Valve Actuator Shaft and Thrust Bushing for Reciprocating Compressors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reciprocating compressors in the oil and gas industry face challenges with actuated valves due to high forces, large displacements, and short response times, along with the corrosiveness and flammability of the fluids, which restrict the use of conventional actuators and necessitate placing them outside the compressor, leading to issues with heat dissipation and increased actuation forces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a valve assembly with an actuator outside the compressor body, a shaft penetrating inside, a collar, and a thrust bushing to reduce the force due to hydrostatic pressure, allowing for lower actuation forces and efficient operation without heat dissipation issues, using a combination of actuators and mechanical components to transmit and convert displacements effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the actuator is placed outside the compressor body, then the safety and ease of operation are improved, but the actuation force required increases due to hydrostatic pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A shaft is introduced as an intermediary component that transmits the actuation force from the actuator (located outside the compressor body) to the valve closing member (located inside the compressor body). This mediator allows the actuator to operate in a safe external environment while still effectively actuating the valve against hydrostatic pressure through the shaft connection.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the actuator is placed outside the compressor body, then the safety in corrosive and flammable environments is improved, but the heat dissipation becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator is extracted from the compressor body and placed in an external location. This extraction removes the heat-generating component from the confined internal space, allowing heat to dissipate more effectively into the surrounding environment without compromising the safety requirements for corrosive and flammable environments.
3Loss of time
If conventional actuators are used inside the compressor body, then the response time is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to corrosiveness and flammability
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft serves as a mediator that connects the externally located actuator to the internally located valve closing member. This configuration allows the actuator to remain in a safe external environment (improving reliability) while still achieving rapid valve actuation (maintaining short response time) through the direct mechanical connection provided by the shaft.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the actuator is placed outside the compressor body, then the adaptability to corrosive and flammable environments is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve actuation system is segmented into two distinct parts: the actuator located outside the compressor body and the valve closing member located inside. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific environment, with the actuator designed for external operation and the valve closing member designed for internal operation against hydrostatic pressure, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity through functional separation.
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
This configuration enables the use of electromagnetic actuators to generate necessary forces in short actuation times, reducing the impact of hydrostatic pressure and eliminating the need for cooling systems, while ensuring safety and efficiency in corrosive and flammable environments.
Implementation Method 1
a thrust bushing configured to reduce a force due to a hydrostatic pressure between the fluid and ambient
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods overcoming the technical challenges in actuating valves of reciprocating compressors used in oil and gas industry are provided. A valve assembly includes an actuator, a shaft, a collar and a thrust bushing. The actuator is configured to generate a displacement. The shaft configured to receive a rotating motion caused by the displacement and to penetrate inside a compressor body of the reciprocating compressor. The collar is located close to a location where the shaft penetrates inside the compressor body. The thrust bushing is located between the collar and the compressor body. The rotating motion actuates a valve closing member of a valve inside the compressor body.