Environmental Subsea Control Hydraulic Fluid Compositions

• US 20140027657A1
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Published: 01/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: W. Canning Ltd. (Element Solutions Inc)
• Original Assignee: Macdermid Offshore Solutions LLC (Element Solutions Inc)
• Inventors: Smith, Ian D., Kennedy, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,096,812 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/12
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 129/32 monocarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 173/02 not containing mineral or fatty oils
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/062 Oxides; Hydroxides; Carbonates or bicarbonates
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2201/087 Boron oxides, acids or salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/0225 used as base material
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/08 Aldehydes; Ketones
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/122 monocarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/123 polycarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2207/127 polycarboxylic
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/04 having amino groups bound to acyclic or cycloaliphatic carbon atoms
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/14 Containing carbon-to-nitrogen double bounds, e.g. guanidines, hydrazones, semicarbazones
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/222 Triazines
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2215/225 the rings containing both nitrogen and oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2219/044 Sulfonic acids, Derivatives thereof, e.g. neutral salts
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/04 Phosphate esters
• CPC Class Codes: C10M 2223/10 Phosphatides, e.g. lecithin, cephalin
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2010/02 Groups 1 or 11
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/06 Oiliness; Film-strength; Anti-wear; Resistance to extreme pressure
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/12 Inhibition of corrosion, e.g. anti-rust agents or anti-corrosives
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/40 Low content or no content compositions
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2030/66 : Hydrolytic stability
• CPC Class Codes: C10N 2040/08 : Hydraulic fluids, e.g. brake-fluids

Abstract

An aqueous hydraulic fluid composition comprising (i) a salt of formic acid, and (ii) one or more lubricants such as a monovalent metal salt, ammonium, or amine salt of a dicarboxylic acid, is described in which the aqueous hydraulic fluid composition demonstrates increased thermal stability when exposed to elevated temperatures for a prolonged period of time while being able to tolerate the presence of 10% v/v synthetic seawater. The aqueous hydraulic fluid composition contains less than about 20% by weight (preferably none or substantially none) of an oil selected from the group consisting of mineral oils, synthetic hydrocarbon oils, and mixtures thereof. The hydraulic fluid preferably contains no glycols in some embodiments. The pH of the hydraulic fluid is preferably from 8 to 10 and is maintained by a buffer which preferably comprises borax in some embodiments.

Claims

1. A process for actuating a valve, said process comprising filling a hydraulic line connected to said valve with an aqueous hydraulic fluid composition comprising:

(i) water;

(ii) at least one salt of formic acid;

(iii) at least one salt of a dicarboxylic acid;

(iv) alkali metal or ammonium hydroxide such that the pH of the fluid is between 8 and 10;

wherein the fluid is substantially free of mineral oils, hydrocarbon oils, and glycols; and

applying pressure to said aqueous hydraulic fluid.

2. The process according to claim 1 wherein the dicarboxylic acid succinic acid.

3. The process to claim 1 wherein the salt of formic acid comprises potassium formate.

4. The process according to claim 1 wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises an alkyl dicarboxylic acid with 18 or 21 carbon atoms.

5. The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition also comprises an arylsulfonamido caproic acid alkanolamine salt.

6. The process according to claim 1 wherein the composition also comprises borax.

7. The process to claim 1 wherein the composition also comprises an ethoxylated acid phosphate ester.

8. The process to claim 1, further comprising a second lubricant, said second lubricant selected from the group consisting of alkyl/aryl phosphate esters, alkyl/aryl phosphate esters, phospholipids, carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, and combinations of the foregoing.

9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the second lubricant comprises a phospholipids and the phospholipids comprises a phosphatide selected from the group consisting of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserien, phosphatidylethanolamine and combinations of one or more of the foregoing.

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a biocide.

11. The process to claim 10, wherein the biocide is selected from the group consisting of a boron containing salt, such as borax decahydrate, a sulfur-containing biocide or a nitrogen-containing biocide. Nitrogen-containing biocides include gluteraldehyde, triazines, oxazolidines, and guanidines as well as compounds selected from fatty acid quaternary ammonium salts, such as didecyl dimethyl quaternary ammonium chloride salt.

12. The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises of one or more secondary corrosion inhibitors.

13. The process according to claim 12, wherein the secondary corrosion inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of alkyl/aryl phosphate esters, alkyl/aryl phosphate esters, phospholipids, carboxylic acids, salts of carboxylic acids, and combinations of the foregoing.

14. The process according to claim 2 wherein the composition comprises potassium formate.

15. The process according to claim 14 wherein the composition also comprises an arylsulfonamido caproic acid alkanol amine salt.

16. A process for actuating a valve, said process comprising filling a hydraulic line connected to said valve with an aqueous hydraulic fluid composition comprising:

(i) water;

(ii) at least one salt of a dicarboxylic acid;

(iii) borax;

(iv) hydroxide ions such that the pH of the fluid is between 8 and 10

wherein the fluid is substantially free of mineral oils and hydrocarbon oils; and

applying pressure to said aqueous hydraulic fluid.

17. The process according to claim 16 wherein the composition also comprises monoethylene glycol.

18. The process according to claim 17 wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises succinic acid.

19. The process according to claim 17 wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises an alkyl dicarboxylic acid with 18 or 21 carbon atoms.

20. The process according to claim 16 wherein the composition also comprises an arylsulfonamido caproic acid alkanolamine salt.

21. The process according to claim 16 wherein the composition also comprises an ethoxylated acid phosphate ester.

22. The process according to claim 21 wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises succinic acid.

23. The process according to claim 22 wherein the composition also comprises an arylsulfonamido caproic acid alkanolamine salt.

24. The process according to claim 16 wherein the composition is free of glycols.

25. The process according to claim 24 wherein the composition also comprises a salt of formic acid.