Ball valve with dissolvable ball
A ball valve can include a housing that contains a flow path and a ball positioned in the flow path. The ball can be configured to seal a first portion of the flow path from a second portion of the flow path in a closed position, and at least a portion of the ball can be dissolvable and the ball can include a bore formed therethrough.
1. A ball valve, comprising:
a housing comprising a flow path; and
a ball positioned in the flow path and configured to seal a first portion of the flow path from a second portion of the flow path in a closed position, the ball comprising a dissolvable portion, a non-dissolvable portion, and bore formed therethrough, the dissolvable portion positioned adjacent to a relatively low pressure side of the flow path when the ball valve is closed and the non-dissolvable portion positioned adjacent to a relatively high pressure side of the flow path when the ball valve is closed; and
a non-dissolvable skin covering the dissolvable portion of the ball valve, wherein the non-dissolvable skin is configured to be punctured prior to dissolving the dissolvable portion of the ball valve.
2. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable portion is in a solid state and dissolvable when acted upon by a dissolving agent.
3. The ball valve of claim 2 , wherein the dissolvable portion comprises magnesium, aluminum, gallium, alloys thereof, or any mixture thereof.
4. The ball valve of claim 2 , wherein the dissolving agent comprises an acid, a bromide, a chloride, or any mixture thereof.
5. The ball valve of claim 1 , wherein the non-dissolvable portion comprises a non-corrosive steel, a nickel-chromium alloy, a stainless steel, alloys thereof, or any mixture thereof.
6. A method of establishing flow through a ball valve, comprising:
puncturing a non-dissolvable skin covering a dissolvable portion of a ball of the ball valve, wherein the dissolvable portion is positioned adjacent to a relatively low pressure side of a flow path through the ball valve when the ball valve is closed and a non-dissolvable portion positioned adjacent to a relatively high pressure side of the flow path when the ball valve is closed;
introducing a dissolving agent to the ball of the ball valve;
dissolving the dissolvable portion of the ball; and
establishing a flow path through the dissolved portion of the ball valve.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising forming a hole in a non-dissolved portion of the ball.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising forming the hole in a non-dissolved portion of the ball via a milling operation.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising introducing the dissolving agent after failure of the ball valve to move from a closed position to an open position.
10. A method of fabricating a ball valve, comprising:
forming a cavity through a portion of a non-dissolvable ball to be positioned adjacent to a relatively low pressure side of a flow path through the ball valve when the ball valve is closed;
filling the cavity with a dissolvable material;
covering the dissolvable material with a non-dissolvable skin that is configured to be punctured prior to dissolving the dissolvable material; and
forming a bore through the ball.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising integrating the dissolvable material within the ball.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein integrating the dissolvable material within the ball includes at least one of sintering the dissolvable material in place, subjecting the dissolvable material to a cryogenics process, or curing the dissolvable material.