Solar powered injection device and method

A fluid injection apparatus for injecting a metered amount of fluid into a pipeline system, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a support structure;
• (b) a solar panel supported by said support structure whereby said solar panel can be oriented toward the sky;
• (c) a receptacle for an electrical storage battery that can be operatively connected to said solar panel;
• (d) and electrically operated fluid pump that can be operatively connected to the battery, and
• (e) means for selectively controlling the stroke length and stroke frequency of said fluid pump,
• whereby when provided with the battery, the apparatus is independent of any external electrical power supply.

A method of injecting a metered amount of a fluid into a pipe comprising the steps of:

• (a) supporting a solar panel in the vicinity of the pipeline location for converting solar energy to electrical current;
• (b) electrically connecting the solar panel to an electrical storage battery through a voltage regulator that regulates the current generated by the solar panel to the battery for charging the battery;
• (c) electrically connecting an electrically operable metering fluid pump to the battery through a selectively operable relay that controls electrical current from the battery;
• (d) fluidly connecting a fluid inlet of the pump to a reservoir of a fluid and fluidly connecting a fluid outlet of the pump to a pipe;
• (e) selectively controlling the relay to operate the pump;
• and
• (f) selectively controlling the stroke length and stroke frequency of the pump, thereby metering fluid from the reservoir into the pipe.

A fluid injection apparatus for injecting a metered amount of a fluid into a pipeline system, the apparatus comprising:

• a solar panel for converting solar energy into electrical energy;
• an electrical storage battery operatively connected to said solar panel;
• a fluid pump having an adjustable stroke frequency;
• and a selectively operable relay for selectively connecting said pump to said battery, whereby said battery can be used to power said pump to inject a metered amount of a fluid into a pipeline system.

A fluid injection apparatus for injecting a metered amount of a fluid into a pipeline system, the apparatus comprising:

• a solar panel for converting solar energy into electrical energy;
• an electrical storage battery operatively connected to said solar panel;
• a fluid pump having an adjustable stroke length;
• and a selectively operable relay for selectively connecting said pump to said battery, whereby said battery can be used to power said pump to inject a metered amount of a fluid into a pipeline system.

A method of injecting a metered amount of a chemical treatment fluid into a oil field pipeline, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a solar panel in the vicinity of the pipeline location for converting solar energy to electrical current;
• electrically connecting the solar panel to an electrical storage battery through a voltage regulator;
• electrically connecting a selectively operable relay to selectively drive a metering fluid pump with the electrical energy stored in the battery;
• fluidly connecting a fluid inlet of the pump to a reservoir of a chemical treatment fluid and fluidly connecting a fluid outlet of the pump to the pipeline;
• and
• adjusting a means for selectively controlling the amount of fluid injected by the pump, whereby a chemical fluid from the reservoir can be metered into the pipeline.