Control of pressure exchanger system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system comprising a pressure exchanger (PX) configured to receive a first fluid through a first inlet and a second fluid through a second inlet, the PX being adapted to exchange pressure between the first and second fluids and to provide the first fluid at a first outlet and the second fluid at a second outlet. The system further comprises a first sensor providing first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet and a second sensor providing second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet. The system further comprises a controller receiving a user input and causing a first adjustment of the flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet and causing a second adjustment of the flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the control of a system. More specifically, it relates to the control of a pressure exchanger system.

Background Art

[0002] Systems use fluids at different pressures. Pumps can be used to increase the pressure of the fluids used in the system.

[0003] The present disclosure is illustrated by the figures in the accompanying drawings, but is not limited thereto.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system including a hydraulic energy transfer system according to an embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1B shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system including a hydraulic energy transfer system according to an embodiment. [Figure 1C] FIG. 1C shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system including a hydraulic energy transfer system according to an embodiment. [Figure 1D] FIG. 1D shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system including a hydraulic energy transfer system according to an embodiment.

[0005] [Figure 2A] FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of a pressure exchanger (PX) according to an embodiment. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of the PX according to an embodiment. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2C is an exploded perspective view of the PX according to an embodiment. [Figure 2D] FIG. 2D is an exploded perspective view of the PX according to an embodiment. [Figure 2E] FIG. 2E is an exploded perspective view of the PX according to an embodiment.

[0006] [Figure 3A] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system including a PX according to one embodiment. [Figure 3B] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system including a PX according to one embodiment. [Figure 3C] Figure 3C is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system including a PX according to one embodiment. [Figure 3D] Figure 3D is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system including a PX according to one embodiment.

[0007] [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a fluid processing system according to one embodiment.

[0008] [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a computer system according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments described herein relate to the control of pressure exchanger systems (e.g., fluid processing systems, systems comprising a pressure exchanger as a low-pressure slurry pump).

[0010] The system can use fluids at different pressures. These systems may include hydraulic fracturing (e.g., fracking or fracing) systems, desalination systems, refrigeration systems, mud pump systems, slurry pump systems, industrial fluid systems, wastewater systems, fluid transport systems, etc. Pumps may be used to increase the pressure of the fluid used in the system.

[0011] Conventionally, systems use pumps to increase the head (pressure) of fluids containing solid particles (e.g., particulate fluids, slurry fluids), fluids containing chemicals, and / or fluids with viscosity that meets a threshold. Conventionally, solid particles (e.g., sand, powder, debris, ceramics, etc.), chemicals, and / or viscosity damage the pumps over time, reducing their efficiency. As a result, conventional systems undergo long downtimes to allow for pump maintenance, repair, and replacement.

[0012] Some conventional systems use specialized pumps, which have large clearances to reduce damage caused by solid particles (e.g., abrasives), chemicals, and / or viscosity associated with the fluid, and may use expensive specialty or hardened materials and / or be rubber-lined. These pumps are inefficient and may require the use of multiple pumps in series in an attempt to provide the desired head (pressure). These pumps are still subject to wear and erosion. These pumps used in conventional systems may result in increased material costs, increased manufacturing complexity, and decreased overall system efficiency. Erosion and / or wear in pumps can, for example, shorten lifespan, reduce efficiency, increase leakage, lengthen service intervals, increase parts replacement, and lower yield (e.g., in desalination, fracking, refrigeration, and slurry pumps).

[0013] The systems, apparatus, and methods of this disclosure provide control of a pressure exchange system. In some embodiments, the pressure exchange system comprises a pressure exchanger (PX). The PX may be configured to receive a first fluid (e.g., a substantially particulate fluid, a fluid that satisfies a first viscosity threshold, a fluid that is substantially free of a particular chemical, a non-caustic fluid, a non-acidic fluid, etc.) through a first inlet (e.g., a high-pressure inlet). The PX may be configured to receive a second fluid (e.g., a particulate fluid, a fluid that satisfies a second viscosity threshold higher than the first viscosity threshold, a fluid that is substantially free of a particular chemical, a caustic fluid, an acidic fluid, etc.) through a second inlet (e.g., a low-pressure outlet). When entering the PX, the first fluid may have a higher pressure than the second fluid. The PX may be configured to exchange pressure between the first and second fluids. The first fluid may exit the PX through a first outlet (e.g., a low-pressure outlet), and the second fluid may exit the PX through a second outlet (e.g., a high-pressure outlet). When leaving the PX, the second fluid may have a higher pressure than the first fluid (e.g., pressure is exchanged between the first and second fluids).

[0014] The pressure exchanger system may further include a first sensor configured to provide first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the PX. In some embodiments, the first sensor is a pressure sensor configured to provide pressure data of the first fluid before the first fluid enters the PX. In some embodiments, the first sensor is a flow sensor configured to provide flow rate data (e.g., volumetric flow rate, mass flow rate, etc.) of the first fluid before the first fluid enters the PX. In some embodiments, the first sensor may be a velocity sensor or a pressure sensor.

[0015] The pressure exchanger system may further include a second sensor configured to provide second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX. In some embodiments, the second sensor is a pressure sensor configured to provide pressure data of the second fluid before the second fluid enters the PX. In some embodiments, the second sensor is a flow sensor configured to provide flow rate data of the second fluid before the second fluid enters the PX.

[0016] In some embodiments, the pressure exchanger system further comprises a controller (e.g., a processing unit). This controller may be configured to receive a user input associated with a target flow rate of a first fluid entering the PX. This user input may be a desired flow rate set by a user (e.g., a technician, operator, engineer, etc.) based on local requirements (e.g., plant requirements, mine requirements, pumping requirements, etc.). Based on the user input and first sensor data, the controller may trigger a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet of the PX. For example, the controller may trigger a first flow rate adjustment such that the first flow rate matches the user input (e.g., target flow rate). The controller may also trigger a second adjustment of the second flow rate of a second fluid entering the second inlet of the PX based on first and second sensor data. In some embodiments, the controller triggers the first and / or second adjustments by acting on one or more valves (e.g., an HPin flow valve and an LPout flow valve). In some embodiments, the controller causes the first adjustment and / or the second adjustment by controlling one or more supply pumps (e.g., one or more high-pressure fluid pumps and / or one or more low-pressure fluid pumps).

[0017] The systems, devices, and methods of the present disclosure have advantages over conventional solutions. The present disclosure can reduce the amount of pumping capacity used (e.g., fewer pumps are used, less energy is used to drive the pumps) compared to conventional systems. Thereby, the present disclosure has higher efficiency and requires less maintenance compared to conventional solutions. The reduction in pumping capacity used (e.g., reduction in the amount of pumps) causes the present disclosure to reduce the energy required to increase the head (pressure) of the fluid compared to conventional systems. Additionally, the present disclosure reduces wear of components (e.g., pumps, valves, sensors) compared to conventional systems. For conventional solutions that directly increase the head of particle-containing fluids, more viscous fluids, fluids containing certain chemicals, etc. using high-pressure pumps, the present disclosure uses pumps (e.g., high-pressure pumps) that increase the head (e.g., pressure) of substantially particle-free fluids, less viscous fluids, fluids not containing certain chemicals, etc. to increase the head (e.g., pressure) of particle-containing fluids, more viscous fluids, fluids containing certain chemicals, etc. For conventional systems that only directly control the flow rate of particle-containing fluids, the present disclosure uses valves and / or pumps to control the flow rate of particle-containing fluids by controlling the flow rate of substantially particle-free fluids. For conventional solutions that only have sensors that directly provide sensor data of particle-containing fluids, the present disclosure uses sensors to provide sensor data associated with substantially particle-free fluids. Thereby, the present disclosure has higher reliability, reduces component maintenance, extends the service life of components, shortens the system downtime, and can increase the yield (e.g., desalination, flushing, refrigeration, slurry pumping, etc.). The present disclosure is a pressure exchanger that can extend the life of the components of the system, enhance the efficiency of the system, enable the end user to select from a wider variety of pumps, reduce the maintenance and downtime for servicing the pumps, and allow for new instrumentation and control devices, and can use a pressure exchanger.

[0018] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described in connection with pressure exchangers, energy recovery devices, and hydraulic energy transfer systems, but the present disclosure is applicable to other systems and devices (e.g., non-isobaric pressure exchangers, rotating elements that are not pressure exchangers, non-rotating pressure exchangers, etc.).

[0019] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described in connection with pressure exchange between fluids used in a flushing system, a desalination system, a slurry pumping system, and / or a cooling system, but the present disclosure is applicable to other types of systems. The term fluid can refer to liquids, gases, transcritical fluids, supercritical fluids, subcritical fluids, and / or combinations thereof.

[0020] Some embodiments of the present disclosure are described in connection with particle-containing fluids and substantially particle-free fluids, but the present disclosure can also be applied to other types of fluids, such as, for example, high-viscosity fluids and low-viscosity fluids, fluids having more than a threshold amount of a particular chemical substance, and fluids having less than a threshold amount of a particular chemical substance.

[0021] FIG. 1A shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system 100A including a hydraulic energy transfer system 110 according to an embodiment.

[0022] In some embodiments, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 includes a pressure exchanger (e.g., PX). The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) receives low-pressure (LP)in fluid 120 from the LPin system 122 (e.g., via a low-pressure inlet). The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 also receives high-pressure (HP)in fluid 130 from the HPin system 132 (e.g., via a high-pressure inlet). The flow of the HPin fluid 130 may be controlled by an HPin flow valve 131. The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) exchanges pressure between the HPin fluid 130 and the LPin fluid 120 to supply LPout fluid 140 to the LPout fluid system 142 (e.g., via a low-pressure outlet) and HPout fluid 150 to the HPout fluid system 152 (e.g., via a high-pressure outlet). The flow of the LPout fluid 140 may be controlled by an LPout flow valve 141. The controller 180 can also regulate the flow rates of the HPin fluid 130 and the LPout fluid 140 via the HPin flow valve 131 and the LPout flow valve 141, respectively. The controller 180 can activate the HPin flow valve 131 and the LPout flow valve 141.

[0023] In some embodiments, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 includes a PX for exchanging pressure between the HPin fluid 130 and the LPin fluid 120. In some embodiments, this PX is substantially or partially isobaric (e.g., an isobaric pressure exchanger (IPX)). This PX may be a device that exchanges fluid pressure between the HPin fluid 130 and the LPin fluid 120 with an efficiency (e.g., substantially isobaric, pressure transfer efficiency) exceeding approximately 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or higher (e.g., without utilizing centrifugal technology). High pressure (e.g., HPin fluid 130, HPout fluid 150) refers to a pressure greater than low pressure (e.g., LPin fluid 120, LPout fluid 140). The LPin fluid 120 of the PX can be pressurized and exit the PX at high pressure (e.g., HPout fluid 150 at a pressure greater than that of LPin fluid 120), and the HPin fluid 130 can be depressurized and exit the PX at low pressure (e.g., LPout fluid 140 at a pressure less than that of HPin fluid 130). The PX can operate to directly apply force using the HPin fluid 130 to pressurize the LPin fluid 120, regardless of the presence or absence of a fluid separator between the fluids. Examples of fluid separators that may be used with the PX include, but are not limited to, pistons, bladders, diaphragms, and similar devices. In some embodiments, the PX may be a rotary device. A rotary PX, such as the one manufactured by Energy Recovery Inc. in San Leandro, California, does not require a separate valve because effective valve action is achieved within the device through the relative motion of the rotor with respect to the end cover. A rotary PX may be designed to transmit pressure by operating an internal piston to separate the fluid and significantly reduce mixing of the inlet fluid flow. A reciprocating PX may include a piston that moves back and forth within the cylinder to transmit pressure between the fluid flow. Any one or more PXs may be used in this disclosure, such as a rotary PX, a reciprocating PX, or any combination thereof, but is not limited to these.Furthermore, the PX may be positioned on a skid that is separate from the other components of the fluid handling system 100 (for example, when the PX is added to an existing fluid handling system). For example, the PX may be fixed to a structure that can be moved from one position to another. This PX may be coupled to a system constructed on-site (e.g., system piping). The structure to which the PX is fixed may be referred to as a "skid".

