Independent control of auger and hopper assembly in electric blender system

• US 10,232,332 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Well Services, LLC (ProFrac Holding Corp.)
• Original Assignee: U.S. Well Services, Inc.
• Inventors: Oehring, Jared, Hinderliter, Brandon N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cooley, Charles
• Application Number:
  US15/294,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 366 14- 20, 366 27- 29, 366 64- 66, 366 37- 38, 366 31- 32, 366 33- 35, 366 50- 51, 366 41
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 2101/49 Mixing drilled material or ingredients for well-drilling, earth-drilling or deep-drilling compositions with liquids to obtain slurries
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/32025 Battery driven
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/3204 Motor driven, i.e. by means of an electric or IC motor
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 35/71731 using a hopper
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/0477 by using conveyor screws
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 7/10 by means of rotary members , e.g. inclinable screws
• CPC Class Codes: B28C 9/04 the plant being mobile, e.g. mounted on a carriage or a set of carriagesB28C5/42, B28C9/004, B28C9/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/2607 Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/267 reinforcing fractures by propping
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/06 Mobile combinations
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 19/22 of reciprocating-piston type
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 23/00 Pumping installations or systems pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors F04B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/02 the driving mechanisms being situated at ground level F04B47/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a hydraulic fracturing system that includes a blender unit. The system includes an auger and hopper assembly to receive proppant from a proppant source and feed the proppant to the blender unit for mixing with a fluid. A first power source is used to power the blender unit in order to mix the proppant with the fluid and prepare a fracturing slurry. A second power source independently powers the auger and hopper assembly in order to align the hopper of the auger and hopper assembly with a proppant feed from the proppant source. Thus, the auger and hopper assembly can be stowed or deployed without use of the first power source, which is the main power supply to the blender unit.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a blender unit configured to mix proppant and fluid;

a first power supply to power the blender unit during hydraulic fracturing operations;

an assembly that moves in a generally linear fashion between a stowed position and a generally linearly spaced deployed position, the assembly including;

a hopper that receives proppant through an upper opening, and

at least one auger with an inlet positioned below an outlet of the hopper to receive proppant from the hopper as the proppant exits the hopper; and

a second power supply to power the assembly in moving between the stowed position and the deployed position, the second power supply operating independently of the first power supply when the second power supply is powering the assembly.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more actuators, wherein powering the assembly includes supplying power from the second power supply to the one or more actuators.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power supply comprises an electric generator, the second power supply comprises at least one battery, and the electric generator recharges the at least one battery.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one battery comprises at least one 12 volt direct current battery.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a blender tub, wherein the at least one auger includes an auger outlet positioned above the blender tub when the assembly is positioned in the deployed position, and the at least one auger selectively releases proppant into the blender tub via the auger outlet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the hopper receiving proppant through the upper opening includes the hopper receiving sand from a sand conveyor through the upper opening, and wherein the deployed position of the assembly aligns the hopper with a chute that feeds sand from the sand conveyor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first power supply comprises an electric generator powered by combustion of a fuel in a turbine.