corrosion resistance, short lifespan, and complex maintenance due to non-uniform internal stress, leading to frequent oil leakage and device failures, especially at depths of 3000m and beyond.

Innovation Solution

A high-performance titanium connecting sealing ring with a ring body featuring a convex plate, platform, inclined end surface, and inner threads, processed through steps including vacuum melting, forging, heat treatment, and machining, to ensure uniform stress distribution and enhanced strength, facilitating easy installation and maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If steel connecting sealing components are used in deep-sea oil drilling and production devices, then the device can be assembled and operated, but the components suffer from poor corrosion resistance and short lifespan leading to frequent oil leakage and device failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent reliabilityVSAvoidseawater corrosion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from steel material to titanium alloy material, fundamentally changing the material properties to achieve superior corrosion resistance and mechanical strength. This material parameter change enables the connecting sealing ring to withstand deep-sea corrosive environments and high pressures without failing, directly resolving the reliability and corrosion resistance issues of steel components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes titanium alloy as a composite material solution that combines the benefits of light weight, high strength, and excellent corrosion resistance. The specific titanium alloy composition and heat treatment processes create a composite microstructure that provides both mechanical integrity and resistance to seawater corrosion, eliminating the harmful effects that plagued steel components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If steel connecting sealing components are used, then the device can function, but the internal stress distribution is non-uniform causing fracture and damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent strengthVSAvoidinternal stress uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes through specialized heat treatment processes (solution treatment, quenching, and aging) that fundamentally alter the material's internal stress characteristics. These thermal parameters transform the stress distribution from non-uniform to uniform, preventing stress concentration points that would lead to fracture and damage under deep-sea loading conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality principles through the design of the connecting sealing ring structure, where the titanium alloy material properties are optimized locally to handle specific stress patterns. The material's inherent properties combined with heat treatment create zones of uniform stress distribution throughout the component, preventing localized failure modes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If steel connecting sealing components are used, then the device can be assembled, but installation and replacement maintenance is tedious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidmaintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by reducing the weight of the connecting sealing ring through titanium alloy material substitution. This weight reduction directly improves ease of installation and handling operations, while the enhanced durability reduces maintenance frequency and time requirements, addressing both operational efficiency and time loss concerns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of operation

If titanium connecting sealing ring is designed with simple structure, then installation and maintenance is easy, but the strength and corrosion resistance must be enhanced through special processing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation and maintenance easeVSAvoidtensile and yield strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by applying parameter changes through controlled heat treatment processes that enhance the titanium alloy's mechanical properties. The solution treatment, quenching, and aging parameters are optimized to achieve both high strength and simple structure compatibility, allowing the component to maintain structural simplicity while gaining superior mechanical performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes titanium alloy composite materials that inherently combine simplicity with high performance. The alloy composition and microstructure are engineered to provide both ease of fabrication into simple geometries and exceptional mechanical properties, eliminating the need for complex structures to achieve required strength levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 titanium connecting sealing ring provides increased tensile and yield strength, improved reliability, and extended lifespan, effectively addressing the limitations of steel components by withstanding deep-sea pressures and resisting seawater corrosion, thus enhancing the operational efficiency and safety of deep-sea oil drilling and production devices.

Implementation Method 1

pressing the dried sponge titanium into an electrode block, welding into a melting electrode by argon-arc welding, and carrying out vacuum melting in vacuum condition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum melting: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

welding into a melting electrode by argon-arc welding

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectArgon-arc welding: Welding

Implementation Method 3

heating the titanium ingot to 950℃-1200℃ and preserving heat for 250 min-380 min

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

carrying out three-upsetting three-pulling forging to form a long titanium billet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForging: Deformation

Implementation Method 5

heating the titanium connecting sealing ring blank to 650℃-700℃ in the non-vacuum condition and preserving heat for 100 min-140 min, carrying out annealing treatment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat treatment: Heat Treatment

Data Source

PatentEP3346167B1Processing method for high performance titanium connecting sealing ring for deep-sea oil drilling and production device
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 BAOJI YIXIN METALS PROD WORKS
  • EP3346167B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3346167B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The provided are a high performance titanium connecting sealing ring for deep-sea oil drilling and production device and a processing method. The sealing ring comprises a ring-shaped ring body (1), wherein the center hole of the ring body (1) is an inner circumferential surface (5); a ring-shaped convex plate (2), a platform (3), an inclined end surface (4) and a flat end surface (6) are arranged in sequence in the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the ring body (1); and threads(7) are processed in the inner circumferential surface (5). The processing method for the titanium connecting sealing ring mainly comprises the steps of preparation of titanium sponge, vacuum melting of a titanium ingot, forging prescribing, heating forging, heat treatment and machining. The measured tensile strength of the titanium connecting sealing ring is 565 MPa, the yield strength is 460 MPa, the elongation is 25.2%, and the reduction of area is 44%; and the technical performance is obviously enhanced, reliable use in deep sea at a depth of 1000-3000 m or more can be realized, requirement for huge deep-sea pressure and oil and gas transmission pressure can be met, the service life of the drilling and production device can be prolonged, the extraction efficiency is improved, and the pollution to the marine environment due to oil leakage caused by corrosion or damage can be prevented.