Systems and methods for repairing fluid handling equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016039054-A1
Application number	US-201514818219-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Aug 5, 2014
Publication date	Feb 11, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes removing a worn portion from a component of a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX). The rotary IPX is configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid. The method also includes repairing the component after the worn portion is removed from the component.

First claim

1 . A method, comprising:
removing a worn portion from a component of a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid; and repairing the component after the worn portion is removed from the component.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises at least one of a rotor or an end cover.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the worn portion comprises at least one surface on the rotor or the end cover.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the worn portion comprises turning, milling, grinding, drilling, electrical discharge machining, electrochemical machining, laser cutting, water jet cutting, or a combination thereof.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein repairing the component comprises using an additive manufacturing system.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein using the additive manufacturing system comprises directing a laser beam or other focused energy source over a powder of a wear-resistant material deposited on a surface of the component to create one or more layers of fused powder of the wear-resistant material on the surface.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the worn portion comprises removing a prefabricated removable portion from the component.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein repairing the component comprises coupling a replacement portion to the component.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein coupling the replacement portion to the component comprises mechanically locking the replacement portion to the component by mating one or more connecting elements of the replacement portion with one or more complementary connecting elements of the component.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein coupling the replacement portion the component comprises forming a friction fit between the replacement portion and the component.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein coupling the replacement portion to the component comprises brazing, fusing, or welding the replacement portion to the component.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the replacement portion is manufactured from a wear-resistant material.

13 . A system, comprising:
a rotary isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX) repair system configured to repair a worn portion of a component of a rotary IPX, wherein the rotary IPX is configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid, and wherein the rotary isobaric pressure exchanger comprises a rotor and an end cover disposed about an axial end of the rotor, and wherein the component comprises the rotor or the end cover.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the rotary IPX repair system comprises an additive manufacturing system.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the rotary IPX repair system is configured to braze or weld a replacement portion to the rotor or the end cover.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the rotary IPX repair system is configured to fuse the replacement portion to the rotor or the end cover.

17 . A system, comprising:
a replacement piece for a rotary isobaric exchanger (IPX), wherein the rotary IPX is configured to exchange pressures between a first fluid and a second fluid, and the replacement piece is configured to couple to a rotor of the rotary IPX or to an end cover of the rotary IPX.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the replacement piece comprises one or more connection elements configured to mate with one or more complementary connection elements on the rotor or to one or more complementary connection components on the end cover.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the replacement piece is manufactured using a wear-resistant material.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the replacement piece is configured to couple to the rotor or to the end cover via a friction fit.

Assignees

• Energy Recovery Inc

Inventors

• Ghasripoor Farshad
• Martin Jeremy Grant

Classifications

• F04F13/00

  Pressure exchangers · CPC title

• B23P6/00 Primary

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• B33Y10/00

  Processes of additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B23K26/342

  Build-up welding · CPC title

• F16J1/24

  designed to give the piston some rotary movement about its axis · CPC title