Subsea mud pump with reduced pulsation
First Claim
1. A positive-displacement pump, comprising:
- a plurality of pumping elements, each pumping element comprising a pressure vessel with a first and a second chamber and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers, the first chambers and the second chambers being hydraulically connected to receive and discharge a working fluid and a driving fluid, respectively, wherein the separating member moves within the pressure vessel in response to pressure differential between the first and second chambers;
a valve assembly having suction and discharge valves in communication with the first chambers, the suction and discharge valves being operable to permit fluid to alternately flow into and out of the first chambers, each of the valves comprising an actuator adapted to selectively open and close the valve to fluid flow therethrough; and
a fluid drive for alternately supplying the driving fluid to and drawing the driving fluid from the second chambers such that the fluid discharged from the first chambers is substantially free of pulsation.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A positive-displacement pump includes multiple pumping elements, each pumping element having a pressure vessel with a first and a second chamber and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers. The first chambers and the second chambers are hydraulically connected to receive and discharge fluid, wherein the separating members move within the pressure vessels in response to pressure differential between the first and second chambers. A valve assembly having suction and discharge valves communicates with the first chambers. The suction and discharge valves are operable to permit fluid to alternately flow into and out of the first chambers. A hydraulic drive alternately supplies hydraulic fluid to and withdraws hydraulic fluid from the second chambers such that the fluid discharged from the first chambers is free of pulsation.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A positive-displacement pump, comprising:
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a plurality of pumping elements, each pumping element comprising a pressure vessel with a first and a second chamber and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers, the first chambers and the second chambers being hydraulically connected to receive and discharge a working fluid and a driving fluid, respectively, wherein the separating member moves within the pressure vessel in response to pressure differential between the first and second chambers; a valve assembly having suction and discharge valves in communication with the first chambers, the suction and discharge valves being operable to permit fluid to alternately flow into and out of the first chambers, each of the valves comprising an actuator adapted to selectively open and close the valve to fluid flow therethrough; and a fluid drive for alternately supplying the driving fluid to and drawing the driving fluid from the second chambers such that the fluid discharged from the first chambers is substantially free of pulsation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A positive-displacement pump, comprising:
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a plurality of pumping elements, each of the pumping elements comprising a pressure vessel having a first and a second chamber and a separating member disposed between the first and second chambers, the first chamber and the second chamber being hydraulically connected to receive and discharge a working fluid and a driving fluid, respectively, wherein the separating member moves within the pressure vessel in response to pressure differential between the first and second chambers; a valve assembly having actuated suction and discharge valves each in communication with one of the first chambers, the suction and discharge valves being selectively operable to permit fluid to alternately flow into and out of the first chambers; a variable-displacement pump for supplying the driving fluid to the second chambers; a plurality of flow control valves for alternately communicating the variable-displacement pump with the second chambers; and a control module for controlling the discharge rate of the variable-displacement pump and the positions of the flow control valves such that the fluid discharged from the first chambers is substantially free of pulsation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification