Rock Ledge Resources > Our Services - Product Development > Representative Project - Developing Novel Technologies

Developing Novel Technologies

Business Challenge

A business identified a potential market opportunity for an oil and gas choke valve which has a significantly improved service life in erosive applications, over the solutions currently available in the market place. A key requirement for any solution developed was that the technology intellectual property could be protected by patenting the invention developed.

Solution

A Rock Ledge Resources principal led the project to develop novel solutions that would deliver improved service life of severe service valves in high erosion applications. Initially the team carried out a "Voice of the Customer" exercise to understand the customer's and market needs relating to oil and gas choke valves and other high pressure drop valve applications experiencing high rates of erosion. A novel fluid dynamic solution was invented using impacting fluid flows to reduce valve erosion. This approach was incorporated into two separate valve trim solutions. A key aspect of the project included the development of supporting design rules. The deliverable included the development of CFD modeling systems, with appropriate materials erosion and fluid channels solutions experimental programs, to validate the modeling program.

Results

Two novel flow channels were designed to deliver greater than three times improvement in service life compared to current technologies in the market place, for which three patent applications were filed. CFD modeling prediction tools were developed which were verified experimentally, taking account of both the fluid dynamics and materials properties. Two peer reviewed papers were presented at the international Wear of Materials conference and published in the Wear Journal.

Relationships: John Hunter | Product Development | Manufacturing