Pump integrity monitoring

• US 8,554,494 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Adnan, Sarmad, Khvoshchev, Evgeny, Baklanov, Nikolay
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US12/692,123
• Publication Number:
  US 20100174496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 702/39
• US Class Current: 702/39
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2201/0802 Vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0088 Testing machines
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/24 using infrasonic, sonic, or ultrasonic vibrations

Abstract

A method of monitoring integrity of a pump. The method may include recording timing information of the pump during operation while simultaneously sampling acoustic data with a high speed equidistant acquisition mechanism or at a rate based on the speed of the pump in operation. The acquisition of acoustic data is followed by evaluation thereof. Such techniques may improve resolution of acquired data while substantially increasing processor capacity for evaluation. A pump integrity monitor for carrying out such techniques is also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

operating a pump assembly comprising a prime mover and a pump;

determining timing information corresponding to one of the prime mover and the pump;

sampling acoustic data with a high speed acquisition mechanism of the pump assembly;

discerning by a processor acoustic data from the pump assembly and acoustic data from other pump assemblies or equipment in response to the timing information so as to determine an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling the acoustic data in response to the timing information corresponding to one of the prime mover and the pump.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sampling the acoustic data comprises performing angular sampling, and wherein the determining an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly comprises analyzing frequency data corresponding to angular position without a Fast Fourier Transform.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the frequency data comprises data having a frequency greater than 100 kHz.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the sampling the acoustic data comprises performing angular sampling, and wherein the determining an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly comprises analyzing frequency data corresponding to angular position with a limited Fourier analysis in a small frequency range.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the sampling the acoustic data comprises performing angular sampling, and wherein the determining an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly comprises analyzing frequency data corresponding to angular position with a Fourier analysis in the angular domain.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising sampling the acoustic data in response to timing information corresponding to the prime mover.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the timing information comprises timing information selected from the timing information consisting of a location of a rotating part of an engine, a location of an engine flywheel, and a current electrical current input.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising dividing the acoustic data into acoustic data from the pump assembly and outside noise in response to the timing information by determining that a portion of the acoustic data is out of sync with the pump assembly.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning a choke between the pump assembly and a second pump assembly fluidly communicating with the pump assembly.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly in response to the acoustic data from the pump assembly comprises employing a time-frequency analysis to determine a time variant frequency pattern indicating an unhealthy condition.

12. A pump integrity monitor, comprising:

a sensor structured to monitor operational timing information one of a prime mover and a pump;

a data sensor structured to sample harmonics of a pump assembly comprising the primer mover and the pump;

a processor coupled to the sensor and the data sensor, the processor structured to;

discerning acoustic data from the pump assembly and acoustic data from other pump assemblies or equipment in response to the operational timing information so as to determine an unhealthy condition of the pump assembly.

13. The pump integrity monitor of claim 12, wherein the data sensor is further structured to sample harmonics of the pump assembly at a rate based on an operating speed of the one of the prime mover and the pump.

14. The pump integrity monitor of claim 12, wherein the sensor comprises one of a proximity switch and an index sensor, and wherein the data sensor comprises at least one data sensor selected from the data sensors consisting of an acoustic sensor, an accelerometer, and a pressure transducer.

15. The pump integrity monitor of claim 12, wherein the processor is further structured to determine that a portion of the harmonics from the pump assembly is outside noise in response to the portion of the harmonics being out of sync with the operational timing information.

16. A system, comprising a first pump assembly including a first pump, a first prime mover, and a pump integrity monitor, the pump integrity monitor comprising:

a sensor structured to monitor operational timing information one of the first prime mover and the first pump;

a data sensor structured to sample harmonics of the pump assembly; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the data sensor, the processor structured to discerning acoustic data from the first pump assembly and acoustic data from a second pump assembly in response to the operational timing information so as to determine an unhealthy condition of the first pump assembly.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said second pump assembly including a second pump and a second prime mover, wherein the second pump fluidly communicates with the first pump.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a choke in a fluid line, the fluid line providing the fluid communication between the first pump and the second pump, and the choke positioned between the second pump and the data sensor.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the choke reduces a flow area of the fluid line by about 50%.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further structured to determine the unhealthy condition of the first pump assembly during a time period where an operating speed of the first pump assembly is similar to an operating speed of the second pump assembly.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is further structured to determine the unhealthy condition of the first pump assembly during a time period where the second pump assembly has a variable operating speed.

22. The system of claim 16, further comprising a blender providing fluid to the first pump.