System and method for determining onset of failure modes in a positive displacement pump
First Claim
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1. A positive displacement pump, comprising:
- a pump housing having a pump chamber;
a plunger mounted in the pump housing for reciprocating motion in the pump chamber;
a suction valve positioned to allow a fluid to enter the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a first direction;
a discharge valve positioned to discharge the fluid from the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a second direction; and
a sensor system positioned within the housing to track parameters used in determining occurrence of degradation of at least one of the suction valve and the discharge valve.
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Abstract
A reciprocating pump system is utilized. The system facilitates the prediction of failure modes due to degradation of pump components. A sensor system is used to monitor parameters indicative of abnormal events or wear occurring in specific components, such as pump valves. The indications of wear can be used to predict valve failure or other component failure within the reciprocating pump.
53 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A positive displacement pump, comprising:
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a pump housing having a pump chamber;
a plunger mounted in the pump housing for reciprocating motion in the pump chamber;
a suction valve positioned to allow a fluid to enter the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a first direction;
a discharge valve positioned to discharge the fluid from the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a second direction; and
a sensor system positioned within the housing to track parameters used in determining occurrence of degradation of at least one of the suction valve and the discharge valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for determining pump degradation, comprising:
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a reciprocating pump having a plurality of sensors positioned to monitor a well parameter indicative of pump component wear; and
a control system operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors to receive data output by the plurality of sensors, the control system automatically determining the occurrence of pump component wear based on changes in the monitored well parameter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of optimizing operation of a pump used in a well application, comprising:
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positioning a positive displacement pump at a well site;
operating the positive displacement pump;
detecting a plurality of parameters within the positive displacement pump that can be used to indicate pump wear; and
predicting a component failure based on changes in the plurality of parameters. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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monitoring a pump chamber pressure in a pump chamber of a positive displacement pump;
detecting a plunger position within the pump chamber of the positive displacement pump;
determining closing times of at least one of a suction valve and a discharge valve located within the positive displacement pump; and
utilizing the data obtained from monitoring, detecting and determining to evaluate degradation of at least one of the suction valve and the discharge valve. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification