Minimizing drivetrain damage from bad discharge valves on positive displacement pumps

Abstract

A pumping system, comprising: a pump fluid end comprising a plurality of pump chambers, each pump chamber comprising a bore having a reciprocatable plunger disposed therein, a suction valve, and a discharge valve; a prime mover mechanically coupled to the fluid end [by a drivetrain] and configured to reciprocate the plungers; and a controller communicatively coupled to the prime mover, the fluid end, or both and configured to alert a user re a pump malfunction, initiate corrective action of the pump malfunction, or both in response to: (a) an indication of torque reversal during operation of the pumping system, (b) an indication of negative flow rate from the pump during operation of the pumping system, (c) an indication of leakage of (i) a single discharge valve in a 3-plunger pump or (ii) discharge valves associated with two plungers in adjacent firing order, or (d) any combination of (a)-(c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.