Trelleborg Sealing Solutions (Trelleborg), a global provider of engineered polymer solutions, with research and development centers in America and Europe, has produced an innovative seal for a valve designed by Schoolhill Hydraulic Engineering. The high-flow, high-integrity, safety critical subsea quick exhaust valve (QEV) is intended for BP’s Shah Deniz gas-condensate field, located on the deep water shelf of the Caspian sea. It has been created for this high integrity pressure protection subsea application.
Trelleborg created a bespoke version of its Captive Glyd Ring in its low friction Zurcon Z43 high modulus thermoplastic to feature in the QEV, which was selected as the seal was required to slide across mating surfaces that had dimensional changes. The seal is retained in a split groove, which prevents the sealing surface from getting damaged by a counter part with variable diameter or when passing holes. The QEV has a 30-year design life with a valve qualification water depth range of 3,000 m.