Pressure control device for a pipeline

Abstract

A pipeline assembly for transporting a fluid such as oil, gas and water along a fluid path extending in the pipeline has a pressure control device incorporated therein. The pressure control device regulates the pressure of the fluid downstream the pressure control device to a predetermined pressure which is independent of, and less than, the pressure prevailing in the pipeline upstream of the pressure control device.

1 . A fluid transport assembly comprising, in combination: 
 a pipeline for transporting a fluid such as oil, gas and water along a fluid flow path extending in the pipeline; and    a pressure control device incorporated in the pipeline for regulating the pressure of the fluid downstream the pressure control device to a predetermined pressure which is independent of, and less than, the pressure prevailing in the pipeline upstream of the pressure control device;    wherein the pressure control device comprises a housing with an inflow opening and an outflow opening wherein the fluid flow path of the pipeline extends in the housing between the inflow opening and the outflow opening, the inflow opening being in fluid connection with the pipeline upstream of the pressure control device the pressure control device further comprising a controllable seal for releasing and closing the fluid flow path in the housing and a pressure sensor element accommodated in the housing for movement between a first and a second position, the pressure sensor element in the first position controlling the controllable seal to release the fluid flow path in the housing and in the second position controlling the controllable seal to close off the fluid flow path in the housing, the pressure sensor element on the one hand being exposed to the pressure prevailing in the fluid flow path downstream of the controllable seal, and on the other being exposed to a predetermined force which, in use, determines the predetermined pressure, wherein, in use, the pressure sensor element moves in the direction of the first position when the pressure prevailing in the fluid flow path downstream of the seal drops below the predetermined pressure determined by the predetermined force and the pressure sensor element moves in the direction of the second position when the pressure prevailing in the fluid flow path downstream of the seal rises above the predetermined pressure determined by the predetermined force wherein the pressure control device comprises a gas-tight chamber, characterized in that, the pressure sensor element comprising a plunger accommodated in the chamber for movement in an axial direction of the chamber between the first and the second position, the space enclosed by the plunger and the chamber being filled with a gas for generating said predetermined force and the plunger being movable between the first and the second position in a direction parallel to the direction of the fluid flow path at the controllable seal and wherein the plunger is movable between the first and the second position in a direction from the inflow opening to the outflow opening, wherein the plunger moves in the direction of the first position if it moves in the direction of the inflow opening and the plunger moves in the direction of the second position if it moves in the direction of the outflow opening.    
   
   
       2 - 33 . (canceled)