[0024] In some embodiments, the motor 160 is coupled to a hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., to PX). In some embodiments, the motor 160 controls the speed of the rotor of the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., to increase the pressure of the HPout fluid 150, or to decrease the pressure of the HPout fluid 150). In some embodiments, the motor 160 generates energy (e.g., functions as a generator) based on pressure exchange within the hydraulic energy transfer system 110.

[0025] The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 may be a hydraulic protection system (e.g., hydraulic buffer system, hydraulic separation system) that can block or limit contact between one or more pieces of equipment (e.g., hydraulic fracturing equipment, high-pressure pump, etc.) and solid particle-containing fluids (e.g., fracking fluids, slurry fluids) or corrosive fluids (e.g., caustic fluids, acidic fluids) during work and / or pressure exchange with other fluids. By blocking or limiting contact between one or more pieces of equipment (e.g., hydraulic fracturing equipment, high-pressure pump, etc.) and solid particle-containing fluids or corrosive fluids, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 improves the lifespan and performance of one or more pieces of equipment (e.g., hydraulic fracturing equipment, high-pressure fluid pump, etc.) while reducing wear and tear. By using equipment (e.g., high-pressure fluid pump) not designed for abrasive fluids (e.g., fracking fluids, slurry fluids, particle-containing fluids, and / or corrosive fluids), less expensive equipment with less stringent tolerances and made of different materials can be used in the fluid processing system 100.

[0026] The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 includes a hydraulic turbocharger or a hydraulic pressure exchanger, for example, a rotary PX. The PX may include one or more (e.g., 1 to 100) chambers that facilitate pressure transfer between a first fluid and a second fluid (e.g., a gas, liquid, or multiphase fluid). In some embodiments, the PX can exchange pressure between a first fluid (e.g., a pressure exchange fluid such as a propane-free fluid, a substantially propane-free fluid, a low-viscosity fluid, a fluid containing a certain chemical in amounts less than a threshold, a non-caustic fluid, or a non-acidic fluid) and a second fluid which may be highly viscous (e.g., very viscous), contain a certain chemical in amounts exceeding a threshold (e.g., a caustic fluid, an acidic fluid, etc.), and / or contain solid particles (e.g., a fracking fluid containing sand, propane, powder, debris, ceramics, etc.). The second fluid may contain detritus (e.g., waste and / or debris) that should be removed from the process. For example, the second fluid may contain crushed chicken bones floating in water that should be removed from the chicken processing operation.

[0027] The fluid processing system 100A may further include one or more sensors that provide sensor data (e.g., flow rate data, pressure data, velocity data, etc.) associated with the fluid in the fluid processing system 100A. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on sensor data received from sensors associated with the HPin fluid 130 (e.g., sensors located in the piping of the HPin fluid 130). The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on a target flow rate. The target flow rate may be determined by the controller 180 based on user input from a user (e.g., technician, operator, engineer, etc.). The LPout flow valve 141 may control the flow rate of the LPout fluid 140 based on sensor data received from one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the controller 180 causes the HPin flow valve 131 and / or the LPout flow valve 141 to operate based on the received sensor data.

[0028] The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 can be used in different types of systems. For example, fracking systems (e.g., see Figure 1B), desalination systems (e.g., see Figure 1C), refrigeration systems (e.g., see Figure 1D), slurry pump systems, industrial fluid systems, wastewater systems, fluid transport systems, etc.

[0029] Figure 1B shows a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system 100B, including a hydraulic energy transfer system 110, according to one embodiment. The fluid processing system 100B may be a fracking system. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 100B includes more components, fewer components, the same routing, different routing, and / or similar features than those shown in Figure 1B. Some features of Figure 1B having the same reference numerals as those in Figure 1A may have the same properties, functions, and / or structures as those in Figure 1A.

[0030] LPin fluid 120 and HPout fluid 150 may be fracking fluids (e.g., solid particle-containing fluids, propane-containing fluids, etc.). HPin fluid 130 and LPout fluid 140 may be substantially solid particle-free fluids (e.g., propane-free fluids, water, filtered fluids, etc.).

[0031] The LPin system 122 may have one or more low-pressure fluid pumps that supply LPin fluid 120 to a hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX). The HPin system 132 may include one or more high-pressure fluid pumps 134 that supply HPin fluid 130 to the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 via an HPin flow valve 131. The controller 180 may control the high-pressure fluid pump 134, the low-pressure fluid pump 124, the HPin flow valve 131, and / or the LPout flow valve 141.

[0032] The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 exchanges pressure between the LPin fluid 120 (e.g., low-pressure fracking fluid) and the HPin fluid 130 (e.g., high-pressure water) to supply the HPout fluid 150 (e.g., high-pressure fracking fluid) to the HPout system 152, and also supplies the LPout fluid 140 (e.g., low-pressure water) to the LPout system 142 via the LPout flow valve 141. The HPout system 152 may include a rock formation 154 (e.g., a well) containing a crack 156. Solid particles (e.g., propane) from the HPout fluid 150 can be supplied into the crack 156 of the rock formation.

[0033] In some embodiments, the LPout fluid 140, the LPout flow valve 141, the high-pressure fluid pump 134, the HPin flow valve 131, and the high-pressure in fluid 130 are part of a first loop (e.g., a propane-free fluid loop). The LPout fluid 140 is supplied to the high-pressure fluid pump 134, which can generate the HPin fluid 130, which becomes the LPout fluid 140 when it exits the hydraulic energy transfer system 110.

[0034] In some embodiments, the LPin fluid 120, the HPout fluid 150, and the low-pressure fluid pump 124 are part of a second loop (e.g., a propane-containing fluid loop). The HPout fluid 150 is supplied to the rock layer 154 and pumped out of the rock layer 154 by the low-pressure fluid pump 124 to produce the LPin fluid 120. A controller 180 may control the low-pressure fluid pump 124. In some embodiments, the controller 180 controls the HPin flow valve 131 and the LPout flow valve 141.

[0035] In some embodiments, the fluid treatment system 100B is used in well completion operations in the oil and gas industry to perform hydraulic fracturing (e.g., fracking, fracing) to increase the release of oil and gas in the rock formation 154. The HPout system 152 may include the rock formation 154 (e.g., well). Hydraulic fracturing may involve pumping an HPout fluid 150, which includes a combination of water, chemicals, and / or solid particles (e.g., sand, ceramics, propane), into the well (e.g., rock formation 154) under high pressure. The LPin fluid 120 and HPout fluid 150 may include a particulate fluid that increases the release of oil and gas in the rock formation 154 by causing cracks 156 to propagate and increase their size in the rock formation 154. The high pressure of the high-pressure out fluid 150 causes cracks 156 to penetrate the rock formation 154 and propagate and increase their size, releasing more oil and gas. On the other hand, the solid particles (e.g., powder, debris, etc.) enter the crack 156 and keep the crack 156 open (e.g., prevent the crack 156 from closing when the HPout fluid 150 is depressurized).

[0036] To pump this particle-containing fluid into the rock formation 154 (e.g., a well), the fluid handling system 100B may include one or more high-pressure fluid pumps 134 and / or one or more low-pressure fluid pumps 124 coupled to the hydraulic energy transfer system 110. For example, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 may be a hydraulic turbocharger or PX (e.g., a rotary PX). During operation, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 transmits pressure between a first fluid (e.g., HPin fluid 130, propane-free fluid, etc.) pumped by the high-pressure fluid pump 134 and a second fluid (e.g., LPin fluid 120, propane-containing fluid, fracking fluid, fluid pumped by the low-pressure fluid pump 124, gravity-supplied fluid, etc.) with substantial mixing. In this way, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 prevents or limits wear on the high-pressure fluid pump 134, while the fluid processing system 100B allows the high-pressure fracking fluid (e.g., HPout fluid 150) to be pumped into the rock formation 154, releasing oil and gas. For operation in corrosive or abrasive environments, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 is preferably formed from a material resistant to corrosive or abrasive substances contained in either the first or second fluid. For example, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 may be made from ceramics (e.g., alumina, or cermets of hard phases of carbides, oxides, nitrides, or borides) in a metal matrix (e.g., Co, Cr, or Ni, or a combination thereof), which may be, for example, tungsten carbide in a matrix of CoCr, Ni, NiCr, or Co.

[0037] In some embodiments, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 includes a PX (e.g., a rotary PX), and an HPin fluid 130 (e.g., a first fluid, a high-pressure, solid-particle-free fluid, etc.) enters the PX through a first inlet, where the HPin fluid 130 comes into contact with an LPin fluid 120 (e.g., a second fluid, a low-pressure fracking fluid) entering the PX through a second inlet. Through contact between these fluids and / or between these fluids and components of the PX (e.g., pistons, turbine wheels, compressor wheels, etc.), the HPin fluid 130 can increase the pressure of the second fluid (e.g., LPin fluid 120), thereby causing the second fluid (e.g., HPout fluid 150) to be discharged from the PX and lowered into the well (e.g., rock mass 154) for fracturing. The first fluid (e.g., LPout fluid 140) also exits the PX, but at a lower pressure after exchanging pressure with the second fluid. The second fluid may be a low-pressure fracking fluid that may contain abrasive particles.

[0038] The fluid processing system 100B may further include one or more sensors configured to provide sensor data associated with a first fluid and a second fluid. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on sensor data received from sensors that provide sensor data associated with the flow of the HPin fluid 130. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on a target flow rate. The target flow rate may be determined by the controller 108 based on user input provided by a user (e.g., technician, operator, engineer, etc.). The LPout flow valve 141 may control the flow rate of the LPout fluid 140 (e.g., resulting in control of the flow rate of the LPin fluid 120) based on sensor data received from one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the controller 180 causes the HPin flow valve 131 and / or the LPout flow valve 141 to operate based on the received sensor data.

[0039] Figure 1C shows a schematic diagram of a fluid treatment system 100C, including a hydraulic energy transfer system 110, according to one embodiment. The fluid treatment system 100C may be a desalination system (for example, removing salt and / or other minerals from water). In some embodiments, the fluid treatment system 100C includes more components, fewer components, the same operations, different operations, and / or similar elements compared to that shown in Figure 1C. Some features of Figure 1C having the same reference numerals as those in Figure 1A and / or Figure 1B may have the same properties, functions, and / or structures as those in Figure 1A and / or Figure 1B.

[0040] The LPin system 122 may include a supply pump 126 (e.g., low-pressure fluid pump 124) that receives in seawater 170 (e.g., feedwater obtained from a reservoir or directly from the ocean) and supplies LPin fluid 120 (e.g., low-pressure seawater, feedwater) to the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX). The supply pump 126 may be controlled by a controller 180. The HPin system 132 may include a membrane 136 that supplies HPin fluid 130 (e.g., high-pressure brine) to the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) via an HPin flow valve 131. The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 exchanges pressure between the HPin fluid 130 and the LPin fluid 120 to supply the HPout fluid 150 (e.g., high-pressure seawater) to the HPout system 152, and also supplies the LPout fluid 140 (e.g., low-pressure brine) to the LPout system 142 (e.g., geological mass, ocean, sea, waste disposal area, etc.) via the LPout flow valve 141.

