Cable management of electric powered hydraulic fracturing pump unit
AssigneeU.S. Well Services, LLC
InventorJared Oehring
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic fracturing system includes a pump, an electrically powered motor for driving the pump, a trailer on which the pump and motor are mounted, and a transformer that steps down electricity for use by the motor. Electrical output from the transformer connects to a series of receptacles mounted onto a housing around the transformer. A similar set of receptacles is provided on the trailer and which are electrically connected to the motor. Power cables equipped with plugs on their opposing ends insert into the receptacles to close an electrical circuit between the transformer and pump.
Claims20
A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
- a trailer;
- a hydraulic fracturing pump supported by the trailer and being configured to pump hydraulic fracturing fluid;
- an electric motor that drives the hydraulic fracturing pump, the electric motor supported by the trailer;
- an enclosure supported by the trailer;
- a variable frequency drive (VFD) housed in the enclosure, the VFD being operably connected to the electric motor to control a speed of the electric motor;
- and
- a three-phase transformer configured to distribute power to the electric motor, the three-phase transformer comprising:
- a first pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a first phase to the electric motor;
- a second pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a second, distinct, phase to the electric motor;
- and
- a third pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a third, distinct, phase to the electric motor.
A hydraulic fracturing method, comprising:
- pumping hydraulic fracturing fluid by operation of a hydraulic fracturing pump, wherein the hydraulic fracturing pump is supported by a trailer;
- driving the hydraulic fracturing pump by operation of an electric motor supported by the trailer;
- controlling a speed of the electric motor by operation of a variable frequency drive (VFD) housed in an enclosure supported by the trailer;
- and
- providing electric power to the electric motor from a three-phase transformer, wherein the three-phase transformer steps down a voltage of the electric power received from a power source, the three-phase transformer comprising:
- a first pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a first phase to the electric motor;
- a second pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a second, distinct, phase to the electric motor;
- and
- a third pair of receptacles that transmit electricity in a third, distinct, phase to the electric motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.