Valve seats for use in fracturing pumps
A valve seat at least partially formed of a ceramic material for use in a fracturing pump includes a first body and a second body. The first body is configured to be inserted into a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump. The first body has an outer diameter, D 1 . The second body extends radially from the first body and has an outer diameter, D 2 , greater than the outer diameter, D 1 , of the first body. The second body is at least partially formed of the ceramic material.
1. A valve assembly for use in a fracturing pump, the valve assembly comprising:
a valve member reciprocatably movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body to configure the valve assembly between open and closed positions;
wherein the valve seat body includes a first end and a second end, the valve seat body configured to be inserted into a fluid passageway of the fracturing pump, the valve seat body having an inner cylindrical surface, wherein the first end has an outer diameter, D 1 ;
the second end having a seating surface facing the valve member, the second end having an outer diameter, D 2 , greater than the outer diameter, D 1 , such that the difference between the diameters D 2 and D 1 allows the valve seat body to be supported by the fluid passageway;
a recessed portion disposed on at least one of the second end seating surface of the valve seat body or the valve member; and
an insert formed of a ceramic material and disposed within the recessed portion for forming a seal when the valve assembly is in the closed position.
2. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second end forms is a tapered shoulder.
3. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert is formed having a constant thickness.
4. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a top surface that is in the same plane as the seating surface.
5. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert is press fit in the recess.
6. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert has an I-beam cross section shape.
7. The valve assembly of claim 6 , further comprising an o-ring disposed around the insert.
8. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recessed portion is disposed at the inner cylindrical surface.
9. The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ceramic material comprises zirconia, tungsten carbide nickel, or tungsten carbide cobalt.
10. A reciprocating pump assembly, comprising:
a power end coupled to a fluid end, the fluid end having a fluid inlet passage co-axially aligned with a fluid outlet passage;
a valve assembly disposed within each of the fluid inlet passage and the fluid outlet passage, each valve assembly comprising:
a valve member reciprocatably movable into and out of engagement with a valve seat body to configure the valve assembly between open and closed positions;
wherein the valve seat body includes a first end and a second end, the valve seat body having an inner cylindrical surface and an outer surface, wherein the outer surface at the first end has an outer diameter, D 1 , the second end having a seating surface facing the valve member, the second end having an outer diameter, D 2 , greater than the outer diameter, D 1 , such that the difference between the diameters D 2 and D 1 allows the valve seat to be supported by sidewalls forming the respective fluid inlet and outlet passages; an insert formed of ceramic, and
a recessed portion formed on the seating surface, the recessed portion formed having a bottom wall and a pair of sidewalls sized to receive an insert formed of a ceramic material for contacting the valve member when the valve assembly is in the closed position.
11. The pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the ceramic material is positioned to contact with a metallic portion and a flexible sealing material of the valve member when the valve assembly is the closed position.
12. The pump assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insert has a top surface that is in the same plane as the seating surface.
13. The pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert is formed having a constant thickness.
14. The pump assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insert has an I-beam cross section shape.