[0041] The membrane 136 may be a membrane separation device configured to separate fluids passing through a membrane, such as a reverse osmosis membrane. The membrane 136 can supply HPin fluid 130, which is concentrated feedwater or concentrate (e.g., brine), to the hydraulic energy transfer system 110. The pressure of the HPin fluid 130 may be used to compress low-pressure feedwater (e.g., LPin fluid 120) into high-pressure feedwater (e.g., HPout fluid 150). For the sake of simplification and explanation, the term feedwater is used. However, fluids other than water may be used in the hydraulic energy transfer system 110.

[0042] A circulation pump 158 (e.g., a turbine) supplies HPout fluid 150 (e.g., high-pressure seawater) to the membrane 136. The circulation pump 158 may be controlled by a controller 180. The membrane 136 filters the HPout fluid 150 to provide LP drinking water 172 and high-pressure in fluid 130 (e.g., high-pressure brine). The LPout system 142 supplies out brine 174 (e.g., to geological masses, oceans, seas, wastelands, etc.).

[0043] In some embodiments, a high-pressure fluid pump 176 is positioned between the supply pump 126 and the membrane 136. The high-pressure fluid pump 176 increases the pressure of low-pressure seawater (e.g., LPin fluid 120 providing high-pressure supply water) so that it is mixed with the high-pressure seawater supplied by the circulation pump 158. The high-pressure fluid pump 176 may be controlled by a controller 180.

[0044] In some embodiments, the load on the high-pressure fluid pump 176 is reduced by the use of the hydraulic energy transfer system 110. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 100C provides LP drinking water 172 without using the high-pressure fluid pump 176. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 100C provides LP drinking water 172 while intermittently using the high-pressure fluid pump 176.

[0045] In some examples, a hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) receives LPin fluid 120 (e.g., low-pressure feedwater) at approximately 2068 hPa (approximately 30 PSI (pounds-force per square inch)) and HPin fluid 130 (e.g., high-pressure brine or concentrate) at approximately 67568 hPa (approximately 980 PSI). The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) transfers pressure from the high-pressure concentrate (e.g., HPin fluid 130) to the low-pressure feedwater (e.g., LPin fluid 120). The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) receives HPout fluid 150 (e.g., high-pressure (compressed) feedwater) at approximately 66534 hPa (approximately 965 PSI) and LPout fluid 140 (e.g., low-pressure concentrate) at approximately 1034 hPa (approximately 15 PSI). Thus, the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) can have an efficiency of approximately 97%. This is because the input volume of the hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) is substantially equal to the output volume, and 66534 hPa (approximately 965 PSI) is substantially 97% of 67568 (approximately 980 SPI).

[0046] The fluid processing system 100C may further include one or more sensors configured to provide sensor data associated with a first fluid and a second fluid. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on sensor data received from sensors that provide sensor data associated with the flow of the HPin fluid 130. The HPin flow valve 131 may also control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on a target flow rate. The target flow rate may be determined by the controller 108 based on user input provided by a user (e.g., technician, operator, engineer, etc.). The LPout flow valve 141 may control the flow rate of the LPout fluid 140 (e.g., resulting in control of the flow rate of the LPin fluid 120) based on sensor data received from one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the controller 180 causes the HPin flow valve 131 and / or the LPout flow valve 141 to operate based on the sensor data received.

[0047] Figure 1D shows a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system 100D, including a hydraulic energy transfer system 110, according to one embodiment. The fluid processing system 100D may be a refrigeration system. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 100D includes more components, fewer components, the same operations, different operations, and / or similar elements compared to that shown in Figure 1D. Some features of Figure 1D having the same reference numerals as those in Figures 1A, 1B, and / or 1C may have the same properties, functions, and / or structures as those in Figures 1A, 1B, and / or 1C.

[0048] The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) can receive LPin fluid 120 from an LPin system 122 (e.g., low-pressure lift device 128, low-pressure fluid pump, low-pressure compressor, etc.) and can receive HPin fluid 130 from an HPin system 132 (e.g., condenser 138, gas cooler, heat exchanger, etc.) via an HPin flow valve 131. The hydraulic energy transfer system 110 (e.g., PX) can exchange pressure between the LPin fluid 120 and the HPin fluid 130 to supply HPout fluid 150 to an HPout system 152 (e.g., high-pressure lift device 159, high-pressure fluid pump, high-pressure compressor, etc.) and can supply LPout fluid 140 to an LPout system 142 (e.g., evaporator 144, heat exchanger, etc.) via an LPout flow valve 141. The evaporator 144 can supply fluid to the compressor 178 and the low-pressure lift device 128. The condenser 138 can receive fluid from the compressor 178 and the high-pressure lift device 159. The controller 180 can control one or more components of the fluid processing system 100D.

[0049] The fluid processing system 100D may be a closed system. The LPin fluid 120, HPin fluid 130, LPout fluid 140, and HPout fluid 150 may all be fluids (e.g., refrigerant, the same fluid) that are circulated within the closed system of the fluid processing system 100D.

[0050] In some embodiments, the fluid in the fluid processing system 100D may contain solid particles. For example, piping, equipment, connections (e.g., pipe welds, pipe soldering), etc., may introduce solid particles (e.g., solid particles from welds, soldering, and / or corrosion) into the fluid in the fluid processing system 100D.

[0051] The fluid processing system 100D may further include one or more sensors configured to provide sensor data associated with the fluid. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on sensor data received from sensors that provide sensor data associated with the flow of the HPin fluid 130. The HPin flow valve 131 may control the flow rate of the HPin fluid 130 based on a target flow rate. The target flow rate may be determined by the controller 108 based on user input provided by a user (e.g., technician, operator, engineer, etc.). The LPout flow valve 141 may control the flow rate of the LPout fluid 140 (e.g., resulting in control of the flow rate of the LPin fluid 120) based on sensor data received from one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the controller 180 causes the HPin flow valve 131 and / or the LPout flow valve 141 to operate based on the received sensor data.

[0052] Figures 2A-E are exploded perspective views of a rotary PX40 (e.g., rotary pressure exchanger, rotary liquid piston compressor (LPC)) according to one embodiment. Some features in one or more of Figures 2A-E may have similar properties, functions, and / or structures to those in one or more of Figures 1A-D.

[0053] The PX40 is configured to transmit pressure and / or work with minimal fluid mixing between a first fluid (e.g., particulate fluid, non-caustic fluid, non-acidic fluid, propane-free fluid, or supercritical carbon dioxide, HPin fluid 130) and a second fluid (e.g., slurry fluid, caustic fluid, acidic fluid, fracking fluid, or superheated gaseous carbon dioxide, LPin fluid 120). The rotary PX40 may include a section 42, which is generally cylindrical, including a sleeve 44 (e.g., rotor sleeve) and a rotor 46. The rotary PX40 may also include two end caps 48 and 50, each containing a manifold 52 and 54. Manifold 52 includes an inlet port 56 and an outlet port 58, respectively, while manifold 54 includes an inlet port 60 and an outlet port 62, respectively. During operation, the inlet ports 56 and 60 allow the first and second fluids to enter the rotary PX40 and exchange pressure, while the outlet ports 58 and 62 allow the first and second fluids to exit the rotary PX40 thereafter. During operation, the inlet port 56 may receive a high-pressure first fluid (e.g., HPin fluid 130), and after pressure exchange, the outlet port 58 may be used to route the low-pressure first fluid (e.g., LPout fluid 140) out of the rotary PX40. Similarly, the inlet port 60 may receive a low-pressure second fluid (e.g., low-pressure slurry fluid, LPin fluid 120), and the outlet port 62 may be used to route the high-pressure second fluid (e.g., high-pressure slurry fluid, HPout fluid 150) out of the rotary PX40. The end caps 48 and 50 include their respective end covers 64 and 66 (e.g., end plates) which are located within their respective manifolds 52 and 54 and allow for fluid seal contact with the rotor 46.

[0054] One or more components of the PX40, such as the rotor 46, end cover 64, and / or end cover 66, may be made of a wear-resistant material (e.g., carbide, cemented carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, etc.) having a hardness greater than a predetermined threshold (e.g., Vickers hardness value of at least 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, or greater). For example, tungsten carbide may be more durable than other materials such as alumina-processed ceramics and may provide higher wear resistance to abrasive fluids. In addition, in some embodiments, one or more components of the PX40, such as the rotor 46, end cover 64, end cover 66, and / or other sealing surfaces of the PX40, may have inserts. In some embodiments, the insert may be made of one or more wear-resistant materials (e.g., carbide, cemented carbide, silicon carbide, tungsten carbide, etc.) having a hardness greater than a predetermined threshold (e.g., Vickers hardness values ​​of at least 1000, 1250, 1500, 1750, 2000, 2250, or greater) in order to enhance wear resistance.

[0055] The rotor 46 is cylindrical and positioned within the sleeve 44, allowing the rotor 46 to rotate about an axis 68. The rotor 46 may have a plurality of channels 70 (e.g., ducts, rotor ducts) which extend substantially longitudinally through the rotor 46, each having openings 72 and 74 (e.g., rotor ports) at their ends, which are substantially symmetrically arranged about the longitudinal axis 68. The openings 72 and 74 of the rotor 46 are positioned for hydraulic communication between inlet apertures 76 and outlet apertures 78 (e.g., end cover inlet ports and end cover outlet ports) and between inlet apertures 80 and outlet apertures 82 (e.g., end cover inlet ports and end cover outlet ports) in the end covers 64 and 66, in such a manner that the channels 70 are exposed to high-pressure and low-pressure fluids during rotation. As shown in the illustration, the inlet aperture 76 and the outlet aperture 78, as well as 80 and 82, may be designed in the form of an arc or a segment of a circle (e.g., C-shape).

[0056] In some embodiments, a controller (e.g., controller 180 in Figures 1A-D) using sensor feedback (e.g., rotations per minute measured via a tachometer or optical encoder, or volumetric flow rate measured via a flow meter) may be used to control the degree of mixing between the first and second fluids within the rotary PX40 and to improve the operability of the fluid processing system (e.g., fluid processing systems 100A-D in Figures 1A-D). For example, by changing the volumetric flow rate of the first and / or second fluids entering the rotary PX40 (e.g., by the HPin flow valve 131 and LPout flow valve 141 in Figures 1A-D), a plant operator (e.g., a system operator) can control the amount of fluid mixing within the PX40. Furthermore, changing the rotational speed of the rotor 46 also allows the operator to control the mixing. Three characteristics of a rotary PX40 that affect mixing are (1) the aspect ratio of the rotor channel 70, (2) the contact duration between the first fluid and the second fluid, and (3) the formation of a fluid partition (e.g., interface) between the first fluid and the second fluid within the rotor channel 70. Firstly, the rotor channel 70 (e.g., duct) is generally long and narrow, stabilizing the flow within the rotary PX40. In addition, the first and second fluids can move through the channel 70 in a plug-flow framework with minimal axial mixing. Secondly, in some embodiments, the speed of the rotor 46 reduces the contact between the first and second fluids. For example, the speed of the rotor 46 (e.g., a rotor speed of about 1200 RPM (revolutions per minute)) can reduce the contact time between the first and second fluids to about 0.15 seconds, 0.10 seconds, or less than 0.05 seconds. Thirdly, a small portion of the rotor's channel 70 is used for pressure exchange between the first and second fluids. Thus, the volume of the fluids remains within the channel 70 as a partition between the first and second fluids. All these mechanisms can limit mixing within the rotary PX40. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the rotary PX40 may be designed to operate with a full or partial internal piston or other partition that separates the first and second fluids while allowing pressure transmission.

