TRANSPORTABLE FLUID PIPELINE SYSTEM AND CONTROL

• US 20150005954A1
• Filed: 07/01/2013
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Inventors: Wootton, Matthew, Boeing, Erika, Nissman, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 9,435,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/00 Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/03 driven by electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 17/05 driven by internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/02 Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/20 by changing the driving speed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25312 Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves

Abstract

Rapidly deployable and reconfigurable fluid pumping systems may include a central controller communicatively coupled with one or more local pumping stations connected with a fluid pipeline. The local pumping stations may include at least one pump, and a local controller in communication with the central controller configured to monitor each device of the local pumping station. The local controllers may also provide individual control of each device within the local pumping station.

Claims

1. A fluid pumping system comprising:

a central controller; and

a local pumping station coupled with a fluid pipeline, the local pumping station including;

at least one pump, and

a local controller in communication with the central controller and configured to monitor each device of the local pumping station and provide individual control to each device as well as to transmit information to the central controller and receive instructions from the central controller.

2. The fluid pumping system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of local pumping stations coupled in series with the fluid pipeline.

3. The fluid pumping system of claim 1, further comprising at least one engine coupled with the at least one pump.

4. The fluid pumping system of claim 3, further comprising at least one generator coupled between the at least one engine and the at least one pump, and configured to allow the at least one engine and at least one pump to operate at different speeds.

5. The fluid pumping system of claim 4, wherein the generator is selected from the group consisting of an electric motor and a hydraulic pump.

6. The fluid pumping system of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of engines and generators coupled with the at least one pump.

7. The fluid pumping system of claim 1, further comprising an energy storage device coupled with the at least one pump, wherein the energy storage device is configured to provide energy to the at least one pump for operation, and wherein the energy storage device is further configured to store received energy.

8. The fluid pumping system of claim 7, wherein the energy storage device is selected from the group consisting of a hydraulic energy storage device and an electrical energy storage device.

9. The fluid pumping system of claim 1, wherein the local controller comprises a wireless controller.

10. The fluid pumping system of claim 1, wherein the fluid pipeline comprises at least one section of a flexible piping.

11. The fluid pumping system of claim 10, wherein the flexible piping comprises an integrated wire configured to communicatively couple the local controller with the central controller.

12. A method of operating a local pumping station including at least one pump within a fluid pumping system with a local controller communicatively coupled with the local pumping station, the method comprising:

receiving an instruction from a remotely located central controller to provide a desired output state for the at least one pump; and

determining with the local controller one or more operational characteristics to be modulated to produce the desired output state for the pump.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the determining comprises:

determining a required input power for the pump to produce the desired output state of the pump; and

instructing at least one of an engine or an energy storage device, located as part of the local pumping station, to provide the required input power for the pump.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructing comprises:

determining a fuel efficient setpoint for the at least one engine that provides the required input power for the pump; and

instructing the engine to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoint.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the local pumping station includes a plurality of engines, and the instructing comprises:

determining a fuel efficient setpoint for each of the plurality of engines that in combination provides the required input power for the pump; and

instructing the plurality of engines to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoints.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of engines includes at least two differently sized engines.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the instructing comprises:

determining available output from the energy storage device;

determining a fuel efficient setpoint for the at least one engine that provides an amount of output power from the engine below the required input power for the pump;

determining that the available output power from the energy storage device provides at least the difference between the amount of output power from the engine and the required input power for the pump;

instructing the engine to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoint; and

instructing the energy storage device to provide make-up power to achieve the required input power for the pump.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining, during operation, local pumping station characteristics of the pump at a series of predetermined times;

comparing, by the local controller, the local pumping station characteristics from each subsequent time in the series of predetermined times with the local pumping station characteristics from a previous predetermined time of the series to determine if a station event has occurred, wherein the station event includes a change in one or more of the pumping characteristics beyond a threshold range; and

sending at least one set of the local pumping station characteristics to the remotely located central controller at predetermined time intervals as well as immediately upon the determination of the occurrence of a station event.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the local pumping station characteristics include at least one of input flow rate to the pump, output flow rate from the pump, input power to the pump, input fluid pressure to the pump, and output fluid pressure from the pump.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving an instruction from the central controller to provide additional local pumping station characteristics to the central controller.