# US 9,435,325 B2 · Transportable fluid pipeline system and control > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,435,325 B2 - Document ID: US9435325B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/932,293 - Filed: 2013-07-01 - Published: 2015-01-01 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-01 - Assignees: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc. - Applicants: DRS Sustainment Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Erika Boeing; Matthew Wootton; Chris Nissman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9435325B2 ## CPC - F04B 49/06: Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) - F04B 17/00: Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors - F04B 17/03: driven by electric motors - F04B 17/05: driven by internal-combustion engines - F04B 49/02: Stopping, starting, unloading or idling control - F04B 49/20: by changing the driving speed - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G05B 2219/25312: Pneumatic, hydraulic modules, controlled valves - F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract Rapidly deployable and reconfigurable fluid pumping systems may include a central controller communicatively coupled with one or more local pumping stations connected with a fluid pipeline. The local pumping stations may include at least one pump, and a local controller in communication with the central controller configured to monitor each device of the local pumping station. The local controllers may also provide individual control of each device within the local pumping station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating a local pumping station including at least one pump within a fluid pumping system with a local controller communicatively coupled with the local pumping station, the method comprising: receiving an instruction from a remotely located central controller to provide a desired output state for the at least one pump; and determining with the local controller one or more operational characteristics to be modulated to produce the desired output state for the pump, wherein the determining comprises: determining a required input power for the pump to produce the desired output state of the pump; and instructing a plurality of engines located as part of the local pumping station, to provide the required input power for the pump, wherein the instructing comprises: determining a fuel efficient setpoint for each of the plurality of engines that in combination provides the required input power for the pump, wherein fuel efficient is defined as a minimum fuel consumption to maintain the desired output state for the pump; and instructing the plurality of engines to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoints. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of engines includes at least two differently sized engines. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the local pumping station further comprises an energy storage device, and wherein the instructing comprises: determining available output from the energy storage device; determining a fuel efficient setpoint for the at least one engine that provides an amount of output power from the engine below the required input power for the pump; determining that the available output power from the energy storage device provides at least the difference between the amount of output power from the engine and the required input power for the pump; instructing the engine to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoint; and instructing the energy storage device to provide make-up power to achieve the required input power for the pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, during operation, local pumping station characteristics of the pump at a series of predetermined times; comparing, by the local controller, the local pumping station characteristics from each subsequent time in the series of predetermined times with the local pumping station characteristics from a previous predetermined time of the series to determine if a station event has occurred, wherein the station event includes a change in one or more of the pumping characteristics beyond a threshold range; and sending at least one set of the local pumping station characteristics to the remotely located central controller at predetermined time intervals as well as immediately upon the determination of the occurrence of a station event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the local pumping station characteristics include at least one of input flow rate to the pump, output flow rate from the pump, input power to the pump, input fluid pressure to the pump, and output fluid pressure from the pump. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising receiving an instruction from the central controller to provide additional local pumping station characteristics to the central controller. ### Claim 7 A method of operating a local pumping station including at least one pump within a fluid pumping system with a local controller communicatively coupled with the local pumping station, the method comprising: receiving an instruction from a remotely located central controller to provide a desired output state for the at least one pump; and determining with the local controller one or more operational characteristics to be modulated to produce the desired output state for the pump, wherein the determining comprises: determining a required input power for the pump to produce the desired output state of the pump; and instructing at least one engine and energy storage devices, located as part of the local pumping station, to provide the required input power for the pump, wherein the instructing comprises: determining available output from the energy storage device; determining a fuel efficient setpoint for the at least one engine that provides an amount of output power from the engine below the required input power for the pump, wherein fuel efficient is defined as a minimum fuel consumption to maintain the desired output state for the pump; determining that the available output power from the energy storage device provides at least the difference between the amount of output power from the engine and the required input power for the pump; instructing the engine to operate at the determined fuel efficient setpoint; and instructing the energy storage device to provide make-up power to achieve the required input power for the pump.