[0057] Figures 2B-2E are exploded views of one embodiment of the rotary PX40 illustrating the sequence of positions of the channel 70 of a single rotor within the rotor 46 as the channel 70 rotates throughout a complete cycle. Note that Figure 2B-2E is a simplified representation of the rotary PX40, showing the channel 70 of one rotor, and the channel 70 is shown to have a circular cross-sectional shape. In other embodiments, the rotary PX40 may include multiple channels 70 having the same or different cross-sectional shapes (e.g., circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc.). That is, Figure 2B-2E is a simplified representation for illustrative purposes, and other embodiments of the rotary PX40 may have configurations different from those shown in Figures 2A-2E. As will be described in detail below, the rotary PX40 facilitates pressure exchange between the first and second fluids (e.g., particulate fluid and slurry fluid) by allowing them to come into slight contact with each other inside the rotor 46. In some embodiments, the PX facilitates pressure exchange between the first and second fluids by allowing the first and second fluids to contact both sides of a partition (e.g., a reciprocating partition, a piston; not shown). In some embodiments, this exchange occurs at a rate that results in limited mixing of the first and second fluids. Whether and to what extent mixing occurs can be determined by the velocity of the pressure wave passing through the rotor channel 70 (immediately after the channel is exposed to the aperture 76), the velocity of fluid diffusion, and / or the rotational speed of the rotor 46.

[0058] Figure 2B is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a rotary PX40 (e.g., rotary LPC) according to one embodiment. In Figure 2B, the channel opening 72 is in its initial position. In this initial position, the channel opening 72 is in fluid communication with the aperture 78 of the end cover 64 and therefore with the manifold 52, while the opposite channel opening 74 is in hydraulic communication with the aperture 82 of the end cover 66 and, consequently with the manifold 54. The rotor 46 can rotate in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow 84. During operation, a low-pressure second fluid 86 (e.g., low-pressure slurry fluid) passes through the end cover 66 and enters the channel 70, where it comes into contact with the first fluid 88 at the dynamic fluid interface 90. The second fluid 86 then displaces the first fluid 88 from the channel 70, through the end cover 64, and out of the rotary PX40. However, because the duration of contact is short, mixing between the second fluid 86 (e.g., slurry fluid) and the first fluid 88 (e.g., particle-free fluid) is minimal. In some embodiments, the low-pressure second fluid 86 contacts a first side of a partition (e.g., a piston, not shown) located within the channel 70, where the first fluid 88 is in contact with the partition (e.g., on the opposite side of the partition). The second fluid 86 drives the partition, forcing the first fluid 88 out of the channel 70. In such embodiments, mixing between the second fluid 86 and the first fluid 88 is negligible.

[0059] Figure 2C is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a rotary PX40 (e.g., rotary LPC) according to one embodiment. In Figure 2C, the channel 70 is rotated clockwise through an arc of approximately 90 degrees. In this position, the opening 74 (e.g., outlet) is no longer in fluid communication with the apertures 80 and 82 of the end cover 66, and the opening 72 is no longer in fluid communication with the apertures 76 and 78 of the end cover 64. Therefore, a low-pressure second fluid 86 is temporarily contained within the channel 70.

[0060] Figure 2D is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a rotary PX40 (e.g., rotary LPC) according to one embodiment. In Figure 2D, the channel 70 rotates through an arc of approximately 60 degrees from the position shown in Figure 2B. The opening 74 here is in fluid communication with the aperture 80 of the end cover 66, and the opening 72 of the channel 70 here is in fluid communication with the aperture 76 of the end cover 64. At this position, the high-pressure first fluid 88 enters and pressurizes the low-pressure second fluid 86, driving the second fluid 86 out of the rotor channel 70 and through the aperture 80.

[0061] Figure 2E is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a rotary PX (e.g., rotary LPC) according to a certain embodiment. In Figure 2E, the channel 70 has rotated through an arc of approximately 270 degrees from the position shown in Figure 2B. At this position, the opening 74 is no longer in fluid communication with the apertures 80 and 82 of the end cover 66, and the opening 72 is no longer in fluid communication with the apertures 76 and 78 of the end cover 64. Therefore, the first fluid 88 is no longer pressurized and is temporarily contained within the channel 70, and when the rotor 46 rotates another 90 degrees, the above cycle is restarted.

[0062] Figures 3A-D are schematic diagrams of a fluid processing system 300A-D including a PX according to one embodiment. Some features in one or more of Figures 3A-D may have similar properties, functions, and / or structures to those in one or more of Figures 1A-D and / or one or more of Figures 2A-E.

[0063] Figure 3A is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system 300A comprising a pressure exchanger (PX) according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system comprises a pressure exchanger (PX) 310. PX310 may be a rotary pressure exchanger. In some embodiments, PX310 is an isobaric or substantially isobaric pressure exchanger. PX310 may be configured to exchange pressure between a first fluid and a second fluid. In some embodiments, PX310 is coupled to a motor 390 (for example, the rotation of the rotor of PX310 is controlled by the motor 390).

[0064] In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300A includes a high-pressure (HP) supply source 320 (e.g., one or more HPin systems 132 in Figures 1A-D) and a low-pressure (LP) supply source 322 (e.g., one or more LPin systems 122 in Figures 1A-D). The HP supply source 320 may be a supply source for a first fluid. The first fluid may be a particulate-free fluid (e.g., water, propane-free fluid, filtered fluid). In some embodiments, the first fluid is a non-caustic fluid (e.g., a non-alkaline fluid, a fluid with a pH of about 5-10). In some embodiments, the first fluid is a non-acidic fluid. The HP supply source 320 may include one or more high-pressure pumps for supplying the high-pressure first fluid. The LP supply source 322 may be a supply source for a second fluid. The second fluid may be a particulate-containing fluid (e.g., slurry fluid, fracking fluid, etc.). The second fluid may contain abrasives and / or solid particles. In some embodiments, the second particles are a caustic fluid (e.g., a strongly basic fluid, a fluid with a pH greater than about 10, etc.). In some embodiments, the second fluid is an acidic fluid (e.g., a strongly acidic fluid, a fluid with a pH less than about 5, etc.). In some embodiments, the first fluid may contain particles, and the second fluid may be substantially particle-free.

[0065] The fluid processing system 300A may include a controller 380 (e.g., controller 180 in Figures 1A-D). The controller 380 may control the pumps and / or valves of the system 300A. The controller 380 may receive sensor data from one or more sensors of the system 300A. In some embodiments, the controller 380 controls a motor 390. In some embodiments, the controller 380 receives motor data from one or more motor sensors associated with the motor 390. The motor data received from the motor sensors may include the current motor speed (e.g., revolutions per minute), the total motor operating time, the motor operating time between maintenance operations, and / or the total motor rotations. The motor data may indicate the operating status of the motor 390.

[0066] In some embodiments, PX310 is configured to receive a high-pressure first fluid (e.g., HPin fluid 130 in Figures 1A-D). PX310 may receive the first fluid via a high-pressure inlet. In some embodiments, PX310 is configured to receive a low-pressure second fluid (e.g., LPin fluid 120 in Figures 1A-D). PX310 may receive the second fluid via a low-pressure inlet. Although the terms "high pressure" and "low pressure" are used, they can be relative to each other and do not necessarily imply specific pressure values ​​(e.g., the pressure of HPin fluid 130 is higher than the pressure of LPin fluid 120). PX310 can exchange pressure between the first and second fluids. PX310 can provide the first fluid via a low-pressure outlet (e.g., LPout fluid 140) and the second fluid via a high-pressure outlet (e.g., HPout fluid 150). In some embodiments, the first fluid supplied through the low-pressure outlet is at low pressure, and the second fluid supplied through the high-pressure outlet is at high pressure.

[0067] The fluid processing system 300A may comprise one or more valves. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300A comprises an HPin flow valve 332 (e.g., one or more HPin flow valves 131 in Figures 1A-D) and an LPout flow valve 334 (e.g., one or more LPout flow valves 141 in Figures 1A-D). The HPin flow valve 332 may be fluid-coupled to a first inlet (e.g., a high-pressure inlet) of the PX310. The HPin flow valve 332 may be fluid-coupled to an HP source 320. The HPin flow valve 332 may receive a high-pressure first fluid from the HP source 320 and supply the high-pressure first fluid to the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. The HPin flow valve 332 may be located upstream of the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. The HPin flow valve 332 may regulate the flow rate of the high-pressure first fluid supplied to the PX310 via the high-pressure inlet.

[0068] The LPout flow valve 334 can be fluid-communicated to the first outlet (e.g., low-pressure outlet) of the PX310. The LPout flow valve 334 receives the low-pressure first fluid from the low-pressure outlet of the PX310 and supplies the low-pressure fluid to the clean fluid discharge section. The LPout flow valve 334 may be located downstream of the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. The LPout flow valve 334 can regulate the flow rate of the first fluid from the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. In some embodiments, regulating the flow rate of the low-pressure first fluid from the low-pressure outlet of the PX310 by the properties of the pressure exchanger system (e.g., fluid processing system 300A) also regulates the flow rate of the low-pressure second fluid entering the low-pressure inlet of the PX310.

[0069] The fluid processing system 300A may include one or more sensors. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300A includes one or more flow sensors (e.g., volumetric flow sensor, mass flow sensor, velocity sensor, etc.) and / or pressure sensors. In some embodiments, the flow sensors of the fluid processing system 300A include an HPin flow sensor 342, an LPout flow sensor 344, and / or an LPin flow sensor 346. The HPin flow sensor 342 may detect the flow rate of a high-pressure first fluid entering the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. The LPin flow sensor 346 may detect the flow rate of a low-pressure second fluid entering the low-pressure inlet of the PX310. The LPout flow sensor 344 may detect the flow rate of a low-pressure first fluid after the low-pressure first fluid has exited the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. The controller 380 may receive sensor data from the HPin flow sensor 342, the LPin flow sensor 346, and / or the LPout flow sensor 344.

[0070] In some embodiments, the pressure sensors of the fluid processing system 300A include an HPin pressure sensor 352, an LPin pressure sensor 356, an LPout pressure sensor 354, and / or an HPout pressure sensor 358. The HPin pressure sensor 352 can detect the pressure of a high-pressure first fluid flowing toward the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. The LPin pressure sensor 356 can detect the pressure of a low-pressure second fluid flowing toward the low-pressure inlet of the PX310. The LPout pressure sensor 354 can detect the pressure of a low-pressure first fluid flowing from the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. The HPout pressure sensor 358 can detect the pressure of a high-pressure second fluid flowing from the high-pressure inlet of the PX310.

[0071] The controller 380 may receive sensor data from the system's sensors. In some embodiments, the controller 380 receives user input associated with a target flow rate of a first high-pressure fluid. For example, the controller 380 may receive user input (e.g., from a client device, from the user) indicating that the target flow rate of the first high-pressure fluid should be 300 gallons per minute.

