Multi-fluid, high pressure, modular pump

Abstract

A multi-fluid, high pressure pump with a modular configuration, capable of converting hydraulic power from a source may be capable of pumping nearly any type of fluid. The modular configuration may provide for individual sub-pump modules to be independently controlled by being individually network addressed, which allows for disabling a sub-pump module while continuing to operate the remaining sub-pump modules. In an embodiment, control of the sub-pump modules may be recomputed by evenly spacing a remaining number of sub-pump modules along a single period of a sine wave. Spare sub-pump modules may be included on a pump, thereby enable a spare sub-pump module to be added to the operable sub-pump modules so that full power of the pump may be available even after a sub-pump module fails.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]High-pressure pumps, such as sub-sea pumps, have to operate in extremely difficult environments under pressures and temperatures that are far more harsh than pumps designed to operate at atmospheric or surface pressures. As understood in the art of deep sea drilling, in the event that the pump has a failure, the pump has to be raised to the surface for repair or replacement. Such repair or replacement can be expensive not only for the reparation and replacement, but also as a result of having to shut down operations, such as drilling or exploration operations, at which the high-pressure pump is being used. Other pumps that operate in less harsh environments may suffer similar failures and repercussions, but high-pressure pumps are often used in ways that the time and cost to stop operations, repair, and / or replace the pumps can be high.[0002]Many subsea tools / installations and / or operations are operated with fluids, pressure, or flow that a standard ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003]To reduce or eliminate a situation where a sub-sea pump has to be repaired or replaced during production operations, a multi-fluid, high pressure pump with a modular configuration, capable of converting hydraulic power from a source, capable of pumping nearly any type of fluid (e.g., seawater, glycol, hydraulic oil etc. or contaminated fluid), and that allows for self-repair and reconfiguration may be provided. In an embodiment, the modular pump includes individual modular pistons or sub-pump modules (sub-pumps) that may be mechanically, electrically, and fluidly connected to other modular pistons so as to form a multi-piston pump. Cavities within a housing of the sub-pumps may be fluid filled, thereby being able to sustain deep sea or subsea pressures. Each of the sub-pumps may be network addressed, and controlled by a control signal from a local or remote controller that causes each of the pistons to be activated based on a sinusoidal curve. For example, if the pump has eight modular pistons, then each of the pistons may be programmatically spaced for controlling stroke timing at 45 degrees apart from one another. Different numbers of pistons may be programmed to have different spacing or timing.

Problems solved by technology

High-pressure pumps, such as sub-sea pumps, have to operate in extremely difficult environments under pressures and temperatures that are far more harsh than pumps designed to operate at atmospheric or surface pressures.

Such repair or replacement can be expensive not only for the reparation and replacement, but also as a result of having to shut down operations, such as drilling or exploration operations, at which the high-pressure pump is being used.

Other pumps that operate in less harsh environments may suffer similar failures and repercussions, but high-pressure pumps are often used in ways that the time and cost to stop operations, repair, and / or replace the pumps can be high.

Many subsea tools / installations and / or operations are operated with fluids, pressure, or flow that a standard work class Remote Operated Vehicle (ROB) or other standard hydraulic power sources is not capable of supplying or use.

As a result, the deep sea tools increase a risk of spill and breakdown.

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