Controlling suction valves of a fluid pump
AssigneeSPM Oil & Gas Inc.
InventorsDaryl Belshan, Wesley P. Clark, Ralph Harris, Chandu Kumar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A controller may monitor an operating parameter relating to at least one of a fluid pump or a prime mover for the fluid pump. The fluid pump may be configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles. The fluid pump may have a suction valve configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles. The controller may cause, responsive to the operating parameter indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated, the suction valve to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles.
Claims20
A suction valve control system of a fluid pump that is driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles, the suction valve control system comprising:
- a plurality of suction valves, of the fluid pump, that are configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles, wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- cause, responsive to a pump deactivating event and to deactivate the fluid pump, the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles,
- wherein the open position corresponds to an opening of the plurality of suction valves during a plurality of suction cycles of the fluid pump;
- receive, from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state;
- and
- release, based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
A method, comprising:
- monitoring, by a controller, a discharge pressure or a flow rate of a fluid pump,
- the fluid pump driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles, and
- the fluid pump having a plurality of suction valves configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump;
- causing, by the controller and responsive to the discharge pressure or the flow rate indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated, the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles;
- receiving, by the controller from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state;
- and
- releasing, by the controller and based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
A fluid pump system, comprising:
- a fluid pump, comprising:
- a fluid end having a fluid chamber, a plunger configured to reciprocate with respect to the fluid chamber, and a plurality of suction valves biased to a closed position with respect to the fluid chamber;
- and
- a power end, operably connected to the plunger, configured to be driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission;
- and
- a suction valve control system, comprising:
- a plurality of valve control components configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves;
- and
- a controller, communicatively coupled to the plurality of valve control components, configured to:
- cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump to cause termination of all discharge flow from the fluid pump;
- receive, from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state;
- and
- release, based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.