Erosion Wear of High-Pressure Throttle Valves: A Review

In high-pressure gas field exploitation, wellhead fluids contain not only gas phases but also liquid water and solid particles, thus the valve seat and core of high-pressure throttle valves are extremely susceptible to failure caused by complex fluid erosion, which seriously threatens gas field production and human safety. Historical development of erosion theory is surveyed initially, followed by a summary of current erosion theories, highlighting the limitations of single-theory formulations in modelling complex erosion processes. The erosion research framework for solid-laden fluids is subsequently described, comprising governing equations, turbulence models, calculation methods, particle behavior models and erosion models. Besides, structural factors, flow conditions, solid particle properties, substrate properties and interaction between erosion wear and corrosion influencing throttle valve erosion wear are summarized, clarifying the mechanisms and recent investigation finding of various factors. Following that, two research methods for erosion wear-experimental and numerical simulation methods are introduced comprehensively. Finally, trends of future research on erosion wear in high-pressure throttle valves are predicted.