[0072] The flow rates of the first and second fluids into PX can be controlled by the controller 380. In some embodiments, the controller 380 is configured to control the flow rates of the first and second fluids by acting on control valves (e.g., HPin flow valve 332 and LPout flow valve 334) fluid-coupled to PX 310. In some embodiments, the controller 380 controls one or more corresponding supply pumps (e.g., a high-pressure pump for HP supply source 320 to supply the first fluid and / or a low-pressure pump for LP supply source 322 to supply the second fluid) configured to supply the first and / or second fluids to PX 310. For example, the controller 380 may control a high-pressure supply pump that supplies the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet. The controller 380 may control a low-pressure supply pump that supplies the second fluid to the low-pressure inlet. In some embodiments, the controller 380 controls the HPin flow valve 332 to regulate the flow of the first fluid entering the high-pressure inlet. In some embodiments, the controller 380 controls the LPout flow valve 334 to regulate the flow of a first fluid out of the PX310 and, depending on the properties of the PX310, the flow of a second fluid entering the low-pressure inlet.

[0073] The controller 380 may receive user input associated with a target flow rate of a first fluid entering the high-pressure inlet. For example, the user input may indicate a target flow rate of 300 gallons per minute for the first fluid. The user input may come from the user (e.g., provided by an operator, technician, engineer, etc.). The user input may be provided by the user via a GUI of a computer system (e.g., a client device) that communicates with the controller 380.

[0074] The controller 380 may cause adjustment of the flow rate of the first fluid supplied through the high-pressure inlet based on user input and sensor data from one or more HPin pressure sensors 352 or HPin flow sensors 342. In some embodiments, the controller 380 causes the above adjustment by opening or closing the HPin flow valve 332. For example, if sensor data from the HPin flow sensor 342 indicates that the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet is less than the target flow rate indicated by user input, the controller 380 may cause the HPin flow valve 332 to open. By opening the HPin flow valve 332, the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet of PX310 can be increased. If sensor data from the HPin flow sensor 342 indicates that the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet is greater than the target flow rate indicated by user input, the controller 380 may cause the HPin flow valve 332 to close. By closing the HPin flow valve 332, the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet of PX310 can be decreased.

[0075] In some embodiments, the controller 380 causes adjustment of the flow rate of a high-pressure first fluid by controlling a high-pressure supply pump (e.g., HP supply source 320). For example, if sensor data received from the HPin flow sensor 342 indicates that the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet is less than the target flow rate indicated by user input, the controller 380 may cause the high-pressure supply pump to increase the pressure of the first fluid supplied by the high-pressure supply pump. The high-pressure supply pump increasing the pressure of the first fluid may increase the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. If sensor data received from the HPin flow sensor 342 indicates that the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet is greater than the target flow rate indicated by user input, the controller 380 may cause the high-pressure supply pump to decrease the pressure of the first fluid supplied by the high-pressure supply pump. The high-pressure supply pump decreasing the pressure of the first fluid may decrease the flow rate of the first fluid to the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. In some embodiments, the high-pressure supply pump is a centrifugal pump. In some embodiments, the high-pressure supply pump is a positive displacement pump. The high-pressure supply pump may be configured to output a first fluid at high pressure.

[0076] The controller 380 may regulate the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet of the PX310 based on sensor data received from one or more of the HPin flow sensor 342, HPin pressure sensor 352, LPin pressure sensor 356, and / or LPin flow sensor 346. In some embodiments, the controller 380 may regulate the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet based on the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet to the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet. If the ratio is greater than 1 (e.g., the flow rate of the first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet is greater than the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet), it is referred to as lead flow. If the ratio is less than 1 (e.g., the flow rate of the first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet is less than the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet), it is referred to as lag flow. When the ratio is equal to 1 (for example, the flow rate of the first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet is equal to the flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet), it is called a balanced flow.

[0077] In some embodiments, the controller 380 controls the flow rate of the second fluid to the low-pressure inlet of the PX310 by opening and closing the LPout flow valve 334. For example, to increase the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid heading towards the inlet of the PX310, the controller 380 may close the LPout flow valve 334. Closing the LPout flow valve 334 can result in a decrease in the amount of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet of the PX310, thereby increasing the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid. To decrease this ratio, the controller 380 may open the LPout flow valve 334. By opening the LPout flow valve 334, the pressure (e.g., flow rate, volume, etc.) of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet can be increased, thereby decreasing the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid. The controller 380 can regulate the flow rate of the second fluid toward the low-pressure inlet of the PX310, thereby achieving a predetermined ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid. This predetermined ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid may be based on the amount and / or type of particles, abrasives, contaminants, etc., in the second fluid. Operating the PX310 in a lead flow state can result in reduced wear and improper damage to the PX310.

[0078] In some embodiments, the controller 380 causes adjustment of the flow rate of the second fluid toward the low-pressure inlet of the PX310 by controlling the low-pressure supply pump (e.g., of the LP supply source 322). For example, to increase the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid toward the inlet of the PX310, the controller 380 may cause the low-pressure supply pump to supply the second fluid at a lower pressure (e.g., a lower flow rate, a lower volume). By the low-pressure supply pump outputting the second fluid at a lower pressure, the pressure of the second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet of the PX310 is reduced, thereby increasing the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid. To decrease the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the second fluid, the controller 380 may cause the low-pressure supply pump to increase the pressure of the second fluid (e.g., increase the flow rate, increase the volume). By having the low-pressure supply pump output the second fluid at a higher pressure, a second fluid at a higher pressure is supplied to the low-pressure inlet of the PX310, thereby increasing the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid. In some embodiments, the low-pressure supply pump is a centrifugal pump.

[0079] The controller 380 may be configured to trigger the execution of corrective actions based on sensor data (e.g., one or more of the following: flow rate data received from the LPout flow sensor 344, pressure data received from the LPout pressure sensor 354, and / or pressure data received from the HPout pressure sensor 358). In some embodiments, the execution of corrective actions is based on the difference between the sensor data received from the LPin flow sensor 346 and the sensor data received from the LPout flow sensor 344, and / or the difference between the sensor data received from the LPin pressure sensor 356 and the sensor data received from the LPout pressure sensor 354. The corrective action may result in the operation of one or more valves (e.g., the HPin flow valve 332 and / or the LPout flow valve 334) (e.g., causing them to open or close). In some embodiments, the flow rate data and pressure data received from the LPout flow sensor 344 and the LPout pressure sensor 354, respectively, indicate the health of the PX310. For example, a large difference between the flow rate data received from the LPout flow sensor 344 and the flow rate data received from the LPin flow sensor 346 may indicate a problem with the PX310. Such problems may be due to wear of components of the PX310 or to a malfunction of the PX310. In some cases, the controller 380 may initiate maintenance on one or more components of the fluid processing system 300A (e.g., the PX310) (e.g., by sounding an alert, by interrupting operation, etc.). Pressure data received from the HPout pressure sensor 358 may be used by the controller 380 to control one or more pumps associated with the fluid processing system 300A.

[0080] In some embodiments, the LP source 322 supplies a second fluid to the low-pressure inlet of PX310 by gravity. For example, an elevated reservoir (e.g., an elevated tank, a pond at a higher elevation than PX310) may be responsible for supplying the second fluid. Due to the force of gravity, the second fluid can be supplied to the low-pressure inlet via a conduit (e.g., a pipe).

[0081] In some embodiments, after PX310 has finished exchanging pressure between the first and second fluids, the low-pressure first fluid may be supplied to a clean fluid discharge section. In some embodiments, this clean fluid discharge section is a reservoir (e.g., a water reservoir). In some embodiments, the clean fluid discharge section is in fluid communication with an HP supply source 320, in which case the first fluid flows in a closed loop from the HP supply source 320 to PX310, to the clean fluid discharge section, and back to the HP supply source 320. This closed loop may have one or more filters to filter the first fluid after it leaves PX310 and before it returns to the HP supply source 320. After the pressure exchange between the first and second fluids has finished, the high-pressure second fluid may be supplied to a process (e.g., a fracking process, a slurry pump process, etc.).

[0082] As an example, the pressure of a slurry fluid (e.g., a fluid containing particles, a second fluid) is increased. Water (e.g., a fluid without particles, a first fluid) is received by PX310 at high pressure. The slurry fluid is received by PX310 at low pressure. PX310 exchanges pressure between the water and the slurry fluid, thereby increasing the pressure of the slurry fluid and decreasing the pressure of the water. The low-pressure water is supplied to a pond, and the high-pressure slurry fluid is supplied to a slurry pipeline process. For example, a slurry pipeline process may be a process for transporting solid particles through a pipeline. These solid particles (e.g., sand) are suspended in a liquid (e.g., water) and form a slurry that can be pumped through a pipeline system.

[0083] Figure 3B is a schematic diagram of a fluid handling system 300B equipped with a pressure exchanger (PX) according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, features having the same reference numerals as those in other figures have the same properties, structure, and / or functions as those described in other figures. In some examples, the features of the fluid handling system 300B have the same properties, structure, and / or functions as the fluid handling system 300A in Figure 3A.

[0084] In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300B includes one or more valves not shown in the fluid processing system 300A. The fluid processing system 300B may include an HP supply valve 324. The HP supply valve 324 can regulate the supply of a high-pressure first fluid from an HP supply pump (e.g., HP supply source 320 in Figure 3A). The system 300B may include an LP supply valve 328 for regulating the supply of a low-pressure second fluid from a slurry supply pump (e.g., a particle-containing fluid supply pump, a caustic fluid supply pump, an acidic fluid supply pump, or an LP supply source 322 in Figure 3A). The fluid processing system 300B may include an HPout check valve 338 that is in fluid communication with and located downstream of the high-pressure outlet of PX300. The HPout check valve 338 can prevent the backflow (e.g., return to the HPout pressure sensor 358, PX310, etc.) of a high-pressure second fluid (e.g., slurry fluid, caustic fluid, acidic fluid, etc. in the fluid treatment system 300B). The high-pressure second fluid can be discharged into a slurry pipeline (e.g., a particulate fluid pipeline, caustic fluid pipeline, acidic fluid pipeline, etc.). The fluid treatment system 300B may include an LPout discharge valve 348 for regulating (e.g., stopping, starting, increasing, decreasing) the flow of a low-pressure first fluid from the low-pressure outlet of PX310. After the first fluid has passed through the LPout discharge valve 348, the low-pressure first fluid can be discharged into a clean supply unit (e.g., a reservoir for clean first fluid). The LPout discharge valve 348 can be closed by a user (e.g., an operator, technician, engineer, etc.) when the fluid treatment system 300B is shut down for maintenance. System 300B may include a bearing valve 374 and a bearing flush cleaning line valve 376.

[0085] In some embodiments, the fluid treatment system 300B supplies a first fluid to the bearings of the PX310. In some embodiments, the fluid treatment system 300B comprises one or more components configured to flush the bearings of the PX310 with fluid. The one or more components used to supply fluid to the bearings of the PX310 and the one or more components used to flush the bearings of the PX310 with fluid may be the same. In some embodiments, the fluid treatment system 300B comprises a bearing supply line 371. The bearing supply line 371 may be a conduit configured to receive a portion of the high-pressure first fluid upstream of the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. In some embodiments, the bearing supply line 371 receives the high-pressure first fluid upstream of the HPin flow valve 332. In some embodiments, the bearing supply line 371 may supply the high-pressure first fluid to a bearing filter 372. The bearing filter 372 may filter the high-pressure first fluid. In some embodiments, the bearing filter 372 filters contaminants (e.g., solids, particles, abrasives) from a high-pressure first fluid. In some embodiments, the bearing filter 372 receives the high-pressure fluid via a bearing supply line 373. The bearing supply line 373 may receive the high-pressure fluid discharged from PX310.

