Impeller Clutch Control in Torque Converters for Gaseous Engine Load Shifts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Gaseous fuel engines are unsuitable for driving hydraulic fracturing pumps due to poor load acceptance and high load rise rates associated with gear shifts, making them unsuitable for hydraulic fracturing operations.
Innovation Solution
A torque converter system with an impeller clutch and lockup clutch is used to mechanically couple a gaseous fuel engine with a gear system, allowing for controlled engagement and disengagement to manage load changes, thereby improving load acceptance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a gaseous fuel engine is used to drive a hydraulic fracturing pump, then greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs are reduced, but load acceptance and response to load changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A torque converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the gaseous fuel engine and the hydraulic fracturing pump. The torque converter includes an impeller coupled to the engine, a turbine coupled to the pump, and a stator positioned between them. This fluid coupling mechanism allows the engine to drive the pump while absorbing load fluctuations, thereby improving load acceptance without sacrificing the emissions benefits of gaseous fuel operation.
2Loss of energy
If a gaseous fuel engine is used to drive a hydraulic fracturing pump, then fuel costs are reduced, but response to load changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The torque converter acts as a buffer that decouples the engine from direct mechanical loading by the pump. When load changes occur, the fluid coupling allows for gradual torque transmission rather than immediate mechanical coupling, enabling the engine to respond more effectively to load changes while maintaining the economic advantages of gaseous fuel operation.
3Reliability
If a torque converter is added to couple the gaseous fuel engine and hydraulic fracturing pump, then load acceptance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The torque converter utilizes hydraulic principles to achieve its function. By employing fluid coupling between the impeller and turbine, the system achieves smooth torque transmission and load acceptance improvement without requiring complex mechanical linkages or control mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables gaseous fuel engines to handle high load rise rates in hydraulic fracturing operations, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs compared to diesel engines.
Implementation Method 1
a torque converter configured to fluidly couple the gaseous fuel engine and the gear system
Implementation Method 2
an impeller clutch configured to mechanically couple the impeller to the gaseous fuel engine
Implementation Method 3
a lockup clutch configured to mechanically couple the gaseous fuel engine and the gear system
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic fracturing pump system may include a hydraulic fracturing pump, a gaseous fuel engine configured to drive the hydraulic fracturing pump, and a transmission system including a gear system mechanically coupled to the hydraulic fracturing pump and torque converter configured to fluidly couple the gaseous fuel engine and the gear system. The torque converter may include an impeller, a turbine fluidly coupled to the impeller and mechanically coupled to the gear system, a stator positioned between the impeller and the turbine, an impeller clutch configured to mechanically couple the impeller to the gaseous fuel engine, and a lockup clutch configured to mechanically couple the gaseous fuel engine and the gear system.