Fluid flow control devices and systems, and methods of flowing fluids therethrough

Abstract

Fluid flow control devices comprise a cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall. The cylindrical body has a first channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall and a second channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall. At least a portion of one of the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a pattern of channels for improving the flow characteristics of a fluid through the channels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow control device, comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having a sidewall;   at least one first channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall; and   at least one second channel extending longitudinally along the sidewall;   wherein at least a portion of one of the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extend at least substantially longitudinally from a first end of the cylindrical body to a second end of the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel intersect. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body is a first cylindrical body and further comprising a second cylindrical body concentrically situated in an interior cylindrical cavity of the first cylindrical body. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more additional cylindrical bodies each concentrically situated in an interior cylindrical cavity of another cylindrical body. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 4 , wherein the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body each have a curved sidewall such that the first cylindrical body and the second cylindrical body form a substantially spherical ball. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first channel intersects a plurality of other channels. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel form a diamond pattern on the sidewall. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the least one first channel and the at least one second channel form an offset brick pattern on the sidewall. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channel and second channel has a rounded interior surface. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channel and second channel has a squared interior surface having two wall surfaces formed substantially orthogonal to a bottom surface. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channel and second channel has an angled interior surface comprising two wall surfaces intersecting at an angle. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first channel and at least one second channel are configured in a cavitation pattern to control cavitation of a substance passing through the first channel and the second channel. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body is configured as a plug, and further comprising a seat ring situated around the plug. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channel and the second channel has a varying depth with respect to a surface of the sidewall. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first channel and the second channel has a varying width along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extends longitudinally along the sidewall in a zigzag pattern. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one first channel and at least one second channel do not intersect. 
     
     
         19 . A fluid flow control system, comprising:
 a fluid inlet; and   a valve having a fluid flow control device positioned in relation to the fluid inlet so that a fluid passing from the fluid inlet flows through the fluid flow control device, the fluid flow control device comprising:
 at least one substantially cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis having a sidewall; 
 at least one first channel extending longitudinally along the exterior sidewall; and 
 at least one second channel extending longitudinally along the exterior sidewall; 
 wherein at least one of the first channel and the second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         20 . The fluid flow control system of  claim 19 , further comprising a valve body comprising a plug chamber positioned between the fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the at least one substantially cylindrical body is configured as a plug head disposed in the plug chamber. 
     
     
         21 . A fluid flow control device, comprising:
 a concentric assembly of two or more substantially cylindrical bodies, each cylindrical body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an exterior sidewall, at least one cylindrical body having at least one groove extending longitudinally along the exterior sidewall, wherein at least a portion of one of the first channel and the second channel extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         22 . The fluid flow control device of  claim 21 , wherein the concentric assembly is configured as a plug. 
     
     
         23 . A method of forming a fluid flow control device, comprising:
 forming at least one first groove in a surface of at least one substantially cylindrical body, the at least one first groove extending longitudinally along the at least one substantially cylindrical body; and   forming at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one substantially cylindrical body;   wherein at least a portion of one of the at least one first groove and the at least one second groove extends longitudinally at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising combining a plurality of substantially cylindrical bodies into a concentric assembly.