[0086] A high-pressure first fluid from the bearing supply line 371 may be supplied to the bearing valve 374. The bearing valve 374 may have two or more ports. In some embodiments, the bearing valve 374 has three ports. The controller 380 can control the operation of the ports of the bearing valve 374 (e.g., control which ports of the bearing valve 374 are open and / or closed, control how open or closed the ports of the bearing valve 374 are). The bearing valve 374 may be configured to receive a supply of high-pressure first fluid and to supply the high-pressure first fluid to the housing of the PX310 for flush cleaning the bearings of the PX310. The bearing valve 374 may be configured to receive flush cleaning fluid from the housing of the PX310 and direct the flush cleaning fluid to pass through a bearing flush cleaning drain line 378 having an outlet downstream of the low-pressure outlet of the PX310.

[0087] During operation of the PX310, the controller 380 can activate the first port 381 of the bearing valve 374 to the open position, thereby allowing the bearing valve 374 to receive filtered high-pressure first fluid from the bearing filter 372. The controller 380 can further activate the second port 382 of the bearing valve 374 to the open position (for example, and the third port 383 of the bearing valve 374 to the closed position), thereby allowing filtered high-pressure first fluid to be supplied to the housing of the PX310 (for example, without bypassing the PX310). The filtered high-pressure first fluid can be supplied through the housing to one or more bearings of the PX310 (e.g., bearing surfaces). By supplying filtered high-pressure first fluid to the bearings of the PX310, the bearings are lubricated, wear of the PX310 is reduced, the time between maintenance is extended, and the service life of the PX310 is extended.

[0088] During the bearing flush cleaning procedure, the controller 380 can be activated to close the first port 381, thereby stopping the flow of high-pressure first fluid from the bearing filter 372 toward the PX310. The bearing valve 374 can receive flush cleaning fluid from the housing of the PX310 through the open second port 382. The controller 380 can be activated to open the third port 383 of the bearing valve 374, thereby directing the flush cleaning fluid toward the bearing flush cleaning line valve 376 via the bearing flush cleaning drain line 378. The bearing flush cleaning line valve 376 can be opened during the bearing flush cleaning procedure, allowing the flush cleaning fluid to be discharged into the low-pressure first fluid that exits the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. The flush cleaning fluid may contain flushed particles (e.g., solids, particles, abrasives, etc.) from the bearings of the PX310. By flush cleaning particles from the PX310 bearings, wear can be reduced, the time between maintenance work can be extended, and the service life of the PX310 can be increased.

[0089] In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300B includes a clean discharge filter 360. The clean discharge filter 360 may receive a low-pressure first fluid output from the low-pressure outlet of the PX310. The clean discharge filter 360 may be configured to filter the low-pressure first fluid after it has left the PX310 to remove contaminants (e.g., particles, solids, abrasives, etc.) from the low-pressure first fluid. In some embodiments, the clean discharge filter 360 may receive a portion of the high-pressure first fluid as a flash cleaning fluid via a filter flash cleaning line 362. The filter flash cleaning line 362 may be a conduit configured to receive a portion of the high-pressure first fluid upstream of the high-pressure inlet of the PX310. The portion of the high-pressure first fluid supplied to the clean discharge filter 360 as a flash cleaning fluid may be transported to remove particles (e.g., particles filtered from the low-pressure first fluid by the clean discharge filter 360) from the clean discharge filter 360. In some embodiments, the particles can be transported to a second low-pressure fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet of PX310. In some embodiments, the particles from the clean discharge filter 360 are discharged into the second low-pressure fluid. In embodiments where the first fluid flows in a substantially closed loop (e.g., Figures 1B and 1D) and the first fluid is filtered through the clean discharge filter 360, wear on the HP supply pump due to abrasive particles can be reduced.

[0090] Figure 3C is a schematic diagram of a fluid handling system 300C, including a plurality of pressure exchangers (e.g., PX311, 312, 313), according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, features having the same reference numerals and / or names as those in other figures have the same properties, structure, and / or functions as those described in other figures. In some examples, features of the fluid handling system 300C have the same properties, structure, and / or functions as those of the fluid handling system 300A in Figure 3A and / or the fluid handling system 300B in Figure 3B.

[0091] In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300C comprises two or more pressure exchangers. In some embodiments (for example, as shown in Figure 3C), the fluid processing system 300C comprises three pressure exchangers. The fluid processing system 300C may comprise PX311, PX312, and PX313. In some embodiments, PX311, PX312, and PX313 operate in parallel with each other. In some embodiments, PX311, PX312, and PX313 may operate in series with each other.

[0092] In some embodiments, the corresponding high-pressure inlets of PX311, PX312, and PX313 are fluid-connected to an HPin manifold 385. The HPin manifold 385 can receive a high-pressure first fluid (e.g., HPin fluid 130) from an HPin flow valve 332. Each of the high-pressure inlets of PX311, PX312, and PX313 can receive a portion of the high-pressure first fluid from the HPin manifold 385.

[0093] Each of the low-pressure inlets of PX311, PX312, and PX313 can be fluid-connected to the LPin manifold 384. The LPin manifold 384 can receive a second low-pressure fluid (e.g., LPin fluid 120) from the LP source 322. Each of the low-pressure inlets of PX311, PX312, and PX313 can receive a portion of the second low-pressure fluid from the LPin manifold 385.

[0094] Each of PX311, PX312, and PX313 can exchange pressure between a high-pressure first fluid and a low-pressure second fluid. The low-pressure first fluid can be output by each of PX311, PX312, and PX313 to the LPout manifold 386 via the low-pressure outlets of each of PX311, PX312, and PX313. The LPout manifold 386 can direct the low-pressure first fluid (e.g., LPout fluid 140) toward the LPout flow valve 334. The high-pressure second fluid can be output by each of PX311, PX312, and PX313 to the HPout manifold 388 via the high-pressure outlets of each of PX311, PX312, and PX313. The HPout manifold can direct the high-pressure second fluid (e.g., HPout fluid 150) toward a process (e.g., fracking process, slurry pump process). Any embodiment of this disclosure may comprise multiple PXs (for example, as shown in Figure 3C).

[0095] Figure 3D is a schematic diagram of a fluid processing system 300D comprising PX310 according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, features having the same reference numerals and / or names as those in other figures have the same properties and / or functions as those described in other figures. In some examples, the fluid processing system 300D has the same properties, structure and / or functions as one or more features of the fluid processing system 300A in Figure 3A, the fluid processing system 300B in Figure 3B, and / or the fluid processing system 300A in Figure 3C.

[0096] In some embodiments, the fluid handling system 300D includes an HP supply pump 323. The HP supply pump may receive the first fluid from a clean fluid reservoir 335. The clean fluid reservoir 335 may be a reservoir for holding the first fluid. In some embodiments, the clean fluid reservoir 335 is a pond or tank. The HP supply pump 323 may increase the pressure of the first fluid to meet a pressure threshold. The high-pressure first fluid is supplied to the high-pressure inlet of PX310 via the HPin flow valve 332. Once the pressure is exchanged within PX310, the first fluid exits PX310 as low-pressure first fluid. The low-pressure first fluid is supplied from the low-pressure outlet of PX310 to the clean fluid reservoir 335 via the LPout flow valve 334.

[0097] In some embodiments, the fluid handling system 300D comprises one or more pump stages (e.g., one or more different pumps) configured to pump a second fluid. In some embodiments, the fluid handling system 300D comprises a pump stage 321 for pumping a second fluid from a low-pressure source of the second fluid. Pump stage 321 may be a first pump stage. Pump stage 321 may be a centrifugal pump or a positive displacement pump. Pump stage 321 may supply a portion of the low-pressure second fluid to the low-pressure inlet of PX310. PX310 may exchange pressure between the high-pressure first fluid and the low-pressure second fluid. PX310 may supply the high-pressure second fluid at the high-pressure outlet. This high-pressure second fluid may be directed to a process (e.g., a fracking process, a slurry pumping process, etc.).

[0098] In some embodiments, one or more additional pump stages (e.g., pump stages 325 and 327) can receive a portion of the second fluid from pump stage 321 and further increase the pressure of that portion of the second fluid. Pump stages 325 and 327 may operate in parallel with PX310. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300D includes a pump stage in addition to pump stages 325 and 327 operating in parallel with PX310. In some embodiments, the fluid processing system 300D includes a single pump stage operating in parallel with PX310. In some embodiments, PX310 supplements the flow rate of the second fluid, which is pumped from a low-pressure source to the process by one or more pump stages.

[0099] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method 400 for controlling a fluid processing system (e.g., fluid processing systems 300A-D in Figures 3A-D) according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, method 400 is executed by processing logic including hardware (e.g., circuits, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, processing unit, etc.), software (e.g., instructions running on a processing unit, general-purpose computer system, or dedicated machine), firmware, microcode, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, method 400 is executed at least in part by a controller (e.g., controller 180 in Figures 1A-D, controller 380 in Figures 3A-D). In some embodiments, a non-temporary storage medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processing unit (e.g., controller 180 in Figures 1A-D, controller 380 in Figures 3A-D, etc.), cause the processing unit to execute method 400.

[0100] For simplicity of explanation, Method 400 is expressed and described as a series of actions. However, the actions according to this disclosure can occur in various orders and / or simultaneously with actions not presented or described herein. Furthermore, in some embodiments, Method 400 according to the subject matter of this disclosure is not carried out by performing all the described actions. In addition, those skilled in the art will understand and acknowledge that Method 400 may alternatively be expressed as a series of interrelated states via a state diagram or events.

[0101] In block 402, the processing logic (e.g., controller 180 in Figures 1A-D, controller 380 in Figures 3A-D) can receive first sensor data associated with the first fluid (e.g., sensor data associated with the first fluid upstream of the first inlet) before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the PX. In some embodiments, the first sensor data includes flow rate data of the first fluid (e.g., volumetric flow rate data, mass flow rate data, velocity data, etc.) before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the PX. In some embodiments, the first sensor data includes pressure data of the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the PX. One or more types of data can be calculated from one or more other types of data (e.g., volumetric flow rate data can be calculated by the processing logic based on pressure sensor data). The first fluid may be substantially particle-free. The first fluid may be at a pressure higher than the second pressure. The first inlet may be a high-pressure inlet of the PX. A PX may be configured to receive a first fluid through a high-pressure inlet and a second fluid (e.g., a second fluid at a lower pressure than the first fluid) through a second, low-pressure inlet. A PX may be configured to exchange pressure between the high-pressure first fluid and the low-pressure second fluid. A PX can supply the low-pressure first fluid through a low-pressure outlet and the second fluid through a high-pressure outlet.

[0102] In block 404, the processing logic can receive second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX (e.g., sensor data associated with the second fluid upstream of the second inlet). In some embodiments, the second sensor data includes flow rate data of the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX (e.g., volumetric flow rate data, mass flow rate data, velocity data, etc.). In some embodiments, the second sensor data includes pressure data of the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX. The second fluid may be a particulate fluid (e.g., slurry fluid, fracking fluid, etc.). The second inlet of the PX may be a low-pressure inlet.

[0103] In block 406, the processing logic can receive user input associated with a target flow rate of a first fluid entering the first inlet of the PX. The user input may indicate a target flow rate of a high-pressure first fluid entering the high-pressure inlet of the PX. The user input may be provided by the user via a GUI associated with the controller.

