Complex pipelines are the integrated vessels in any off-shore project extracting oil or gas, making the selection and application of the industrial valves an intricate part of the process. In advanced mechanical projects like fuel drilling and refining, where the entire system needs to be advanced, multi-purpose supplies like flow controlling or throttling valves find their applications vividly. So, let’s explore where and how these controlled valves are thus applicable.
Essential valves used in the oil and gas sector
Valves capable of obstructing the flow of internal media due to adjusted actuation can be used as throttling valves. Throttling valves are all-in-one flow-controlling valves that allow the flow on-demand while also regulating its pressure and temperature. In commercial projects like oil and gas processing, the following types of valves are generally used:
- Ball valves
They control the flow of extreme high-pressure contents to give out an output with low pressure on the other side. Internally, the valve contains a hollow ball that rotates by 90 degrees with the help of the outer lever adjustment to either allow or block the flow of contents.
It, unfortunately, doesn’t have any throttling functionality as the ball doesn’t offer partial passage. But in terms of corrosive oils and gases transferring through the pipe, it is a suitable model offering high durability without demanding any lubrication.
- Globe valves
These valves have a vertically moving disk/plate and an easily machined valve seat to produce a desirable throttling effect. The seat is stationary here, and the plates move in its reference to allow the contents to pass through.
However, an improper adjustment of the valve on the seat can cause unwanted leakage(a threat to the oil and gas systems), and spacious passage can also add extra vibration when especially gases are passed.
- Butterfly valves
These are the durable and the thinnest valves that can fit in any pipe to allow desirable flow due to their quarter-turning mechanism. The actuators are fit outside the valve, and they can be both automatic or manual levers to adjust the angle. Initially, the plate completely blocks the flow, but on a quarter-turn, it aligns perpendicularly, allowing a free open flow.
Gate valves
These valves also have vertically moving plates but work to allow whole or shut off the internal flow entirely. Generally, they are used for transporting coarse and thick particles where pressure drop isn’t much required.
However, as the actuator can stop the disk anywhere in between, throttling can be obtained. But due to the circular disk shape, the amount of the flow isn’t proportional to the opening, which demands precise calculations beforehand.
Application of valves for drilling setup and fuel oil systems
Essentially, the pipelines are spread out to extract the raw form of fossil fuels from down the riverbeds, transport them to settling tanks through the fuel oil system, or direct them to the land-based stores if project platforms are not far off-shore.
Extraction
Shut-off valves or blocking valves are used in the initial transferring stages, where ball valves or butterfly valves are common to stop or let go of the flow. They are efficient to automate the system when defined quantities of oil or gaseous fuel have to be stored in different containers or separated during off-loading on reaching the shore.
Treatment
Fuel purification and treatment require throttling valves as the mechanical and chemical procedures require precise settings for pressure, temperature, and amount of the catalysts used. Fuel treatments often follow gravity-based centrifugation through a two-step procedure, where high pressure and temperatures are desired.
Supply
Several other industrial valves, like check valves (though they have no throttling functions), are used to avoid backflow or material mixing, and solenoid valves are used to mix and distribute different fuel components. Finally, the pipes with valves are essential to connect the storage tanks to the engines and the supply chains where the fuel is directly utilised.
Throttling valves in off-shore HVAC systems
Heating, ventilation, and proper air conditioning are required off-shore when the heavy machinery works on a floating platform away from the terrestrial resources. While working with crude oil extracts and flammable fossil fuels, ventilation, ample cooling, or demanded heating is a must among different machinery and the living quarters of the oil rigs.
Throttling valves are largely used between the condensers and the evaporators of the system to control the pressure and internal flow of effluents and refrigerants. The amount of media to pass or the throttling allowed depends on the pressure differences, temperature, and liquid refrigerant levels on both sides; condensers and evaporators.
Conclusion
The multi-purpose throttling valves aren’t only restricted to the rigging pipes and drains but are applicable throughout the oil field projects. Among the industrial valves so available for varied purposes, the discussed ones are extensively used for their pressure and flow control capabilities. This article discussed the various valves used for throttling applications and how they fit in the mesh of tangled off-shore pipelines.
