Backflow and flow rate control valve
AssigneeSchlumberger Technology Corporation
InventorGary Oddie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A backflow and flow rate control system, comprising: a flow restrictor; a flow regulator chamber located down-stream of the flow restrictor; a control chamber configured to receive a portion of the fluid from a location upstream of the flow restrictor; a moveable element with no sliding parts positioned between the control chamber and the flow regulator chamber, wherein the moveable element is configured to move in response to a difference in pressure between the flow regulator chamber and the control chamber; a flow rate regulator configured to control the flow rate of the fluid in response to the movement of the moveable element; and a non-return regulator coupled with the moveable element and configured to control back-flow of the fluid.
Claims25
A method for controlling flow properties of a fluid flowing in a conduit, comprising:
- diverting a portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit to a control location;
- passing an un-diverted portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit through a flow restrictor to a location downstream of the flow restrictor;
- and
- using movements of a moveable element with no sliding parts to operate a flow rate regulator to control the flow rate of the un-diverted portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit, wherein the moveable element is configured to move in response to a pressure difference between the diverted portion of the diverted portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit at the control location flowing and the un-diverted portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit at the location downstream of the flow restrictor.
A system for controlling flow rate and back flow of a fluid flowing in a conduit, comprising:
- a flow restrictor coupled with the conduit;
- a flow regulator chamber coupled with the flow restrictor and located downstream of the flow restrictor;
- a control chamber configured to receive a portion of the fluid flowing in the conduit from a location upstream of the flow restrictor;
- a moveable element with no sliding parts positioned so that at least a part of the moveable element is disposed between the control chamber and the flow regulator chamber, wherein the moveable element is configured to move in response to a difference in pressure between the flow regulator chamber and the control chamber;
- a flow rate regulator coupled with the moveable element and configured to control the flow rate of the fluid in response to the movement of the moveable element;
- and
- a non-return regulator coupled with the moveable element and configured, to control back-flow of the fluid.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.