[0104] In block 408, the processing logic can trigger a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, based on user input and first sensor data. This first adjustment can be triggered via one or more control valves or supply pumps. In some embodiments, the processing logic can adjust the flow rate of the high-pressure first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet of the PX via one or more high-pressure flow control valves (e.g., HPin flow valve 131 in Figures 1A-D, HPin flow valve 332 in Figures 3A-D) or high-pressure supply pumps (e.g., HP supply pump 323 in Figure 3D). The processing logic can trigger the first adjustment so that the flow rate of the high-pressure first fluid supplied to the high-pressure inlet substantially matches the target flow rate indicated by user input.

[0105] In block 410, the processing logic can trigger a second adjustment of the second flow rate of the second fluid supplied to the second inlet, based on first and second sensor data. In some embodiments, the processing logic can adjust the flow rate of the low-pressure second fluid supplied to the low-pressure inlet of the PX via one or more low-pressure flow control valves (e.g., LPout flow valve 141 in Figures 1A-D, LPout flow valve 334 in Figures 3A-D) or low-pressure supply pumps (e.g., pump stage 321 in Figure 3D). The processing logic can trigger a second adjustment based on sensor data (pressure data and / or flow rate data) to achieve a certain ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid (see, for example, the description in Figure 3A). The ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid can be based on at least the particle concentration of the second fluid. In some embodiments, the particle concentration can be provided by user input. In some embodiments, the particle concentration may be determined by processing logic based on sensor data (e.g., sensor data collected by a particle counter or similar sensor).

[0106] In some embodiments, the processing logic may trigger a second adjustment based on a lookup table. This lookup table may be stored in memory accessible to the processing logic (e.g., the processing unit's memory). The lookup table may be a matrix of values. The lookup table can associate values ​​of first sensor data and / or second sensor data with corresponding adjustments. For example, by referring to the lookup table, the processing logic may determine that it should perform an adjustment to the second fluid flow rate indicated (e.g., by the lookup table), considering a first given input of the first sensor data and a second given input of the second sensor data. The lookup table may be generated from historical sensor data collected during system operation. The processing logic may identify the lookup table based on historical sensor data (e.g., historical data from the first and second sensors) and historical execution data. Historical execution data may be obtained based on the performance of the fluid processing system (e.g., total flow rate, maintenance data, differential pressure, etc.). The processing logic may determine a second adjustment from a lookup table based on first sensor data, second sensor data, motor data from the motor driving the PX (e.g., rotations per minute, total operating time, operating time between maintenance, total rotations, etc.), and particle concentration in the second fluid.

[0107] This disclosure addresses the problem that abrasive slurries cause damage and wear to pumps used to pump the slurries. This disclosure includes using a pressure exchanger (PX) as a pump isolator to keep the pump from coming into contact with the slurry.

[0108] In some embodiments, with respect to the HP inlet flow, any type of pump may be used to provide clean driving fluid. In some embodiments, with respect to the LP inlet flow, a pump or any process may be used that can provide the positive head necessary to discharge the used clean fluid out of the duct and fill it with the slurry that must be pumped.

[0109] The HP outlet flow may be a slurry that must be moved or pressurized during processing. The LP outlet flow may be a clean fluid that was previously the high-pressure inlet flow.

[0110] This disclosure includes a method for pumping a flow containing an abrasive / solid material.

[0111] In some embodiments, a flow control valve is located on the LPout section of the system to direct the flow from the slurry supply section into the PX.

[0112] The HPin flow is adjusted to ensure proper slurry transport and minimize the loss of clean fluid toward the HPout section. In some embodiments, there may be a positive displacement pump that supplies skid to the HPin section, or (if the clean supply pump is a non-positive displacement (dynamic) or centrifugal pump,) there may be a flow control valve on the HPin section of the system to direct the flow toward the clean supply pump. In some embodiments, there may be a motor that drives a pressure exchanger, which can determine the distance the flow travels within the cartridge.

[0113] In some embodiments, the PX is used for transporting low-pressure solids or abrasives via a pipeline.

[0114] This disclosure is applicable to one or more of the following: wastewater treatment, mining, dredging, construction, mineral processing, oil and gas (O&G) upstream operations, O&G downstream operations, agricultural treatment facilities, food processing, industrial / domestic waste treatment, and / or similar. This disclosure is applicable to many industries where abrasives or solids are pumped or transported. This disclosure can be used with clean fluids. This disclosure can be used with slurries (for example, in sand mines).

[0115] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing a computer system 500 according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, the computer system 500 is a client device. In some embodiments, the computer system 500 is a controller device (e.g., a server, controller 180 in Figures 1A-D, controller 380 in Figures 3A-D).

[0116] In some embodiments, the computer system 500 is connected to other computer systems (e.g., via a network such as a local area network (LAN), intranet, extranet, or the Internet). The computer system 500 operates as a server or client computer in a client-server environment, or as a peer computer in a peer-to-peer or distributed network environment. In some embodiments, the computer system 500 is provided by a personal computer (PC), tablet PC, set-top box (STB), personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile phone, web appliance, server, network router, switch or bridge, or any device capable of executing a set of instructions (sequentially, or otherwise) that specify the actions the device should take. Furthermore, the word “computer” shall include any collection of computers that individually or collaboratively execute a set (or more sets) of instructions to carry out one or more of the methods described herein.

[0117] In some embodiments, the computer system 500 includes a processing unit 502, volatile memory 504 (e.g., RAM (Random Access Memory)), non-volatile memory 506 (e.g., ROM (Read-Only Memory) or EEPROM (Electrically-Erasable Programmable ROM)), and / or data storage device 516, which communicate with each other via a bus 508.

[0118] In some embodiments, the processing unit 502 comprises one or more processors such as general-purpose processors (e.g., CISC (Complex Instruction Set Computing) microprocessors, RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) microprocessors, VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word) microprocessors, microprocessors that execute other types of instruction sets, or microprocessors that execute combinations of multiple types of instruction sets) or specialized processors (e.g., ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or network processor). In some embodiments, the processing unit 502 comprises one or more of the following: a single processor, multiple processors, a single processor with multiple processing cores, and / or similar configurations.

[0119] In some embodiments, the computer system 500 further comprises a network interface device 522 (e.g., coupled to a network 574). In some embodiments, the computer system 500 comprises one or more I / O (input / output) devices. In some embodiments, the computer system 500 also includes a video display unit 510 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)), an alphanumeric input device 512 (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device 514 (e.g., a mouse), and / or a signal generation device 520.

[0120] In some embodiments, a data storage device 518 (e.g., disk drive storage, fixed and / or removable storage devices, fixed disk drives, removable memory cards, optical storage, network-attached storage (NAS), and / or storage area network (SAN)) includes a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium 524 that stores instructions 526 which encode one or more of the methods or functions described herein and which are for carrying out the methods described herein.

[0121] In some embodiments, instruction 526 also exists entirely or partially in the volatile memory 504 and / or the processing unit 502 while it is being executed by the computer system 500. Thus, the volatile memory 504 and the processing unit 502 also constitute a machine-readable storage medium in some embodiments.

[0122] Although computer-readable storage medium 524 is shown as a single medium in the exemplary examples, the term “computer-readable storage medium” includes one or more mediums (e.g., centralized or distributed databases, and / or associated caches and servers) that store one or more sets of executable instructions. The term “computer-readable storage medium” also includes any tangible medium on which a set of instructions for execution by a computer can be stored or encoded, causing the computer to perform one or more of the methods described herein. The term “computer-readable recording medium” also includes, but is not limited to, solid-state memory, optical media, and magnetic media.

[0123] The methods, components, and features described herein may be implemented by individual hardware components or integrated into the functionality of other hardware components, such as ASICs, FPGAs, DSPs, or similar devices. In addition, these methods, components, and features may be implemented by firmware modules or functional circuits within a hardware device. Furthermore, these methods, components, and features may be implemented in any combination of hardware and computer program components, or within a computer program.

[0124] Unless otherwise specified, words such as “activate,” “adjust,” “cause,” “control,” “determine,” “identify,” “provide,” and “receive,” or similar words, refer to actions or processes performed by a computer system that manipulate and transform data represented as physical quantities (electrical quantities) in the registers or memory of the computer system into other data similarly represented as physical quantities in the memory or registers of the computer system, or in other such information storage devices, transmission devices, or display devices. Furthermore, as used herein, words such as “first,” “second,” “third,” and “fourth” are meant as labels to distinguish different elements and do not necessarily have a hierarchical meaning according to their numerical designations.

[0125] The embodiments described herein also relate to apparatus for carrying out the methods described herein. This apparatus may be specifically configured for carrying out the methods described herein, or it may include a general-purpose computer system selectively programmed by a computer program stored within the computer system. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer-readable tangible storage medium.

[0126] The methods and illustrative examples described herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other device. Various general-purpose systems can be used in accordance with the teachings described herein, or it may be convenient to construct more specialized devices to perform each of the methods and / or their individual functions, routines, subroutines, or operations described herein. Examples of the construction of such various systems are described above.

[0127] The foregoing description provides numerous specific details, including examples of particular systems, components, and methods, to give a good understanding of some embodiments of the Disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that at least some embodiments of the Disclosure can be implemented without those specific details. In other examples, known components or methods are not described in detail or are shown in the form of simple block diagrams, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the Disclosure. Thus, the above specific details are merely illustrative. Even if a particular implementation differs from these exemplary details, it is still considered to be within the scope of the Disclosure.

[0128] Throughout this specification, any reference to “one embodiment” or “a certain embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in relation to that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. That is, expressions such as “in one embodiment” or “in a certain embodiment” appear in various places throughout this specification, but not all of them necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, the word “or” is intended to mean inclusive, not exclusive. When the words “about,” “substantially,” or “approximately” are used herein, this is intended to mean that the nominal value presented is accurate to within 10 percent. Also, words such as “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc., used herein are meant as labels to distinguish different elements and do not necessarily have a hierarchical meaning that follows their numerical designation.

[0129] As used herein, the terms “above,” “below,” “between,” “placed above,” and “above” refer to the relative position of one material layer or component with respect to another layer or component. For example, a layer placed above, above, or below another layer may be in direct contact with that other layer or may have one or more intervening layers. Furthermore, a layer placed between two layers may be in direct contact with both layers or may have one or more intervening layers. Similarly, unless otherwise specified, a feature placed between two features may be in direct contact with an adjacent feature or may have one or more intervening layers.

[0130] The operations of the methods described herein are shown and described in a specific order, but the order of the operations of each method may be modified so that certain operations can be performed in reverse order, or so that certain operations can be performed at least partially concurrently with other operations. In other embodiments, the instructions or suboperations of separate operations may be intermittent and / or alternating. In one embodiment, multiple metal bonding operations are performed as a single step.

