Valve seat assemblies, valve assemblies, and fluid ends for high power pumps and related methods

A fluid end to enhance reliability of a valve seat for a high-power pump, the fluid end comprising:

• (a) a fluid end block at least partially defining a fluid passage;
• (b) a valve assembly connected to the fluid end block and positioned to at least partially control fluid flow through the fluid passage, and the valve assembly comprising:
• (i) a valve member positioned to reciprocate, relative to a fluid passage of the high-power pump, between a closed position preventing fluid flow through the fluid passage and an open position allowing fluid flow through the fluid passage;
• (ii) a biasing member connected to the valve member, the biasing member being positioned to bias the valve member in one of the closed position or the open position;
• and
• (iii) a valve seat assembly comprising:
• (aa) a seat carrier associated with the valve member, the seat carrier including a carrier body at least partially defining a carrier passage and comprising a first material having a first material hardness, the carrier body at least partially defining a seat carrier recess, the seat carrier recess at least partially defining a recess wall dimension;
• and
• (bb) a seat insert positioned in the seat carrier recess, such that the valve member contacts the seat insert in the closed position and is spaced from the seat insert in the open position, the seat insert including an insert body comprising a second material having a material hardness greater than the first material hardness, the insert body at least partially defining (i) an insert passage and (ii) an insert outer wall dimension, the insert outer wall dimension being greater than the recess wall dimension, thereby to provide an interference fit between the seat insert and the seat carrier recess, such that the seat carrier recess compresses the seat insert and extends a service life of the seat insert;
• and
• (c) a valve assembly retainer connected to one or more of the fluid end block or the valve assembly, one or more of the fluid end block or the valve assembly retainer at least partially defining a seat assembly recess, the valve seat assembly being at least partially positioned in the seat assembly recess.

A method to enhance reliability of a valve seat assembly for a high-power pump, the method comprising:

• expanding a seat carrier recess in a seat carrier of the valve seat assembly to provide an expanded seat carrier recess;
• positioning a seat insert of the valve seat assembly in the expanded seat carrier recess;
• and
• contracting the seat carrier recess around the seat insert, thereby to engage the seat insert via the seat carrier recess, such that the seat carrier recess compresses the seat insert.