Controlling suction valves of a fluid pump
AssigneeSPM Oil & Gas Inc.
InventorsRalph HARRIS, Chandu KUMAR, Daryl BELSHAN, Bryan WAGNER, Wesley P. CLARK
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller of a suction valve control system may receive an initiation indication indicating an initiation of a prime mover for a fluid pump. The fluid pump may have a plurality of suction valves, and a plurality of valve control components may be configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves. The controller may cause, responsive to the initiation of the prime mover, the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in open positions during one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump.
Claims20
A suction valve control system of a fluid pump that is configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of steady state discharge cycles, the suction valve control system comprising:
- a suction valve, of the fluid pump, that is configured to close during the plurality of steady state discharge cycles;
- and
- a controller, configured to:
- cause, responsive to an initiation of a prime mover for the fluid pump, the suction valve to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles during a start-up period of the fluid pump,
- wherein the open position corresponds to an opening of the suction valve during a plurality of steady state suction cycles of the fluid pump, and
- wherein the start-up period includes at least an earliest discharge cycle after the prime mover is activated from a stationary state;
- and
- cause, during one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of steady state discharge cycles following the start-up period, the suction valve not to be maintained in the open position during any portion of the one or more discharge cycles.
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a controller, an initiation indication indicating an initiation of a prime mover for a fluid pump,
- the fluid pump having a plurality of suction valves, and a plurality of valve control components are configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves;
- and
- causing, by the controller and responsive to the initiation of the prime mover, the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in open positions during one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump.
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 suction valve 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 prime mover;
- and
- a suction valve control system, comprising:
- a valve control component configured to control actuation of the suction valve;
- and
- a controller, communicatively coupled to the valve control component, configured to cause, responsive to a torque of the prime mover failing to satisfy a torque demand of the fluid pump, the valve control component to maintain the suction valve in an open position during one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.