# US 8,783,279 B2 · Tubular member with thermal sleeve liner

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- Number: US 8,783,279 B2
- Document ID: US8783279B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/832,713
- Filed: 2010-07-08
- Published: 2011-01-27
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2009-07-24
- Assignees: Mogas Industries, Inc.
- Applicants: John B. Williams, Jr.; Vinh Nguyen; Jimmy Walker, Jr.
- Inventors: John B. Williams, Jr.; Vinh Nguyen; Jimmy Walker, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783279B2

## CPC

- F16K 27/067: {with spherical plugs}
- B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00)
- F16L 23/18: the sealing means being rings
- F16L 59/147: the insulation being located inwardly of the outer surface of the pipe
- H03D 3/02: by detecting phase difference between two signals obtained from input signal (H03D3/28 - H03D3/32 take precedence; {muting in frequency-modulation receivers H03G3/28}; limiting arrangements H03G11/00)
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- Y10T 137/0318: Processes
- Y10T 137/0508: Ball valve or rotary ball valve
- Y10T 137/7036: Jacketed
- Y10T 137/87917: Flow path with serial valves and/or closures
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tubular fluid flow device of varying outside dimensions for use in a rapidly cycling temperature environment, comprising:
a tubular member (10) having at least one locus of non-uniform outside dimension (14, 16) and an axial flow passage (20) with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements (16);
a thermal sleeve liner (22) disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore (24) formed in the tubular member;
a thermal barrier coating (26) disposed on an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner (22) located at an interface between and in direct contact with the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore; and
a pressure-relief passage (28) in fluid communication with the interface between the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and the inner surface of the bore.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An isolation ball valve, comprising a pair of opposing ball valve members (102A, 102B) connected on either end of an end connector (104), wherein the end connector comprises the tubular fluid flow device of claim 1.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The isolation ball valve of claim 2 wherein the tubular member has seat recesses (106) to retain seals (108) adjacent the ball valve members.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The isolation ball valve of claim 3 wherein the pressure-relief passage comprises annular passages formed by an axial offset between an end of the thermal sleeve liner and the respective seals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 comprising flanged end connections and wherein the tubular member has a uniform outside diameter between the flanged end connections.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 wherein the thermal sleeve liner is press fitted in the bore, shrink fitted in the bore, welded in the bore, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier coating comprises ceramic.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier coating comprises zirconia.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier coating comprises yttria-stabilized zirconia.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1 wherein the thermal sleeve liner comprises a hardened, heat-resistant material.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1, further comprising a bond layer (30) between and in direct contact with the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and the thermal barrier coating such that the thermal barrier coating (26) is disposed between and in direct contact with the bond layer of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore.

### Claim 12

A ball valve isolation method for a high pressure, rapidly cycling temperature service, comprising:
installing an isolation ball valve (204, 208) in a line (202) comprising a pair of opposing ball valve members (102A, 102B) connected on either end of an end connector (104) comprising a tubular fluid flow device; and
cycling operation of the isolation ball valve in service at a temperature swing of at least 250° C. at a frequency of at least one cycle per week;
wherein the tubular fluid flow device comprises a tubular member (10) having at least one locus of non-uniform outside dimension (14, 16) and an axial flow passage (20) with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements (16);
a thermal sleeve liner (22) 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); and
a pressure-relief passage (28) in fluid communication with an interface between an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore, and
wherein the thermal sleeve liner is effective to inhibit thermal fatigue stress cracking in the end connector.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The ball valve isolation method of claim 12 wherein alternating thermal stresses developed in the tubular member are less than 52 ksi (360 MPa).

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The ball valve isolation method of claim 12 wherein peak alternating thermal stresses developed in the tubular member are sufficiently low to achieve a design life of at least 30,000 cycles.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The ball valve isolation method of claim 12 further comprising servicing the isolation ball valve by removing and replacing the thermal sleeve liner.

### Claim 16

A method for the transfer of catalyst from a reactor, comprising:
positioning an isolation ball valve (100A to 100C, 100F to 100G) in a conduit (202, 214) exiting the reactor (200, 206); and
cycling the isolation ball valve between an open position to transfer catalyst from the reactor and a closed position to stop the catalyst transfer,
wherein the isolation ball valve comprises a pair of opposing ball valve members (102A, 102B) connected on either end of an end connector (104) comprising a tubular fluid flow device comprising a tubular member (10) having at least one locus of non-uniform outside dimension (14, 16) and an axial flow passage (20) with a uniform inside diameter between opposite end connection elements (16);
a thermal sleeve liner (22) disposed about the axial flow passage in a bore (24) formed in the tubular member;
a thermal barrier coating (26) disposed on an exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner (22) located at an interface between and in direct contact with the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner surface of the bore; and
a pressure-relief passage (28) in fluid communication with the interface between the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and the inner surface of the bore.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The catalyst transfer method of claim 16 wherein alternating thermal stresses develop in the tubular member, and wherein the alternating thermal stresses developed in the tubular member are less than 52 ksi (360 MPa).

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The catalyst transfer method of claim 16 wherein peak alternating thermal stresses develop in the tubular member, and wherein the peak alternating thermal stresses developed in the tubular member are sufficiently low to achieve a design life of at least 30,000 cycles.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The catalyst transfer method of claim 16 further comprising servicing the isolation ball valve by removing and replacing the thermal sleeve liner.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The tubular fluid flow device of claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief passage (28) comprises an annular passage formed by an axial offset between an end of the thermal sleeve liner and an inner recessed face adjacent the bore (24), in fluid communication with the interface between the exterior surface of the thermal sleeve liner and the inner surface of the bore.