Noise, vibration and erosion reduction in valves

A pressure equalizing system comprising a first pump, a second pump, a first pressure adjusting device, a second pressure adjusting device, a cylindrical rotor, a low pressure intake cap, and a high pressure intake cap;

• wherein the low pressure intake cap and the high pressure intake cap are configured to be substantially static;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is configured to rotate with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical rotor;
• wherein the first pump is configured to output a first stream at a first pressure, wherein the first stream comprises a first fluid, wherein the first fluid is substantially free of an agent;
• wherein the second pump is configured to output a second stream at a second pressure, wherein the second stream comprises a second fluid comprising the agent;
• wherein the first pressure is equal to or greater than about 200% of the second pressure;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor has a pair of spatially opposing end sides with at least two channels extending axially therethrough;
• wherein the pair of spatially opposing end sides comprises a low pressure intake side and a high pressure intake side;
• wherein each end side comprises a hollow side portion for each channel and a continuous solid side portion surrounding the hollow side portions;
• wherein the solid side portion of each end side is configured to act as a fluid interface separator;
• wherein each channel is configured to receive the first fluid at about the first pressure from the first pump via the high pressure intake side and the second fluid at about the second pressure from the second pump via the low pressure intake side, and allow for pressure energy transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid;
• wherein each channel is configured to deliver the first fluid at about the second pressure and the second fluid at about the first pressure subsequent to the pressure energy transfer from the first fluid to the second fluid;
• wherein the pressure equalizing system is transitionable between a loading configuration and a discharging configuration via a pressure equalizing configuration for each individual channel;
• wherein the low pressure intake cap has an outer side and an inner side and at least three ports extending therethrough;
• wherein the ports of the low pressure intake cap comprise (a1) a low pressure port fluidly connected to the second pump and configured to receive the second fluid at about the second pressure from the second pump and allow the second fluid at about the second pressure to enter a channel of the cylindrical rotor during the filling configuration for that particular channel, (a2) a high pressure port configured to receive the second fluid at about the first pressure from a channel and deliver the second fluid at about the first pressure into a pressurized second fluid stream during the discharging configuration for that particular channel, and (a3) a first pressure adjusting device port fluidly connected to the first pressure adjusting device;
• wherein the first pressure adjusting device is configured to adjust the pressure of a channel comprising the second fluid from about the second pressure to a pressure within about ±100 psig of the first pressure during the pressure equalizing configuration for that particular channel;
• wherein the high pressure intake cap has an outer side and an inner side and at least three ports extending therethrough;
• wherein the ports of the high pressure intake cap comprise (b1) a high pressure port fluidly connected to the first pump and configured to receive the first fluid at about the first pressure from the first pump and allow the first fluid at about the first pressure to enter a channel of the cylindrical rotor during the discharging configuration for that particular channel, (b2) a low pressure port configured to receive the first fluid at about the second pressure from a channel and deliver the first fluid at about the second pressure into a depressurized first fluid stream during the filling configuration for that particular channel, and (b3) a second pressure adjusting device port fluidly connected to the second pressure adjusting device;
• wherein the second pressure adjusting device is configured to adjust the pressure of a channel comprising the first fluid from about the first pressure to a pressure within about ±100 psig of the second pressure during the pressure equalizing configuration for that particular channel;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is fluidly connected to the low pressure intake cap, wherein the low pressure intake side of the cylindrical rotor faces the inner side of the low pressure intake cap;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is fluidly connected to the high pressure intake cap, wherein the high pressure intake side of the cylindrical rotor faces the inner side of the high pressure intake cap;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is configured to rotate such that during the loading configuration of a particular channel, the particular channel is fluidly connected and aligned with both the low pressure port of the low pressure intake cap and the low pressure port of the high pressure intake cap;
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is configured to rotate such that during the discharging configuration of a particular channel, the particular channel is fluidly connected and aligned with both the high pressure port of the low pressure intake cap and the high pressure port of the high pressure intake cap;
• and
• wherein the cylindrical rotor is configured to rotate such that each channel transitions between the loading configuration and the discharging configuration via the pressure equalizing configuration.

A method of exchanging fluid pressure comprising:

• (a) providing a high pressure first fluid characterized by a first pressure and a low pressure second fluid characterized by a second pressure;
• wherein the first pressure is equal to or greater than about 200% of the second pressure;
• wherein the first fluid is an aqueous fluid substantially free of a proppant;
• and wherein the second fluid comprises the aqueous fluid and the proppant;
• (b) transferring pressure energy from a first portion of the high pressure first fluid to a first portion of the low pressure second fluid to form a high pressure second fluid;
• (c) contacting the high pressure second fluid with a second portion of the high pressure first fluid to form a pressurized loaded stream comprising a third fluid comprising the proppant, wherein the third fluid comprises the aqueous fluid and the proppant, and wherein a concentration of the proppant in the third fluid is lower than a concentration of the proppant in the second fluid;
• (d) depressurizing, subsequent to transferring pressure energy to the first portion of the low pressure second fluid, the first portion of the high pressure first fluid from the first pressure to a pressure within about ±100 psig of the second pressure;
• and
• (e) displacing the first portion of the first fluid characterized by a pressure within about ±100 psig of the second pressure with a second portion of the low pressure second fluid.