Caldera Engineering, Lc

Caldera Engineering LLC

Jeffrey Robison

Stephen R Chipman

Craig C Smith

Frank Redd

M Robert Mock

Michael R Luque

Ryan Weber

Robert Mock

Herman Pieterse

Brad Allan

Lance Mock

Joseph Prince

Michael Luque

A valve seat assembly is provided herein. The valve seat may include a ceramic valve seat liner positioned within an upper segment that is proximal to a lower segment. An upper retaining ring may at least partially surround the upper segment.

Nonmetal valve seat housing

A valve seat is provided herein. The valve seat may include a ceramic valve seat insert positioned within a metal valve seat housing and comprising an indentation corresponding to a retention lip of the metal valve seat housing and a compliant sleeve positioned coaxially around at least a portion of an outer surface of the ceramic valve seat insert.

Systems and methods for a plug valve

A plug head assembly having a ceramic plug head having an annular retention groove, wherein the ceramic plug head has a proximal terminus and a distal terminus, a first clamp portion having a first annular retention protrusion conforming to the annular retention groove, a second clamp portion having a second annular retention protrusion conforming to the annular retention groove, and an annular retention sleeve conforming to the annular retention groove, the annular retention sleeve disposed between the annular retention groove and at least one of the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.

Systems and methods for a plug head assembly

In accordance with various embodiments, a plug head assembly is provided comprising a ceramic plug head having a frustroconical geometry, wherein the ceramic plug head has a proximal terminus and a distal terminus, wherein the ceramic plug head has a first coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), a sleeve having a frustroconical geometry conforming to the ceramic plug head and a second CTE, wherein the second CTE is greater than the first CTE, a distal retainer having a frustroconical geometry conforming to the sleeve, the distal retainer having a first engagement portion for engaging the a proximal retainer, the proximal retainer having a second engagement portion for engaging the distal retainer, and a base that couples with the proximal retainer. In addition, thick banded plug heads are provided.

Plug head assemblies

The present invention relates to valve plugs for reducing erosion of the valve plug head and/or seat. More specifically, this invention comprises a valve plug incorporating a choke transfer trim that reduces the time of exposure of the plug head and/or seat to high velocity and high pressure drop at the interface of the plug head and seat when the valve is in the closed position. The choke transfer trim transfers the flow control area of the valve away from the plug head/seat interface to a location downstream, thereby reducing erosion at the interface between the valve plug head and/or seat that is typically used for fluid throttling and shut off.

Choke transfer valve trim

A nozzle design and method for designing such a nozzle being adapted for three phase slurry flow from the choke into the flash tank during pressure let-down in autoclave mining operations that uses a selection of the expansion ratio in the choke to select a nozzle dispersion angle to select a spread of the flow over the slurry pool in the flash tank, to generally maximize the use of the pool for energy dissipation without causing undo wear and tear on the tank walls.

Controlled dispersion multi-phase nozzle and method of making the same

A valve plug design is disclosed that uses a plug head band and a retaining ring to restrain a valve plug head to a valve plug stem. This invention is specifically directed to providing valve plugs where the plug head material is different and distinct from the plug stem material and where each material is selected to optimize its performance. Moreover, this invention is provided with a means for fixing and removing the plug head to and from the plug stem that can easily be worked in the field without special purpose manufacturing equipment, thereby making the maintenance, repair and replacement of plug head easier for users. This valve plug design subjects the plug head to reduced stresses thereby enhances the operating life of the valve and valve plug. This valve plug design provides a shock absorbing, compliance barrier around and/or under the plug head. This invention also provides a more uniform and broadened contact surface between the plug head and the plug stem, further reducing mechanical stresses to the plug head. This plug head invention requires less material and thus leads to reduced manufacturing costs and does not require welding to fasten the plug head to the plug stem, thereby permitting heat treatments as required without adverse impacts to the plug head to plug stem joint. Also, this invention is adapted to function in cooperation sensors embedded at the plug head&mdash;valve plug stem interface to permit the monitoring of alignment stresses on the valve plug head.

Banded valve plug head

A new segmented choke is provided. Designed to reduce thermal stresses created when the fluid temperature fluctuate, this invention is constructed of segmented ceramic members fit within a relatively thin-walled retainer, shrunk fit thereto, thereby allowing the retainer to be more compliant. Shorter, multiple segments used in this invention are also easier to manufacture, can be produced with tighter tolerances, provide easier access thereby reducing maintenance costs and allow for the inclusion of sensors in the individual ceramic segments. This invention also provides improvements in size, manufacturing cost, ease of use and operating efficiency over prior choke devices.

Segmented ceramic choke

A new valve device adapted specifically for use with hot erosive flow streams is provided. This valve device has an inner plug head, which modulates and throttles the amount of flow passing through the valve when the valve is open. The inner plug head is shaped so that as the valve plug approaches the closed position, the inner plug head blocks most of the flow path, reducing the flow to a small amount. The valve of this invention has an outer plug head the contacts the valve's outer ceramic seat as the valve reaches the closed position. Contact between the outer ceramic seat and the outer ceramic plug entirely shuts off flow through the valve.

Double-seated shutoff valve

A new flash tube device adapted specifically for use with hot erosive flow streams is provided. This flash tube uses an extension cone fixed to the outlet of a choke to create an extension choke to insure that the shock wave occurs within the extension choke, thereby decreasing the flow velocity to a subsonic level, reducing the kinetic energy of the flow as it leaves the extension choke. By moving the shock wave into the extension choke, this device dramatically improves the working life of the flash tank, allowing for easier separation of fluid/solids and vapor in the flash tank.

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Provo, UT, United States of America

Jeffrey Robison