Multi-end connector adaptor

Abstract

A multi-end connector adaptor comprising a main pipe run having a main pipe run connector flange located at the inlet end of the main pipe run; and outlet ends of first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs having a ball valve type end connector flange comprising a flow bore through the respective flange and an annular landing recessed in the respective flange around the flow bore to receive a seat ring for sealing against a flow control element of a ball valve. Multiport severe service ball valve assemblies, systems comprising the multi-end connector adaptors and methods of use are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-end connector adaptor, comprising:
 a main pipe run comprising an inlet end in fluid communication with outlet ends of first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs;   the main pipe run comprising a main pipe run connector flange located at the inlet end of the main pipe run; and   the outlet ends of the first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs each comprising a ball valve type end connector flange comprising a flow bore through the respective flange and an annular landing recessed in the respective flange around the flow bore to receive a seat ring for sealing against a flow control element of a ball valve.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the main pipe run connector flange is a pipe type end connector flange. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , further comprising a minimum seat recess spacing of the annular landing of the ball valve type end connector of the first transverse auxiliary pipe run which is less than two main pipe run diameters, wherein the main pipe run diameter is determined at the inlet end and the minimum seat recess spacing is the minimum distance between the annular landing and a central longitudinal axis of the main pipe run determined along a longitudinal axis of the first transverse auxiliary pipe run. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 3 , wherein the minimum seat recess spacing is less than or equal to 1 main pipe run diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 3 , wherein the annular landing of the ball valve type end connector of the first transverse auxiliary pipe run is located entirely outside of a linear projection of an inner surface of the main pipe run parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the main pipe run. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second transverse auxiliary pipe runs intersect the main pipe run in a Y configuration wherein the first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs are each arranged such that a central longitudinal axis of the corresponding transverse auxiliary pipe run is at an angle from about 95° to about 175° relative to a central longitudinal axis of the main pipe run. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 6 , further comprising a third transverse auxiliary pipe run oriented transverse to a plane defined by the central longitudinal axis of the first transverse auxiliary pipe run and the central longitudinal axis of the second transverse auxiliary pipe run. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 7 , wherein the third transverse auxiliary pipe run comprises a pipe type end connector flange. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the first transverse auxiliary pipe run is arranged at an angle of about 90° relative to a central longitudinal axis of the main pipe run. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 9 , wherein a central longitudinal axis of the second transverse auxiliary pipe run is arranged at an angle of about 90° relative to a central longitudinal axis of the main pipe run. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 10 , further comprising a third auxiliary pipe run oriented coaxial with the main pipe run. 
     
     
         12 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 11 , wherein the third auxiliary pipe run comprises a pipe type end connector flange. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 11 , wherein the third auxiliary pipe run comprises a ball valve type end connector flange. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ball valve type end connector flange comprises a purge port in fluid communication with the annular landing. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-end connector adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein each ball valve type end connector comprises an annular projection radially arranged about the flow bore extending from a face of the respective flange, the annular projection comprising an outside diameter which is less than an outside diameter of the respective flange and an inside diameter which is greater than or equal to an outside diameter of the annular landing. 
     
     
         16 . A multiport severe service ball valve assembly, comprising:
 a multi-end connector adaptor, comprising:   a main pipe run comprising an inlet end in fluid communication with outlet ends of first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs;   the main pipe run comprising a main pipe run connector flange located at the inlet end of the main pipe run; and   the outlet ends of the first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs each comprising a ball valve type end connector flange comprising a flow bore through the respective flange and an annular landing recessed in the respective flange around the flow bore to receive a seat ring,   each of the ball valve type end connector flanges detachably connected to a ball valve body of a corresponding severe service ball valve such that a flow control element in a cavity of each ball valve body is sealing engaged with a corresponding seat ring disposed in the annular landing of the respective ball valve type end connector flange.   
     
     
         17 . The multiport severe service ball valve assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising an opposing end connector attached to each ball valve body opposite the respective ball valve type end connector of the multi-end connector adaptor. 
     
     
         18 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of process elements respectively disposed in a plurality of parallel flow paths between first and second multiport severe service ball valve assemblies; each of the multiport severe service ball valve assemblies comprising:   a multi-end connector adaptor, comprising:   a main pipe run comprising an inlet end in fluid communication with outlet ends of first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs;   the main pipe run comprising a main pipe run connector flange located at the inlet end of the main pipe run; and   the outlet ends of the first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs each comprising a ball valve type end connector flange comprising a flow bore through the respective flange and an annular landing recessed in the respective flange around the flow bore to receive a seat ring,   each of the ball valve type end connector flanges detachably connected to a ball valve body of a corresponding severe service ball valve such that a flow control element in a cavity of each ball valve body is sealing engaged with a corresponding seat ring disposed in the annular landing of the respective ball valve type end connector flange; and   a system inlet located at the inlet end of the main pipe run of the first multiport severe service ball valve assembly in fluid communication with a system outlet located at the inlet end of the main pipe run of the second multiport severe service ball valve assembly through respective transverse auxiliary pipe runs, flow control elements, and process elements of each of the flow paths.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the process elements include a pressure letdown valve, a flow control valve, an isolation valve, a filter, a heat exchanger, a distillation column, a reactor, a mixer, a noise attenuation element, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a valved flush line inlet in fluid communication with a valved flush line outlet through at least a portion of one of the flow paths. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second multiport severe service ball valve assemblies and the process elements are mounted on at least one skid to form a module. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the multi-end connector adaptors further comprise a third auxiliary pipe run and wherein the system inlet and the system outlet are in fluid communication through a valved bypass line in fluid communication between each of the third auxiliary pipe runs. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a control system to operate the first and second multiport severe service ball valve assemblies to selectively open and isolate the parallel flow paths with respect to the system inlet and the system outlet. 
     
     
         24 . A method of processing fluid flow through a plurality of process elements respectively disposed in a like plurality of parallel flow paths, comprising:
 i) providing a system in a process unit, the system comprising a plurality of process elements respectively disposed in a plurality of parallel flow paths between first and second multiport severe service ball valve assemblies; each of the multiport severe service ball valve assemblies comprising:
 a multi-end connector adaptor, comprising: 
 a main pipe run comprising an inlet end in fluid communication with outlet ends of first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs; 
 the main pipe run comprising a main pipe run connector flange located at the inlet end of the main pipe run; 
 the outlet ends of the first and second transverse auxiliary pipe runs each comprising a ball valve type end connector flange comprising a flow bore through the respective flange and an annular landing recessed in the respective flange around the flow bore to receive a seat ring; 
 each of the ball valve type end connector flanges detachably connected to a ball valve body of a corresponding severe service ball valve such that a flow control element in a cavity of each ball valve body is sealing engaged with a corresponding seat ring disposed in the annular landing of the respective ball valve type end connector flange; 
 a system inlet located at the inlet end of the main pipe run of the first multiport severe service ball valve assembly in fluid communication with a system outlet located at the inlet end of the main pipe run of the second multiport severe service ball valve assembly through respective transverse auxiliary pipe runs, flow control elements, and process elements of each of the flow paths, wherein with the system inlet is connected to an upstream fluid supply and the system outlet is connected to a downstream process line; 
   ii) selectively opening the flow control elements in the multiport severe service ball valve assemblies to pass fluid through a first flow path;   iii) selectively closing the flow control elements in the multiport severe service ball valve assemblies to isolate the process element of a second flow path;   iv) servicing the isolated process element of the second flow path; and   v) opening the flow control elements in the multiport severe service ball valve assemblies to initiate fluid flow through the serviced process element of the second flow path.