Energy efficient pump and related systems and methods

A fluid pressurization system comprising:

• a hydraulic pressure chamber;
• a piston positioned within an interior cavity of the hydraulic pressure chamber;
• a pump that conveys a hydraulic fluid into a portion of the interior cavity of the pressure chamber, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the portion of the interior cavity moves the piston within the interior cavity;
• a motor coupled to the pump such that output from the motor drives the pump resulting in conveyance of the hydraulic fluid to the portion of the interior cavity;
• a working fluid pressure vessel positioned relative to the hydraulic pressure chamber such that at least a portion of a plunger carried by the piston is positioned within a bore of the working fluid pressure vessel, wherein movement of the piston within the interior cavity moves the plunger within the bore, thereby compressing a working fluid positioned within the bore;
• a working fluid flow rate sensor positioned to detect a change in flow rate of the working fluid at a location upstream of the pressure vessel, and generate a signal in response to the detected change in working fluid flow rate;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the working fluid flow rate sensor and to the motor such that the controller varies a rotational speed of the motor in response to receiving the signal generated in response to the detected change.

A fluid pressurization system comprising:

• a hydraulic pressure chamber;
• a piston positioned within an interior cavity of the hydraulic pressure chamber;
• a motor with an output shaft that rotates about an axis of rotation;
• a pump coupled to the motor such that rotation of the output shaft conveys a hydraulic fluid into a portion of the interior cavity of the pressure chamber, the pump including a swash plate oriented at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of the output shaft of the motor, wherein entry of the hydraulic fluid into the portion of the interior cavity moves the piston within the interior cavity;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the motor such that the controller varies a rotational speed of the motor in response to receiving a signal generated in response to a detected change in the angle of the swash plate.

A method of operation of a fluid pressurization system, the method comprising:

• operating a motor such that an output shaft rotates at a first rotational speed about an axis of rotation;
• conveying hydraulic fluid to a portion of an interior cavity of a hydraulic pressure chamber via a pump coupled to the motor such that rotation of the output shaft drives the pump, wherein the pump includes a swash plate oriented at an angle relative to the axis of rotation of the output shaft of the motor;
• moving a piston positioned within the interior cavity of the hydraulic pressure chamber via entry of the hydraulic fluid into the portion of the interior cavity;
• pressurizing working fluid within a bore of a working fluid pressure vessel, wherein the working fluid is pressurized via movement of a plunger carried by the piston such that movement of the piston within the interior cavity results in movement of the plunger within the bore;
• generating a signal in response to a change in:
• a flow rate of the hydraulic fluid;
• a flow rate of the working fluid at a location upstream of the working fluid pressure vessel;
• the angle of the swash plate relative to the output shaft;
• or
• any combination thereof;
• and
• changing an operating speed of the motor such that the output shaft rotates at a second rotational speed that is different than the first rotational speed.