[0131] It should be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be obvious to those skilled in the art who have read and understood the above description. Accordingly, the scope of this disclosure should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full extent of the equivalents given in each claim. Furthermore, this disclosure includes the following aspects: [Aspect 1] A system, wherein the system is The system comprises a pressure exchanger (PX), the PX being configured to receive a first fluid through a first inlet and a second fluid through a second inlet, and to exchange pressure between the first and second fluids, the first fluid exiting the PX through a first outlet, and the second fluid exiting the PX through a second outlet, and the system further comprises: The system further comprises a first sensor, the first sensor being configured to provide first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet, and the system further includes, The system further comprises a second sensor, the second sensor being configured to provide second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet, and the system further includes, The controller is equipped with a controller, - Receiving user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, -Based on the user input and the first sensor data, a first adjustment is made to the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, and - A system configured to cause a second adjustment of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet, based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. [Aspect 2] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the first fluid is substantially a fluid free of particles, and the second fluid is a fluid containing particles. [Aspect 3] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the first fluid is substantially a non-caustic fluid and the second fluid is a caustic fluid. [Aspect 4] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the first adjustment via one or more of the following: a first valve located upstream of the first inlet, or a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX. [Aspect 5] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the controller is configured to cause the second adjustment via one or more of the following: a second valve located downstream of the first outlet, or a second pump configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX. [Aspect 6] The system according to Embodiment 1, wherein the first fluid enters the PX through the first inlet at a first pressure, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure of the second fluid entering the PX through the second inlet, and the first fluid exits the PX through the first outlet at a third pressure, the third pressure being less than the fourth pressure of the second fluid exiting the PX through the second outlet. [Aspect 7] The system according to embodiment 5, further comprising a third sensor configured to provide third sensor data associated with the first fluid after it has exited the first outlet, and the controller configured to bring about the execution of corrective action based on the difference between the second sensor data and the third sensor data. [Aspect 8] The system according to embodiment 1, further comprising a filter, which is fluid-communicated to the first outlet of the PX and located downstream of the first outlet of the PX, wherein the filter is configured to filter the first fluid after it has passed through the first outlet. [Aspect 9] The system according to Embodiment 1, further comprising a motor coupled to the PX, the system further comprising a motor sensor configured to provide motor data associated with the motor, and at least one of the first adjustment of the first flow rate or the second adjustment of the second flow rate is further based on the motor data as well. [Aspect 10] The aforementioned system, The controller further comprises a bearing valve, the bearing valve having a first port fluid-connected to a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, a second port fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, and a third port fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, and the controller further comprises, -The device is configured to activate the first port to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a first open position for receiving a first portion of the first fluid from the first conduit, and to activate the second port to bring a second open position for supplying the first portion of the first fluid to the housing of the PX, and - The system according to embodiment 1, configured to activate the first port to a first closed position and to activate the third port to a third open position so that the first portion of the first fluid flows from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet. [Aspect 11] The system according to embodiment 10, further comprising a bearing filter positioned between the first conduit and the first port, wherein the first portion of the first fluid passes through the bearing filter and enters the housing to flush clean the bearings positioned within the housing. [Aspect 12] The system according to embodiment 1, wherein the controller is configured to control a first valve located upstream of the first inlet and a second valve located downstream of the first outlet to control the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid flowing through the PX. [Aspect 13] The aforementioned controller, Identify the lookup table generated based on past sensor data and processing execution data, and, The system according to embodiment 1, further configured to determine the second adjustment from the lookup table based on the first sensor data, the second sensor data, motor data, and the particle concentration in the second fluid. [Aspect 14] The system according to embodiment 13, wherein the second adjustment is further based on the differential pressure of the first fluid between before it enters the first inlet and after it exits the first outlet. [Aspect 15] A method, wherein the said method is Receiving first sensor data associated with a first fluid before the first fluid enters a first inlet of a pressure exchanger (PX), wherein the PX is configured to receive the first fluid through its first inlet, receive a second fluid through its second inlet, and exchange pressure between the first and second fluids, the first fluid exiting the PX through its first outlet, and the second fluid exiting the PX through its second outlet; Receiving second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX, Receiving user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, Based on the user input and the first sensor data, a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet is triggered. A method comprising causing a second adjustment of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet, based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. [Aspect 16] The first adjustment is triggered via one or more of the following: a first valve located upstream of the first inlet, or a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX, The method according to embodiment 15, wherein the second adjustment is brought about via one or more second pumps configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX, located downstream of the first outlet of the PX. [Aspect 17] The aforementioned method, The method further includes activating a first port of a bearing valve to bring it to a first open position for receiving a first portion of the first fluid from a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, and activating a second port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, to bring it to a second open position for supplying the first portion of the first fluid to the housing of the PX, and The method according to embodiment 15, further comprising: activating the first port to a first closed position and activating a third port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, to a third open position, allowing the first portion of the first fluid to flow from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet. [Aspect 18] A controller, wherein the controller is Memory and The system comprises a processing unit coupled to the memory, and the processing unit is -The PX is configured to receive first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the PX, the PX is configured to receive the first fluid through the first inlet of the PX, receive the second fluid through the second inlet of the PX, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, the first fluid exits the PX through the first outlet of the PX, and the second fluid exits the PX through the second outlet of the PX, - The system is configured to receive second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX, - The system is configured to receive user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, -Based on the user input and the first sensor data, a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet is triggered, and A controller configured to cause a second adjustment of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet, based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data. [Aspect 19] The first adjustment is triggered via one or more of the following: a first valve located upstream of the first inlet, or a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX, The controller according to embodiment 18, wherein the second adjustment is triggered via one or more of the following: a second valve located downstream of the first outlet of the PX, or a second pump configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX. [Aspect 20] The aforementioned processing apparatus further, The bearing valve is configured to activate a first port to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a first open position for receiving the first portion of the first fluid from a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, and to activate a second port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a second open position for supplying the housing of the PX, and The controller according to embodiment 18, wherein the first port is activated to a first closed position, and the third port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, is activated to a third open position, allowing the first portion of the first fluid to flow from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet.

Claims

1. A system, wherein the system is The system comprises a pressure exchanger (PX), the PX receiving a first fluid through a first inlet and a second fluid through a second inlet, and configured to exchange pressure between the first and second fluids, the first fluid exiting the PX through a first outlet, and the second fluid exiting the PX through a second outlet, and the system further comprises: The system further comprises a bearing valve that is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX and configured to supply the first fluid to the housing of the PX, and the system further comprises The system further comprises a first sensor, the first sensor being configured to provide first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet, and the system further includes, The system further comprises a second sensor, the second sensor being configured to provide second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet, and the system further comprises The controller is equipped with a controller, -Receives user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, - Based on the user input and the first sensor data, the first valve located upstream of the first inlet is activated, causing a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, and, - A system configured to activate a second valve located downstream of the first outlet based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data, thereby causing a second regulation of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is substantially a fluid free of particles, and the second fluid is a fluid containing particles.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid is substantially a non-caustic fluid and the second fluid is a caustic fluid.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX, and further causes the first adjustment of the first flow rate.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a second pump configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX, and further causes the second adjustment of the second flow rate.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid enters the PX through the first inlet at a first pressure, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure of the second fluid entering the PX through the second inlet, and the first fluid exits the PX through the first outlet at a third pressure, the third pressure being less than the fourth pressure of the second fluid exiting the PX through the second outlet.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a third sensor configured to provide third sensor data associated with the first fluid after it has exited the first outlet, and the controller configured to bring about the execution of a corrective action based on the difference between the second sensor data and the third sensor data.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a filter, which is fluid-communicated to the first outlet of the PX and located downstream of the first outlet of the PX, wherein the filter is configured to filter the first fluid after it has passed through the first outlet.

9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a motor coupled to the PX, the system further comprising a motor sensor configured to provide motor data associated with the motor, and at least one of the first adjustment of the first flow rate or the second adjustment of the second flow rate is further based on the motor data as well.

10. The bearing valve comprises a first port fluid-connected to a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, a second port fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, and a third port fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, and the controller further comprises - The device is configured to activate the first port to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a first open position for receiving a first portion of the first fluid from the first conduit, and to activate the second port to bring a second open position for supplying the first portion of the first fluid to the housing of the PX, and - The system according to claim 1, configured to activate the first port to a first closed position and to activate the third port to a third open position so that the first portion of the first fluid flows from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet.

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising a bearing filter positioned between the first conduit and the first port, wherein the first portion of the first fluid passes through the bearing filter and enters the housing to flush clean the bearings positioned within the housing.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to control the ratio of the flow rate of the first fluid to the flow rate of the second fluid flowing through the PX by controlling the first valve located upstream of the first inlet and the second valve located downstream of the first outlet.

13. The aforementioned controller, Identify the lookup table generated based on past sensor data and past execution data, and, The system according to claim 1, further configured to determine the second adjustment from the lookup table based on the first sensor data, the second sensor data, motor data, and the particle concentration in the second fluid.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the second adjustment is further based on the differential pressure of the first fluid between before it enters the first inlet and after it exits the first outlet.

15. A method, wherein the said method is Receiving first sensor data associated with a first fluid before the first fluid enters a first inlet of a pressure exchanger (PX), wherein the PX is configured to receive the first fluid through its first inlet, receive a second fluid through its second inlet, and exchange pressure between the first and second fluids, wherein the first fluid exits the PX through its first outlet, and the second fluid exits the PX through its second outlet. To supply the first fluid to the housing of the PX, the following actions are taken: to cause the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, to act. Receiving second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX, Receiving user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, Based on the user input and the first sensor data, the first valve located upstream of the first inlet of the PX is activated, causing a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet. A method comprising: acting on the first sensor data and the second sensor data to activate a second valve located downstream of the first outlet of the PX to cause a second regulation of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet.

16. The method further includes: Controlling a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX, and further causing the first adjustment of the first flow rate, The method according to claim 15, further comprising controlling a second pump configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX, and causing the second adjustment of the second flow rate.

17. The act of causing the bearing valve to operate is The method further includes activating the first port of the bearing valve to bring it to a first open position for receiving a first portion of the first fluid from a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, and activating the second port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, to bring it to a second open position for supplying the first portion of the first fluid to the housing of the PX, and The method according to claim 15, further comprising: activating the first port to a first closed position and activating a third port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, to a third open position, such that the first portion of the first fluid flows from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet.

18. A controller, wherein the controller is Memory and The system comprises a processing unit coupled to the memory, and the processing unit is - The system is configured to receive first sensor data associated with the first fluid before the first fluid enters the first inlet of the pressure exchanger (PX), the PX is configured to receive the first fluid through the first inlet of the PX, receive the second fluid through the second inlet of the PX, and exchange pressure between the first fluid and the second fluid, the first fluid exits the PX through the first outlet of the PX, and the second fluid exits the PX through the second outlet of the PX, - The first fluid is supplied to the housing of the PX, thereby causing the operation of a bearing valve fluid-connected to the housing of the PX. - The system is configured to receive second sensor data associated with the second fluid before the second fluid enters the second inlet of the PX, - It is configured to receive user input associated with the target flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, - Based on the user input and the first sensor data, a first valve located upstream of the first inlet of the PX is activated, causing a first adjustment of the first flow rate of the first fluid entering the first inlet, and A controller configured to activate a second valve located downstream of the first outlet of the PX based on the first sensor data and the second sensor data, thereby causing a second regulation of the second flow rate of the second fluid entering the second inlet.

19. The processing apparatus further, Control a first pump configured to supply the first fluid to the first inlet of the PX, and further cause the first adjustment of the first flow rate, The controller according to claim 18, further configured to control a second pump configured to supply the second fluid to the second inlet of the PX, and to cause the second adjustment of the second flow rate.

20. In order to cause the bearing valve to actuate, the apparatus shall The bearing valve is configured to activate a first port to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a first open position for receiving the first portion of the first fluid from a first conduit upstream of the first inlet of the PX, and to activate a second port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to the housing of the PX, to bring a first portion of the first fluid to a second open position for supplying the housing of the PX, and The controller according to claim 18, wherein the controller is configured to activate the first port to a first closed position and to activate the third port of the bearing valve, which is fluid-connected to a second conduit downstream of the first outlet, to a third open position, allowing the first portion of the first fluid to flow from the housing toward the second conduit downstream of the first outlet.

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