Design optimization for subsea gate valve based on combined analyses of fluid characteristics and sensitivity

Abstract

A subsea gate valve is an extremely important part of a subsea Xmas tree system. An optimization method for subsea gate valve is proposed based on combined analysis of fluid characteristics and sensitivity. Fluid characteristics are studied via Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method to simulate the flow field inside a gate valve. In order to verify that the CFD analysis method is applicable to this paper, a qualitative experiment has been conducted. The type of gate valve is preferred by combining with velocity pathlines, pressure field distribution, and gate deformation contours. The number of sensitivity analysis experiments for key design parameters of the gate is reduced by orthogonal experimental design. The factors affecting the peak flow velocity inside the valve and the maximum deformation of the gate are determined. The range method is used to analyze and evaluate the factor sensitivity, and the combination of the minimum peak flow velocity and the reduced maximum gate deformation is obtained. Experimental results show that the preferred combined design can reduce the peak flow velocity in pipes by approximately 8.0%, with a maximum gate deformation reduction of approximately 50%. This method can provide a new way of optimizing the flow characteristics and design of valve gates.