Passive Rotation Of A Valve Using Fluid Flow

Abstract

The presnt disclosure relates to passively rotating a valve using fluid flow. Some aspects may involve a valve including a body, a lower stem, and vanes. The body may include a bottom portion that can be positioned with respect to a seat for preventing fluid flow when the valve is in a closed position. The lower stem may extend axially from the bottom portion of the body to position the bottom portion with respect to the seat. The vanes may extend from the body and be responsive to the fluid flow while the valve is in an open position such that the valve and the lower stem rotate with respect to the seat.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A valve comprising:
 a body with a bottom portion positionable with respect to a seat for preventing fluid flow in a closed position of the valve;   a lower stem extending axially from the bottom portion to position the bottom portion with respect to the seat; and   at least one vane extending from the body for responding to fluid flow in an open position of the valve to cause the valve and the lower stem to rotate with respect to the seat.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane extends from the bottom portion and the at least one vane comprises a surface for responding to a portion of the fluid flow before the portion of the fluid flow passes between the body and the seat. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one vane is coupled to the lower stem and a portion of the at least one vane is positionable within an opening in the seat for maintaining the bottom portion in alignment with the seat. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane extends from a top portion of the body and the at least one vane comprises a surface for responding to a portion of the fluid flow after the portion of the fluid flow passes between the body and the seat. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes one or more exteriors coupling a top portion of the body and the bottom portion and the at least one vane extends from the one or more exteriors and the at least one vane comprises a surface for responding to a portion of the fluid flow after the portion of the fluid flow passes between the body and the seat. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane includes a curved surface for responding to the fluid flow in the open position of the valve to use energy of the fluid flow to induce torque on the valve and the lower stem in a direction based on an apex of the curved surface. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the lower stem is positionable in a housing of a bottom retainer positioned upstream in the fluid flow to align the bottom portion with respect to the seat, the bottom retainer further comprising at least one profiled support arm for introducing a swirl to the fluid flow, and the at least one vane extending from the body for further responding to the swirl in the fluid flow. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one vane extends from the body for responding to fluid flow in the open position of the valve to cause the valve and the lower stem to rotate with respect to the seat such that operating wear is spread across the valve. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is positionable in a positive displacement pump for pumping hydraulic fracking fluid into a wellbore. 
     
     
         10 . A valve assembly, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve movable between an open position and a closed position, the valve including a seal;   a seat positionable with the seal to prevent fluid flow in the closed position;   a lower stem extending from a bottom portion of the valve for aligning the seal with the seat; and   at least one vane extending from the valve for responding to the fluid flow to cause the valve and the lower stem to rotate with respect to the seat.   
     
     
         11 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a spring coupleable to a top portion of the valve for providing a force to prevent the fluid flow; and   a bottom retainer positionable in the fluid flow and comprising:
 a housing portion with an opening for accepting a portion of the lower stem and positionable to maintain alignment of the seal with respect to the seat; and 
 at least one support arm extending from the housing portion for maintaining a position of the housing portion, and the at least one support arm includes a surface to introduce a swirl to the fluid flow as the fluid flow passes the bottom retainer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one vane extends from at least one of the bottom portion for responding to a portion of the fluid flow before the portion of the fluid flow passes between the seal and the seat, a top portion of the valve for responding to the portion of the fluid flow after the portion of the fluid flow passes between the seal and the seat, and exterior portions of the valve for responding to the portion of the fluid flow after the portion of the fluid flow passes between the seal and the seat. 
     
     
         13 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein valve further includes a forged portion comprising the at least one vane, and the at least one vane extends at an acute angle from the valve creating a pocket for responding to the fluid flow to cause energy of the fluid flow to induce rotation of the valve and the lower stem with respect to the seat. 
     
     
         14 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the lower stem comprises:
 a first member extending from the bottom portion of the valve; and   at least one second member extending from the first member, the at least one second member positionable to extend at least partially into an opening in the seat and align the seal with respect to the seat and the at least one vane is a portion of the at least one second member such that the at least one second member includes a surface for responding to the fluid flow by causing the valve and the lower stem to rotate with respect to the seat.   
     
     
         15 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the valve assembly is positionable in a positive displacement pump for pumping hydraulic fracking fluid into a wellbore. 
     
     
         16 . The valve assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one vane extends from the valve for responding to the fluid flow to cause the valve and the lower stem to rotate with respect to the seat such that operating wear is spread across the valve. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 moving a valve including a seal, a lower stem extending axially from a bottom portion of the valve, and at least one vane to an open position at which fluid flows between the seal and a seat;   rotating the valve and the lower stem with respect to the seat using energy from the fluid contacting the at least one vane; and   moving the valve to a closed position at which the seat cooperates with the seal and prevents the fluid flowing between the seat and the seal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein moving the valve to the open position further comprises a portion of the lower stem remaining within a housing of a bottom retainer positioned upstream of the fluid with respect to the valve such that the seal remains in alignment with respect to the seat, and the method further comprises introducing a swirl to the fluid as it flows across a surface of the bottom retainer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the valve is positioned in a positive displacement pump for pumping hydraulic fracking fluid into a wellbore. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein rotating the valve further comprises normalizing the operating wear across the valve due to at least one of contact of the seal with the seat and the fluid flowing between the seal and the seat.