Abstract: Multiport valve with outlets transverse to the inlet useful as a coker switch valve. A sealed lower sleeve assembly provides semi-trunnion ball support. An upper part of the outlet seat recesses is formed in the bonnet, and a lower part in the valve body, which together bias a resilient member to load the seats, independently of end connections. Before bonnet assembly, when the ball is rotated to face a body outlet, there is sufficient space in the seat recesses to insert the seat, slide the seat onto the ball, and then insert the resilient member. When all the seats and resilient members are in place, engagement of the bonnet biases the upper part of the resilient members to load the seat. In valve operation, an enlarged ball outlet bore can straddle two outlet ports and maintain process media flow during switching. Also, methods of assembling, operating, and servicing the valve.

Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.

Abstract: An operating system for switching a coker switch valve to drum A, drum B, and bypass. The system has a shear pin linkage between the actuator and the valve stem and a position indicator independent of the actuator, to maintain functionality in the event of shear pin failure; and/or lockout functionality to prevent an inadvertent switch to bypass when switching between drum A and drum B and to lock down bypass mode to prevent an inadvertent switch from bypass to an open drum.

Abstract: Multiport valve with outlets transverse to the inlet useful as a coker switch valve. A sealed lower sleeve assembly provides semi-trunnion ball support. An upper part of the outlet seat recesses is formed in the bonnet, and a lower part in the valve body, which together bias a resilient member to load the seats, independently of end connections. Before bonnet assembly, when the ball is rotated to face a body outlet, there is sufficient space in the seat recesses to insert the seat, slide the seat onto the ball, and then insert the resilient member. When all the seats and resilient members are in place, engagement of the bonnet biases the upper part of the resilient members to load the seat. In valve operation, an enlarged ball outlet bore can straddle two outlet ports and maintain process media flow during switching. Also, methods of assembling, operating, and servicing the valve.

Abstract: A ball valve has a purge fluid inlet passage into a cavity between a valve body and a flow control element, and has a purge fluid drain. The inlet passage is oriented at an angle relative to a normal line to the spherical ball surface at the location of the inlet passage, to promote vorticial flow of the purge fluid. A method introduces a purge fluid into a ball valve body cavity; removes the purge fluid from an outlet drain; and induces a vortex in a flow path of the purge fluid through the body cavity. The method can flush debris from the body cavity between operating cycles of the ball valve by at least temporarily opening the inlet and outlet before and/or after operation of the valve.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A multiport severe service ball valve comprising a main bore in fluid communication with a plurality of auxiliary bores arranged about the main bore such that a maximum spacing between a flow control element of the auxiliary bore and an outer surface of the main bore is less than two times a diameter of the main bore. Systems comprising the multiport severe service ball valve and methods of using it are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball valve for ultra-high pressure applications wherein the inner annular surface(s) of the valve seat(s) has an annular 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 between the sealing face and the support surfaces. A method to utilize the bidirectional ball valve involves rotating the valve stem and 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A ball valve for ultra-high pressure applications wherein the inner annular surface(s) of the valve seat(s) has an annular 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 between the sealing face and the support surfaces. A method to utilize the bidirectional ball valve involves rotating the valve stem and 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.

Abstract: A bidirectional ball valve for ultra-high pressure applications wherein the inner end of the valve stem has sides dimensioned to rotationally engage a corresponding recess in the flow control element having larger corresponding sides disposed to allow for lateral movement of the flow control element, and wherein the inner annular surface of a valve seat has an annular sealing face in sealing engagement with the flow control element, support surfaces adjacent the sealing face in contact with the flow control element, and lateral vent grooves between the support surfaces. A method to utilize the bidirectional ball valve involves rotating the valve stem and 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.

Abstract: Gland thruster reinforced for high pressure application and valve incorporating the gland thruster. Methods to use the gland thruster and valve are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tubular fluid flow device of varying outside dimensions adapted for use in a high pressure, rapidly cycling temperature environment, an isolation ball valve, a ball valve isolation method and a catalyst transfer method. The flow device 10 can have a tubular member 12 having at least one locus 14, 16 of non-uniform outside dimension and an axial flow passage 20 with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements. A thermal sleeve liner 22 can be disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore 24 formed in the tubular member, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer surface having a thermal barrier coating 26. A pressure-relief passage 28 is provided in fluid communication between the axial flow passage and an interface between an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore.

