# US 11,028,842 B2 · Rig management system for transmission control of a hydraulic fracturing rig > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,028,842 B2 - Document ID: US11028842B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/051,150 - Filed: 2018-07-31 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31 - Assignees: Caterpillar Inc. - Applicants: Caterpillar Inc. - Inventors: Yanchai Zhang; Zhijun Cai; Maurice Dust - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028842B2 ## CPC - F04B 49/065: {and making use of computers} - E21B 43/2607: {Surface equipment specially adapted for fracturing operations} - E21B 47/06: Measuring temperature or pressure - E21B 47/10: Locating fluid leaks, intrusions or movements - F04B 11/00: Equalisation of pulses, e.g. by use of air vessels; Counteracting cavitation - F04B 17/05: driven by internal-combustion engines - F04B 17/06: Mobile combinations - F04B 49/20: by changing the driving speed - F04B 2201/1202: Torque on the axis - F04B 2205/02: Pressure in the inlet chamber - F04B 2205/04: Pressure in the outlet chamber - F04B 2205/07: Pressure difference over the pump - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A rig management system is disclosed. The rig management system may be configured to receive information to be used to control shifting of a transmission to prevent cavitation during use of the hydraulic fracturing rig. The rig management system may be configured to determine a flow rate for a pump based on the information. The rig management system may be configured to determine an output torque of the transmission based on the flow rate. The rig management system may be configured to determine a transmission gear for the transmission based on the output torque and a fuel consumption map, wherein the fuel consumption map identifies a respective fuel consumption rate for different combinations of transmission gears and output torques. The rig management system may be configured to cause the transmission to shift into the transmission gear after determining the transmission gear. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rig management system, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, configured to: receive pump control information associated with controlling a pump of a hydraulic fracturing rig; determine a modified flow rate to be used in association with the pump of the hydraulic fracturing rig based on the pump control information or a cavitation prediction map, wherein the cavitation prediction map identifies a respective modified flow rate for different combinations of inlet pressures and fluid properties of a fluid to be used with the hydraulic fracturing rig; determine an output torque of a transmission of the hydraulic fracturing rig based on the modified flow rate; determine a transmission gear for the transmission based on the output torque and a fuel consumption map, wherein the fuel consumption map identifies a respective fuel consumption rate for different combinations of transmission gears and output torques; and cause the transmission to shift into the transmission gear after determining the transmission gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rig management system of claim 1, wherein the pump control information identifies at least one of: an inlet pressure to be used for the hydraulic fracturing rig, one or more fluid properties of the fluid to be used in association with the hydraulic fracturing rig, a flow rate to be used in association with the hydraulic fracturing rig, or an indication of a possible cavitation associated with use of the hydraulic fracturing rig. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rig management system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: detect the indication of the possible cavitation after receiving the pump control information; and wherein the one or more processors, when determining the modified flow rate, are configured to: determine the modified flow rate further based on detecting the indication of the possible cavitation. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The rig management system of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine a pump speed limitation for the pump based on the inlet pressure, the one or more fluid properties, and the cavitation prediction map; and wherein the one or more processors, when determining the modified flow rate, are configured to: determine the modified flow rate by modifying the flow rate based on the pump speed limitation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The rig management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, when determining the output torque, are configured to: determine the output torque based on a discharge pressure associated with an inlet pressure to be used for the hydraulic fracturing rig and the modified flow rate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The rig management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, when causing the transmission to shift into the transmission gear, are configured to: cause the transmission to shift into the transmission gear at a transmission input torque or a transmission speed, wherein the transmission input torque or the transmission speed are based on the output torque. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The rig management system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine an engine speed at which an engine associated with the hydraulic fracturing rig is to operate based on the output torque; and cause the engine to operate at the engine speed in association with causing the transmission to shift into the transmission gear. ### Claim 8 A hydraulic fracturing rig comprising: a transmission; a pump; and a rig management system, wherein the rig management system is configured to: receive information to be used to control shifting of the transmission to prevent cavitation during use of the hydraulic fracturing rig; determine a flow rate for the pump based on the information; determine an output torque of the transmission based on the flow rate; determine a transmission gear for the transmission based on the output torque and a fuel consumption map, wherein the fuel consumption map identifies a respective fuel consumption rate for different combinations of transmission gears and output torques; and cause the transmission to shift into the transmission gear after determining the transmission gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The hydraulic fracturing rig of claim 8, wherein the rig management system is further configured to: monitor a set of sensors for the information, wherein the information identifies a possible presence of a cavitation associated with use of the hydraulic fracturing rig. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The hydraulic fracturing rig of claim 8, wherein the rig management system, when determining the flow rate, is configured to: determine the flow rate based on the information and a cavitation prediction map, wherein the cavitation prediction map identifies a respective modified flow rate for different combinations of inlet pressures and fluid properties of a fluid to be used with the hydraulic fracturing rig, wherein the information identifies at least one of: an inlet pressure to be used for the hydraulic fracturing rig, one or more fluid properties of the fluid to be used in association with the hydraulic fracturing rig, or the flow rate for the pump. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The hydraulic fracturing rig of claim 10, wherein the rig management system, when determining the output torque, is configured to: determine the output torque based on the flow rate and a discharge pressure associated with the inlet pressure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The hydraulic fracturing rig of claim 8, wherein the rig management system, when determining the transmission gear, is configured to: determine an engine speed for an engine associated with the hydraulic fracturing rig based on the output torque; and wherein the rig management system, when causing the transmission to shift into the transmission gear, is configured to: cause the transmission to shift into the transmission gear at the engine speed for the engine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hydraulic fracturing rig of claim 12, wherein the engine speed is associated with a transmission input torque and a transmission speed at which the transmission is to operate.