US-20260126123-A1 - CHOKE VALVE INSERT WITH SEAL ASSEMBLY

US20260126123A1US 20260126123 A1US20260126123 A1US 20260126123A1US-20260126123-A1

Abstract

A disclosed choke valve insert includes a cage, bonnet, valve stem, and seal assembly. The cage has an orifice configured to receive a flow of fluid. The bonnet is disposed superior to the cage and has a stem bore and cavity. The seal assembly is disposed within the cavity and around the stem bore. The seal assembly includes a seal housing, inner seal, and outer seal. The seal housing has an inner slot and outer slot. The inner seal is disposed within the inner slot and configured to prevent a portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal. The outer seal is disposed within the outer slot and configured to allow the portion of the flow of fluid to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal when the inner seal fails.

Inventors

Ryan Phillips
John Calder

Assignees

FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20241105

Claims (20)

1 . A choke valve insert comprising: a cage having an orifice, wherein the orifice is configured to receive a flow of fluid; a bonnet disposed, at least in part, superior to the cage, wherein the bonnet has a stem bore and a cavity; a valve stem disposed, at least in part, within the stem bore and translatable into and out of the orifice, wherein the valve stem is configured to regulate the flow of fluid; and a seal assembly disposed within the cavity and around the stem bore, wherein the seal assembly comprises: a seal housing having an inner slot and an outer slot; an inner seal disposed, at least in part, within the inner slot and configured to form a first seal with the valve stem to prevent a portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal; and an outer seal disposed, at least in part, within the outer slot and configured to form a second seal with the bonnet, wherein the outer seal is further configured to allow the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal when the inner seal fails to form the first seal.
2 . The choke valve insert of claim 1 , wherein the inner seal is configured to mitigate the portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal when the inner seal fails to form the first seal.
3 . The choke valve insert of claim 1 , wherein the outer seal is configured to allow the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal when a pressure of the flow of fluid decreases.
4 . The choke valve insert of claim 3 , wherein the portion of the flow of fluid that has returned to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal further returns to the orifice.
5 . The choke valve insert of claim 1 , wherein the seal housing has a channel, and wherein the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal passes through the channel and into the cavity prior to returning to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal.
6 . The choke valve insert of claim 1 , wherein the seal assembly further comprises a dampener disposed, at least in part, within the outer slot and is configured to dampen a vibration.
7 . The choke valve insert of claim 1 , wherein the choke valve insert is disposed within a valve body.
8 . A method comprising: disposing a choke valve insert within a valve body, wherein the choke valve insert comprises: a cage having an orifice, a bonnet disposed, at least in part, superior to the cage, wherein the bonnet has a stem bore and a cavity, a valve stem disposed, at least in part, within the stem bore and translatable into and out of the orifice, and a seal assembly disposed within the cavity and around the stem bore, wherein the seal assembly comprises: a seal housing having an inner slot and an outer slot, an inner seal disposed, at least in part, within the inner slot and configured to form a first seal with the valve stem; and an outer seal disposed, at least in part, within the outer slot and configured to form a second seal with the bonnet, receiving, by the orifice, a flow of fluid having a first pressure, wherein a portion of the flow of fluid migrates from the orifice into the stem bore; for a first time, preventing, using the inner seal, the portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal; for a second time, mitigating, using the inner seal, the portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal; and for a third time, allowing, using the seal housing and the outer seal, the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein receiving the flow of fluid comprises translating the valve stem into or out of the orifice to regulate the flow of fluid.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second time occurs when the choke valve insert vibrates.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the third time occurs when the orifice receives the flow of fluid having a second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising allowing the portion of the flow of fluid that has returned to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal to further return to the orifice.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the seal housing has a channel, and further comprising allowing the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to pass through the channel and into the cavity prior to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal.
14 . A seal assembly comprising: a seal housing having an inner slot and an outer slot; an inner seal disposed, at least in part, within the inner slot and configured to form a first seal with an inner member to prevent a flow of fluid inferior to the inner seal from leaking superiorly past the inner seal; and an outer seal disposed, at least in part, within the outer slot and configured to form a second seal with an outer member, wherein the outer seal is further configured to allow the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return inferior to the inner seal when the inner seal fails to form the first seal.
15 . The seal assembly of claim 14 , wherein the seal housing has a channel.
16 . The seal assembly of claim 14 , wherein the inner seal comprises a UV-seal system.
17 . The seal assembly of claim 16 , wherein the UV-seal system comprises a UV-seal.
18 . The seal assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a dampener disposed, at least in part, within the outer slot and configured to dampen a vibration.
19 . The seal assembly of claim 18 , wherein the dampener comprises an o-ring.
20 . The seal assembly of claim 18 , wherein the dampener comprises an S-seal.

Description

BACKGROUND A choke valve insert is used in various industries to regulate a flow of fluid, such as fluid flowing through a pipeline. Industries may include the oil and gas industry, power generation industry, and water treatment industry. To regulate the flow of fluid, the choke valve insert uses an orifice configured to receive the flow of fluid and a valve stem translatable into and out of the orifice to alter the amount of fluid flowing through the orifice. The altered amount of fluid flowing through the orifice may be such that the fluid has a prescribed flow rate and pressure among other prescribed variables. As the flow of fluid flows through the choke valve insert, a portion of the flow of fluid may unintentionally leak past an inner seal of the choke valve insert. For example, fluid may unintentionally leak past the inner seal when the choke valve insert experiences vibrations. Fluid that leaks past the inner seal may be trapped and unable to return to the main flow of fluid flowing through the orifice. SUMMARY This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter. In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a choke valve insert. The choke valve insert includes a cage, bonnet, valve stem, and seal assembly. The cage has an orifice configured to receive a flow of fluid. The bonnet is disposed superior to the cage. The bonnet has a stem bore and cavity. The valve stem is disposed within the stem bore, translatable into and out of the orifice, and configured to regulate the flow of fluid. The seal assembly is disposed within the cavity and around the stem bore. The seal assembly includes a seal housing, inner seal, and outer seal. The seal housing has an inner slot and outer slot. The inner seal is disposed within the inner slot and configured to form a first seal with the valve stem to prevent a portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal. The outer seal is disposed within the outer slot. The outer seal is configured to form a second seal with the bonnet and allow the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal when the inner seal fails to form the first seal. In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a method. The method includes disposing a choke valve insert within a valve body and receiving, by an orifice of a cage of the choke valve insert, a flow of fluid having a first pressure, where the flow of fluid migrates from the orifice into the stem bore. The method further includes, during a first time, preventing, using the inner seal, the portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal and, during a second time, mitigating, using an inner seal of a seal assembly of the choke valve insert, the portion of the flow of fluid from leaking superiorly past the inner seal. The method still further includes, during a third time, allowing, using a seal housing and an outer seal of the seal assembly, the portion of the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return to the stem bore inferior to the inner seal. In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a seal housing, inner seal, and outer seal. The seal housing has an inner slot and outer slot. The inner seal is disposed within the inner slot and configured to form a first seal with an inner member to prevent a flow of fluid inferior to the inner seal from leaking superiorly past the inner seal. The outer seal is disposed within the outer slot. The outer seal is configured to form a second seal with an outer member and allow the flow of fluid that has leaked superiorly past the inner seal to return inferior to the inner seal when the inner seal fails to form the first seal. Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates a choke valve in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 2 illustrates a choke valve insert in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate seal assemblies in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate seal assemblies in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate seal assemblies in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIGS. 6-7 illustrate seal assemblies in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIG. 8 describes a method in accordance with one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a seal assembly and methods of using the same. The seal assembly may be used in any equipment that receives a flow of fluid that may lea