Multiport valve

A method of operating a coker switch valve, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a coker switch valve comprising a valve body comprising a body inlet coaxial to a first axis and a plurality of body outlets each oriented at an angle transverse to the first axis, wherein a flow control element received in a cavity of the valve body has a ball inlet radially arranged about the first axis, a ball outlet radially arranged about the transverse angle, and is rotatable about the first axis to selectively align the ball outlet with each of the plurality of body outlets separately, wherein the ball outlet has a ball outlet area larger than a ball inlet area of the ball inlet;
• (b) aligning the ball outlet with a first one of the body outlets for supply of process media exclusively through the valve body inlet, the ball inlet, the ball outlet and the first body outlet;
• (c) rotating the flow control element to overlap the ball outlet with portions of the first and a second one of the body outlets for supply of process media exclusively through the valve body inlet, the ball inlet, the ball outlet and the first and second body outlets;
• and
• (d) aligning the ball outlet with the second valve body outlet for supply of process media exclusively through the valve body inlet, the ball inlet, the ball outlet and the second valve body outlet.

A method to assemble a coker switch valve, comprising the sequential steps of:

• (a) inserting an inlet sleeve assembly into engagement with a main valve body about a valve body inlet, a lower part of a plurality of outlet seat recesses formed in the main valve body;
• (b) inserting a flow control element into the main valve body to engage the inlet sleeve assembly, the flow control element comprising a ball inlet and a ball outlet larger than the ball inlet;
• (c) inserting respective ones of outlet valve seat assemblies and resilient members into the respective lower part of the outlet seat recesses;
• and
• (d) engaging a bonnet with the main valve body, wherein an upper part of the plurality of outlet seat recesses is formed in the bonnet, wherein the bonnet biases the upper portions of the resilient members against the respective upper portions of the outlet valve seat assemblies.

A method of servicing a coker switch valve, comprising:

• (a) removing an upper bonnet from a lower main valve body of a multiport valve, the multiport valve comprising:
• a valve body comprising a body inlet coaxial to a first axis and a plurality of body outlets each oriented at an angle transverse to the first axis;
• a spherical flow control element disposed within a cavity of the valve body;
• and a respective outlet seat recess formed about each body outlet adjacent the flow control element, the outlet seat recesses receiving respective resilient members disposed between the valve NX and outlet valve seat assemblies, wherein the outlet valve seat assemblies are disposed between the resilient members and the flow control element, wherein the valve body comprises the lower main valve body sealingly engageable with the upper bonnet, wherein a lower part of each outlet seat recess is formed in the lower main valve body and an upper part of the outlet seat recess is formed in the upper bonnet wherein removing the upper bonnet disengages the upper part of the outlet seat recess from the outlet valve seat assemblies and resilient members;
• (b) removing the resilient members and outlet valve seat assemblies and from the lower part of each outlet seat recess in the lower main valve body, wherein the removal comprises:
• (i) orienting a ball outlet of the flow control element towards one of the body outlets;
• (ii) removing the respective resilient member from the lower part of the respective outlet seat recess;
• (iii) then disengaging the respective outlet valve seat assembly from the spherical flow control dement and removing the respective outlet valve seat assembly from the lower part of the outlet seat recess;
• and
• (iv) repeating steps (i) to (iii) for each additional body outlet;
• and
• (c) removing the spherical flow control element from the lower main valve body.

A tool for removal of a resilient member from a coker switch valve comprising (1) a valve body comprising a body inlet coaxial to a first axis and a plurality of body outlets each oriented at an angle transverse to the first axis;

• (2) a spherical flow control element disposed within a cavity of the valve body and supported by a sleeve assembly radially arranged about the body inlet and engaging a corresponding groove disposed into a bottom of the spherical flow control element (3) wherein the valve body comprises a lower main body sealingly engaged with an upper bonnet;
• (4) a lower part of a respective outlet seat recess formed in the lower main body of the valve;
• (5) an upper part of the respective outlet seat recess formed in the bonnet;
• (6) wherein the bonnet and body together bias a respective one of the resilient members to load the seat, maintaining alignment of the ball and equalizing stresses, independently of end connection loads;
• the tool comprising:
• an elongated member having a bottom appendage dimensioned to fit into the lower portion of the outlet seat recess between the main body and the resilient member, and a selectively retractable/extendable portion dimensioned to extend away from a face of the tool to engage an inner edge of the resilient member after the tool is inserted into position between the resilient member and the main body.