CPC E21B 34/063 (2013.01) [E21B 7/20 (2013.01)] | 28 Claims |
1. A rupture disc assembly for use in making a temporary seal in a vessel, the rupture disc assembly comprising:
a rupture disc having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface area that has an angle taper inward towards the bottom surface of the rupture disc; and
a mounting apparatus configured to support the rupture disc, with the mounting apparatus and rupture disc operable to form a temporary seal in the vessel, the mounting apparatus having a tapered supporting surface area that is complementary to the angle taper of the side surface area of the rupture disc, and the side surface area of the rupture disc and the supporting surface area of the mounting apparatus being operable to permit transmission of radial compressive forces from the mounting apparatus to the rupture disc;
wherein the angle of the angle taper is selected to produce sufficient radial compression against the support surface when pressure is applied to the top surface of the rupture disc, to significantly mitigate or cancel tensile stresses in the rupture disc;
wherein the rupture disc assembly is operable such that the rupture disc has mitigated or cancelled tensile stresses and remains intact when the top surface of the rupture disc is subjected to a first disc working pressure during a first operational mode of the rupture disc assembly, said first disc working pressure being below a disc rupture pressure;
wherein the rupture disc is operable to break during a second operational mode of the rupture disc assembly;
and wherein the rupture disc assembly further comprises an axial abutment surface feature configured and operable to limit downward axial movement of the rupture disc relative to said mounting apparatus during the first operational mode, and thus limit the amount of radial compressive forces that can be transmitted from the mounting apparatus to the rupture disc, when the top surface of the rupture disc is subjected to said first disc working pressure.
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