Rotational flow trim for a flow control valve

Abstract

A flow control valve is disclosed. The flow control valve includes a body defining a central flow passage and one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body. The flow control valve also includes a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining at least a first and a second set of flow ports, the first set of flow ports each defined along a radial portion of a longitudinal cross-section of the flow trim, and the second set of flow ports each defined along the radial portion and between a respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports. The flow trim is rotationally movable to align one of the first set of flow ports or the set plurality of flow ports with the one or more lateral flow openings.

1 . A flow control valve comprising:
 a body defining a central flow passage and including one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body; and   a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining at least a first and a second plurality of flow ports positioned in the flow trim, the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim each defined along a radial portion of a longitudinal cross-section of the flow trim, and the second plurality of flow ports of the flow trim each defined along the radial portion and between a respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim,   wherein the flow trim is rotationally movable to align one of the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim or the second plurality of flow ports of the flow trim with the one or more lateral flow openings of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of flow ports are offset relative to one another by a substantially 90 degree offset. 
     
     
         4 . The flow control valve of  claim 3 , wherein each of the second plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to one another. 
     
     
         5 . The flow control valve of  claim 3 , wherein each of the second plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to the respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports so as to be offset by a 45 degree offset between the respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports. 
     
     
         6 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein a control line is coupled to the flow control valve to receive control signals from a controller for rotating the flow trim to align the one of the first plurality of flow ports or the second plurality of flow ports with the one or more lateral flow openings. 
     
     
         7 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a flow closure member positioned within the central flow passage and movable between a closed position, wherein the one or more lateral flow openings and the first and second plurality of flow ports are occluded to prevent fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings, and an open position, wherein the one or more lateral flow openings and the first or second plurality of flow ports are at least partially exposed to facilitate fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings. 
     
     
         8 . The flow control valve of claim  8 , wherein the flow closure member is one of a sliding sleeve or a rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flow trim comprises an annular wall. 
     
     
         10 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve comprises an interval control valve (ICV). 
     
     
         11 . The flow control valve of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of flow ports is occluded when the first plurality of flow ports is aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings, and wherein the first plurality of flow ports is occluded when the second plurality of flow ports is aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings. 
     
     
         12 . A flow control system comprising:
 a flow control valve comprising:
 a body defining a central flow passage and including one or more lateral flow openings for fluid communication between the central flow passage and an exterior of the body; and 
 a flow trim positioned within the central flow passage and defining at least a first and a second plurality of flow ports positioned in the flow trim, the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim each defined along a radial portion of a longitudinal cross-section of the flow trim, and the second plurality of flow ports of the flow trim each defined along the radial portion and between a respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim, 
 wherein the flow trim is rotationally movable to align one of the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim or the second plurality of flow ports of the flow trim with the one or more lateral flow openings of the body; and 
   a controller configured to transmit control signals to the flow control valve to rotate the flow trim to align the one of the first plurality of flow ports of the flow trim or the second plurality of flow ports of the flow trim with the one or more lateral flow openings of the body.   
     
     
         13 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein the first plurality of flow ports are offset relative to one another by a substantially 90 degree offset. 
     
     
         15 . The flow control system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the second plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to one another. 
     
     
         16 . The flow control system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the second plurality of flow ports is angularly offset relative to the respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports so as to be offset by a 45 degree offset between the respective pair of the first plurality of flow ports. 
     
     
         17 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein a control line is coupled to the flow control valve to receive control signals from a controller for rotating the flow trim to align the one of the first plurality of flow ports or the second plurality of flow ports with the one or more lateral flow openings. 
     
     
         18 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , further comprising a flow closure member positioned within the central flow passage and movable between a closed position, wherein the one or more lateral flow openings and the first and second plurality of flow ports are occluded to prevent fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings, and an open position, wherein the one or more lateral flow openings and the first or second plurality of flow ports are at least partially exposed to facilitate fluid flow through the one or more lateral flow openings, and wherein the flow closure member is one of a sliding sleeve or a rotating sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein the flow control valve comprises an interval control valve (ICV). 
     
     
         20 . The flow control system of  claim 12 , wherein the second plurality of flow ports is occluded when the first plurality of flow ports is aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings, and wherein the first plurality of flow ports is occluded when the second plurality of flow ports is aligned with the one or more lateral flow openings.