REDUCING FLUID PRESSURE SPIKES IN A PUMPING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a pumping system, comprising;
a plurality of pumps each comprising;
a drive shaft;
a prime mover operatively coupled with the drive shaft and operable to rotate the drive shaft;
a plurality of reciprocating members operable to pump a fluid;
a plurality of connecting rods operatively connecting the drive shaft with the plurality of reciprocating members; and
a pump fluid outlet; and
a control system, comprising;
a plurality of position sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps, wherein each of the plurality of position sensors is operable to generate information relating to phase and/or speed of the corresponding one of the plurality of pumps;
a plurality of pressure sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps, wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors is operable to generate information relating to fluid pressure spikes at a corresponding pump fluid outlet; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of position sensors and the plurality of pressure sensors, wherein the controller is operable to cause each of the plurality of pumps to operate such that each fluid pressure spike at each pump fluid outlet is out of phase with respect to another fluid pressure spike at another pump fluid outlet.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pumping system including a plurality of pumps each having a pump fluid outlet, a drive shaft, a prime mover, and fluid displacing members operatively coupled with the drive shaft. A common fluid conduit may be fluidly coupled with each pump fluid outlet. A control system of the pumping system includes position sensors operable to generate information relating to phase and/or speed of each pump, pressure sensors operable to generate information relating to fluid pressure spikes, and a controller in communication with the position and pressure sensors. The controller is operable to cause the prime movers to adjust the phasing of the pumps with respect to each other, based on the information relating to fluid pressure spikes, and synchronize the speed of the pumps.
188 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
a pumping system, comprising; a plurality of pumps each comprising; a drive shaft; a prime mover operatively coupled with the drive shaft and operable to rotate the drive shaft; a plurality of reciprocating members operable to pump a fluid; a plurality of connecting rods operatively connecting the drive shaft with the plurality of reciprocating members; and a pump fluid outlet; and a control system, comprising; a plurality of position sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps, wherein each of the plurality of position sensors is operable to generate information relating to phase and/or speed of the corresponding one of the plurality of pumps; a plurality of pressure sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps, wherein each of the plurality of pressure sensors is operable to generate information relating to fluid pressure spikes at a corresponding pump fluid outlet; and a controller in communication with the plurality of position sensors and the plurality of pressure sensors, wherein the controller is operable to cause each of the plurality of pumps to operate such that each fluid pressure spike at each pump fluid outlet is out of phase with respect to another fluid pressure spike at another pump fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
a pumping system, comprising; a plurality of pumps each comprising; a housing; a pump fluid outlet; a drive shaft disposed within the housing; a prime mover operatively coupled with the drive shaft and operable to rotate the drive shaft; and a plurality of fluid displacing members operatively coupled with the drive shaft; a common fluid conduit fluidly coupled with each pump fluid outlet; and a control system, comprising; a plurality of position sensors each associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of pumps, wherein each of the plurality of position sensors is operable to generate information relating to phase and/or speed of the corresponding one of the plurality of pumps; a plurality of pressure sensors each operable to generate information relating to fluid pressure spikes; and a controller in communication with the plurality of position sensors and the plurality of pressure sensors, wherein the controller is operable to cause the prime mover to; adjust the phase of one or more of the plurality of pumps with respect to the phase of another of the plurality of pumps based on the information relating to fluid pressure spikes; and synchronize the speed of the plurality of pumps. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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conducting pumping operations with a plurality of pumps each comprising a drive shaft, a prime mover operatively coupled with the drive shaft, and a plurality of reciprocating members, wherein conducting pumping operations comprises powering each prime mover to rotate each drive shaft and thereby cause each of the plurality of reciprocating members to reciprocate and thereby pump a fluid; monitoring phase and/or speed of each of the plurality of pumps; monitoring fluid pressure within a pumping system comprising the plurality of pumps, including information relating to fluid pressure spikes within the pumping system; synchronizing the speed of each of the plurality of pumps; and adjusting the phase of one or more of the plurality of pumps with respect to the phase of another of the plurality of pumps based on the information relating to fluid pressure spikes within the pumping system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification