Method for Predicting Service Life of Cage Throttle Valves

The throttle valve is vital in the oil and gas production stage, designed to decrease natural gas pressure at the wellhead to match transportation pipeline standards. During this process, its flow rate sharply increases, leading to erosion by sand particles discharged from the well's bottom. To predict the cage throttle valve's service life, we established and validated an erosion model for its throttling trim through tests, calculating the erosion wear rate using CFD simulation software. Tests reveal that WC–Co cemented carbide displays typical brittle material traits; its highest erosion wear rate occurs at a 90° impact angle, with a velocity index of 2.4. Study findings indicate the most severe erosion at the smallest orifice of the cage, with the erosion wear rate increasing linearly as particle mass flow rate rises. Consequently, the throttle trim should be inspected and replaced within two years for low mass flow rates of sand particles, or within 3 to 6 months for high mass flow rates.