A new Oxford University spin-out is making waves with a new patented valve design which could revolutionise pressure regulation across a number of industries.
Oxford Flow [LINK – http://www.oxford-flow.com/about-us/] , which launched last year, claims that its IHF regulator is the most precise pressure reducing valve (PRV) in the world following extensive testing against leading competitors.
The company also produces several other PRVs [LINK – http://www.oxford-flow.com/products-and-services/] including the IP Series (High performance water PRV) and the IM Series (a high pressure wafer-type regulator for gas or liquid)
All of these valves are produced using Oxford patented technology, which supersedes the traditional diaphragm operated valve designs that are currently used across the world.
Swapping a diaphragm for a direct sensing piston actuator
In this traditional type of valve design a diaphragm constantly modulates in order to control pressure, with the movement of the diaphragm enabled by a limited range of elastomers. However, the very thing that makes these elastomers so well-suited to their job – their elasticity – is the very thing that makes these devices such a liability. Flexibility comes at a price, and over time, this flexing leads to embrittlement, erosion, fatigue and, eventually, breakage.
For this reason, these conventional regulators are limited in how well they can perform, and are prone to failure in service which in turn leads to down-time and planned maintenance that eats into profits.
However in the Oxford Flow model, the diaphragm is replaced by a direct sensing piston actuator [LINK – http://www.oxford-flow.com/technology/core-operating-principle/] , which greatly simplifies the design of the regulator as well as eliminating the main reason for failure in these devices.
One side of the piston is exposed to downstream pipeline pressure while the other side is balanced against a pressure cavity controlled by a pilot regulator. This piston actuator operates over an optimised feed-hole configuration to provide precise, stable control across the entire operating range. During operation, the piston moves inward, reducing the size of the cavity when the downstream pipeline pressure exceeds that within the pressure cavity set by the pilot regulator.
The movement of the piston actuator in closing reduces the flow rate to maintain a stable downstream pressure. When demand increases the downstream pressure falls below that set by the pilot and the reverse operation occurs, the cavity contracts as the pilot exhausts it, opening the flow path, which increases flow and maintains a stable downstream pressure.
Technical benefits
Extensive testing revealed that as well as being more cost-effective and durable than comparable devices, the device also has significant performance benefits.
Take, for example the IHF. The patented compact insert-type construction means that the weight of the device is significantly reduced, which in turn, reduces the requirement for heavy and expensive lifting equipment during both installation and maintenance. The fact that the IHF Series insert arrangement can fit between PN or ANSI flanges further minimises the installation footprint. Other benefits include reduced hunting, low head loss and reduced noise emissions.
Similarly, while traditional regulators also tend to have complex flow paths, with a lot of ‘dead space’ where errant matter can stray and many moving parts with the potential for failure, the Oxford Flow device has just one moving part and an axial flow mechanism, which makes it significantly less prone to malfunction. Additionally, the devices can also be easily retrofitted into existing infrastructure, easily fitting into the current strainers and filters used in the industry.
By all measures, these PRVs perform better than their competitors and as oil and gas companies, like companies in so many industries, come under pressure to improve profit margins without sacrificing performance, these devices genuinely have the potential to be game-changing, offering a real step forward in terms of size and running costs.
Oxford Flow is an Oxford University spin-out company, funded by Oxford Sciences Innovation, which – supported by names such as Google, Lansdowne Partners, Invesco and the Wellcome Trust – identifies the most innovative ideas coming out of the university and supports their commercialisation. For more information on Oxford Flow’s products, please visit: http://www.oxford-flow.com/ or call +44(0) 7933 389 915 or email: info@oxford-flow.com. Datasheets for all products can be downloaded here