Abstract: A tubular fluid flow device of varying outside dimensions adapted for use in a high pressure, rapidly cycling temperature environment, an isolation ball valve, a ball valve isolation method and a catalyst transfer method. The flow device 10 can have a tubular member 12 having at least one locus 14, 16 of non-uniform outside dimension and an axial flow passage 20 with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements. A thermal sleeve liner 22 can be disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore 24 formed in the tubular member, wherein the sleeve comprises an outer surface having a thermal barrier coating 26. A pressure-relief passage 28 is provided in fluid communication between the axial flow passage and an interface between an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore.

Abstract: An impedance seat (10) having an impedance element (19) that can be mounted in conjunction with a seat in a ball valve (52). The impedance seat has a concave surface (16) matching the curvature of the ball (76) and a plurality of flow paths (18) formed through it. An impedance assembly can have a plurality of stacked plates (34) that define the flow paths. The impedance seat can have a full flow window (104) having a radius that matches the profile of a flow bore (86) of the ball valve in an intermediate position. The impedance seat can be easily fabricated to provide improved impedance characteristics, and can be used in an original ball valve, or in a retrofit for an existing valve.

Abstract: A thermally compensated mounting flange 10 useful for mechanically attaching equipment to a device which can be operated at a relatively high temperature is disclosed, such as an actuator 32 to operate valve 12. The mounting flange 10 and valve 12 can be made of different materials with unequal thermal expansion coefficients. The mounting flange 10 has a flange portion 14 and one or more legs 16A,16B extending from the flange portion 14 to a distal end mechanically secured to the valve 12. At least one pin 36 can be disposed through an attachment bore 22,24,26 in a leg 16A,16B and into or through the body of valve 12. An open-ended slot 30 is formed from the distal end and terminates at an aperture 28 spaced from a periphery of a leg 16A,16B. Aperture 28 can conveniently serve as a sight hole for inspection of the top of valve 12.

Abstract: A ball valve (10) is disclosed with an orifice (58) to control the flow of fluids in which the downstream seal (52) is never directly exposed to erosive wear from the fluid flow. The orifice (58) is only open in a limited range of the ball (42) rotation. Upon rotation of the ball (42) from the full closed position, the orifice starts to open on the outlet side (62) first and after the outlet orifice is fully open the orifice opens to the inlet side (60). The size of the opening on the inlet side (60) can be adjusted to control the flow rate of fluid through the orifice (58) in the ball (42). When closing the valve, the inlet side closes first and then the outlet side. The orifice (58) of the ball (42) thus passes the outlet seal (52) under no-flow conditions, and gross erosion of the outlet seal can be avoided.

Abstract: A method of forming a ball valve element for a rotary ball valve assembly, the method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting an impedance element through an insertion opening of a ball valve element into a bore; (b) forming a fluid opening in the ball valve element which is non-rectilinearly aligned with the insertion opening and which communicates with the bore; and (c) sealing the insertion opening. A ball valve element for a rotary ball valve assembly formed using such a method; and a rotary ball valve assembly comprising a ball valve element formed using such a method are also provided.

Abstract: A thermally compensated mounting flange 10 useful for mechanically attaching equipment to a device which can be operated at a relatively high temperature is disclosed, such as an actuator 32 to operate valve 12. The mounting flange 10 and valve 12 can be made of different materials with unequal thermal expansion coefficients. The mounting flange 10 has a flange portion 14 and one or more legs 16A,16B extending from the flange portion 14 to a distal end mechanically secured to the valve 12. At least one pin 36 can be disposed through an attachment bore 22,24,26 in a leg 16A,16B and into or through the body of valve 12. An open-ended slot 30 is formed from the distal end and terminates at an aperture 28 spaced from a periphery of a leg 16A,16B. Aperture 28 can conveniently serve as a sight hole for inspection of the top of valve 12.

Abstract: A valve 100 comprising a one piece valve body 112 having an axial fluid bore 124 therethrough and a fluid control element 110 rotatable between open and closed positions. The body 112 includes an integral bracket 128 which provides an open access area between the bracket 128 and the main body 112 of the valve 100. A valve stem 130 is disposed within a stem bore 135, and 137 extending from the valve body 112 to the bracket 128, and engaging the flow control element 110. A contiguous single piece gland flange 142 secures packing 134 disposed between a valve body bore 137 and the stem 130. The stem 130 includes an enlarged shoulder 152 which engages a contiguous single piece shear bushing 148 having a diameter greater than the diameter of the stem bore 130, thereby preventing removal and/or blowout of the stem 130 without prior removal of the shear bushing 148.