HIGH PRESSURE BALL VALVE AND PACKING

摘要

A ball valve for ultra-high pressure wherein the inner annular surface(s) of the valve seat(s) has an sealing face in sealing engagement with the flow control element, support surfaces adjacent the sealing face in contact with the flow control element, and vent grooves between adjacent support surfaces and the sealing face. A method to utilize the ball valve involves rotating the control element and maintaining a pressure of 275.8 MPa (40,000 psi) or more for at least 1 hour without leaking before opening or after closing the valve.

主权项

1. A valve comprising:
a valve body comprising a fluid flow bore disposed therethrough having an inlet end, an outlet end and a flow control assembly located within a portion of the fluid flow bore; the flow control assembly comprising a flow control element disposed between, and having an outer surface (with respect to the flow control element) for sealing contact with, an inner annular surface (with respect to the flow control element) of an inlet valve seat and an inner annular surface of an outlet valve seat, wherein the flow control element is rotatable between an open and a closed position; a Belleville spring biasing the inlet valve seat against the flow control element; a valve stem extending from an outer end (with respect to the flow control element) through a packing bore disposed radially around the valve stem in the valve body to an inner end (with respect to the flow control element) of the valve stem rotationally engaging a recess disposed in the flow control element; an inlet sealing face on a portion of the inner annular surface of the inlet valve seat dimensioned and arranged to physically contact and sealingly engage a portion of the outer surface of the fluid flow control element; a first plurality of support surfaces adjacent the inlet sealing face dimensioned and arranged to physically contact the outer surface of the fluid flow control element; and a first plurality of respective vent grooves disposed between adjacent ones of the first plurality of support surfaces, and between the first plurality of support surfaces and the inlet sealing face.