SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW

• US 20160108699A1
• Filed: 10/20/2014
• Published: 04/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Cameron International Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Elliott, Declan, Martino, Jerry A., Amberg, James
• Granted Patent: US 10,145,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 34/025 Chokes or valves in wellheads and sub-sea wellheads for variably regulating fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 1/123 with stationary valve member and moving sleeve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/265 with a sleeve sliding in the direction of the flow line

Abstract

A system includes a choke valve having a fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure and a fluid outlet configured to output the fluid at a second pressure. The choke valve also includes a fixed component and a movable component defining a throttling orifice between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. Additionally, the movable component is configured to automatically move relative to the fixed component in response to a change in the first pressure to maintain a consistent percent pressure drop between the first pressure at the fluid inlet and the second pressure at the fluid outlet.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a choke valve, comprising;

a fluid inlet configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure;

a fluid outlet configured to output the fluid at a second pressure;

a fixed component and a movable component defining a throttling orifice between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, wherein the movable component is configured to automatically move relative to the fixed component in response to a change in the first pressure to maintain a consistent percent pressure drop between the first pressure at the fluid inlet and the second pressure at the fluid outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed component comprises a needle and the movable component comprises a seat that is configured to receive the needle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable component comprises an intensifier piston having a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable component has a first cross-sectional area proximate the fluid inlet, a second cross-sectional area proximate the fluid outlet, and the second cross-sectional area is greater than the first cross-sectional area.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the consistent percent pressure drop provided by the choke valve is based on a ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein a pressure ratio of the second pressure to the first pressure is substantially equal to a ratio of the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area.

7. The system of claim 1, comprising a port extending from an accumulator to an annular volume disposed between a portion of a radially-outer surface of the movable component and a portion of a radially-inner surface of the valve body while the choke valve is in an open configuration, wherein the port is configured to transfer a stored fluid between the accumulator and the annular volume as the movable component moves relative to the fixed component.

8. The system of claim 7, comprising a pump coupled to the port, wherein the pump enables adjustment of a pressure within the annular volume to drive the movable component away from the fixed component.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed component comprises a cylindrical plug and the movable component comprises an annular cage configured to receive the cylindrical plug, wherein the annular cage comprises a plurality of passageways disposed circumferentially about the annular cage and that are configured to throttle the fluid as the fluid flows from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the fixed component comprises an annular external sleeve and the movable component comprises an annular internal cage disposed within the annular external sleeve, wherein the annular internal cage includes a plurality of passageways disposed circumferentially about the annular internal sleeve and that are configured to throttle the fluid as the fluid flows from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet.

11. A system, comprising:

a choke valve, comprising;

a fixed component and a movable component defining a throttling orifice configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure and to output the fluid at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure;

wherein the movable component comprises a first cross-sectional area configured to be in contact with the fluid at the first pressure and a second cross-sectional area, greater than the first cross-sectional area, and configured to be in contact with the fluid at the second pressure, and wherein the moveable component is configured to automatically move relative to the fixed component to a position in which a first product of the first cross-sectional area and the first pressure is substantially equal to a second product of the second cross-sectional area and the second pressure.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the choke valve is configured to provide a consistent percent change in pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure as the first pressure changes.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the movable component is configured to automatically move without interaction with an operator, a motor, or an electronic controller.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the fixed component comprises a needle and the movable component comprises a seat that is configured to receive the needle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the movable component comprises an intensifier piston coupled to the seat.

16. A system, comprising:

a first choke valve, comprising;

a valve body;

a fixed component coupled to the valve body;

a movable component slidingly disposed within the valve body; and

a throttling orifice defined by the fixed component and the movable component and configured to receive a fluid at a first pressure and to output the fluid at a second pressure, lower than the first pressure;

wherein the movable component is configured to automatically slide within the valve body in response to a change in the first pressure until a first force exerted by the fluid at the first pressure on the movable component is substantially equal to a second force exerted by the fluid at the second pressure on the movable component.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the movable component comprises a first cross-sectional area and a second cross-sectional area, greater than the first cross-sectional area.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first choke valve is configured to provide a consistent percent change in pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure as the first pressure changes.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the movable component comprises an intensifier piston having a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter greater than the first diameter.

20. The system of claim 16, comprising a second choke valve upstream from the first choke valve, wherein the second choke valve is configured to throttle a flow of fluid and to output the fluid at the first pressure.