Flow characterization in a flowpath

A ball valve, comprising:

• a valve housing defining a flowpath and a longitudinal axis of the flowpath;
• a valve member mounted in the flowpath for selective rotation about an axis of rotation extending through the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, the valve member having an outer surface thereof defining a controlling edge which is selectively movable along a path extending substantially transverse to both the longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation between a fully open and a fully closed position of the valve member in the flowpath as the valve member is rotated about the rotational axis;
• and
• a flow characterizing device attached to the valve housing in the flowpath adjacent to the valve member, for modifying fluid flow through the flowpath, the flow characterizing device comprising:
• a body, defining a longitudinal centerline of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, and a transverse axis of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the path of the controlling edge, the body also defining a datum surface of the flow characterizing device corresponding to the outer surface of the valve member, and inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device disposed in a spaced relationship along the centerline of the flow characterizing device;
• the inner surface of the flow characterizing device defining a land surface thereof conforming to a portion of the datum surface and contoured to bear against the outer surface of the valve member, for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the land surface and the outer surface of the valve member;
• the inner surface of the flow characterizing device further defining a segmented flow characterizing channel therein bounded at least partially by the land surface and the datum surface and including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole extending through the body for providing fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device, and the other two of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole, with each discrete segment opening through the datum surface, and, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned therewith, providing a uniquely sized, discrete, flow area at least partially bounded by the datum surface, for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath.

A method for modifying fluid flow through a flowpath having a valve member therein, where the flowpath defines a longitudinal axis thereof and the valve member includes an outer surface thereof having a controlling edge which is selectively movable, along a path extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, between a fully open and a fully closed position of the valve member in the flowpath, the method comprising inserting a flow characterizing device into the flowpath adjacent the valve member, wherein the flow characterizing device includes:

• a body, defining a longitudinal centerline of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the flowpath when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and a transverse axis of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the path of the controlling edge when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, the body also defining a datum surface of the flow characterizing device corresponding to the outer surface of the valve member when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device disposed in a spaced relationship along the centerline of the flow characterizing device;
• the inner surface of the flow characterizing device defining a land surface thereof conforming to a portion of the datum surface and contoured to bear against the outer surface of the valve member, for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the land surface and the outer surface of the valve member;
• the inner surface of the flow characterizing device further defining a segmented flow characterizing channel therein bounded at least partially by the land surface and the datum surface and including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole extending through the body for providing fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device, and the other two of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole, with each discrete segment opening through the datum surface, and, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned therewith, providing a uniquely sized, discrete, flow area at least partially bounded by the datum surface, for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath.