Planetary Drive System for Chemical Injection Pumps

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chemical injection pumps used in remote oil and gas well locations face challenges such as high gas venting, environmental harm, and reliability issues, particularly during drawdown conditions, due to their reliance on pneumatic systems and solar power, which results in inefficient chemical injection and battery damage from inrush currents.

Innovation Solution

A planetary drive system that aligns four fluid ends or cylinders in the same plane, powered by an electric motor, allowing for efficient torque delivery and scalability, reducing gas venting and battery stress, and enabling conversion between chemical injection pumps and air compressors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high-speed solar powered pumps are used to increase chemical injection capacity, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to battery damage from inrush currents

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical injection capacityVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies variable speed control to the solar powered pump, allowing it to operate at different speeds rather than fixed high speed. This dynamic operation enables the pump to deliver required chemical injection capacity while avoiding excessive startup currents that damage batteries, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the pump by implementing variable speed control, adjusting the motor speed according to actual injection needs. This parameter change allows the system to maintain high productivity when needed while operating at lower speeds during normal conditions, preventing battery damage from continuous high-speed operation and startup inrush currents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If pneumatic pumps driven by propane are used to address drawdown conditions, then chemical injection capacity is improved, but loss of substance worsens due to gas venting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical injection capacity during drawdownVSAvoidgas venting

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the pneumatic drive system with an electric motor drive system. This substitution eliminates the need for propane gas, allowing the pump to achieve high injection capacity during drawdown conditions without any gas venting, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and substance loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the energy source from pneumatic (propane) to electric, fundamentally altering the operational parameters. This parameter change enables the system to deliver high chemical injection capacity during drawdown conditions while completely eliminating gas venting, as the electric motor can be controlled to provide required power without consumable fuel

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If solar powered pumps are used to eliminate gas venting, then environmental harm is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to poor performance in remote conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impact from gas ventingVSAvoidsystem reliability in remote locations

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the unreliable high-speed solar pump system with a variable speed electric motor system. This substitution maintains the environmental benefit of eliminating gas venting while improving reliability through controlled operation that prevents battery damage and adapts to varying field conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic speed control in the solar powered pump system, allowing it to adapt its operation to actual conditions. This dynamic operation improves reliability by preventing battery damage from excessive current while maintaining the ability to deliver required chemical injection capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between environmental protection and system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10753544B2Drive system for chemical injection pumps and instrument air compressors

Publication Date: 2020.08.25 FROEHLER ANTHONY STEVEN

AI summary

A planetary drive system that aligns four fluid ends for a pump or four compressor cylinders in the same plane, allowing for four fluid ends/compressor cylinders to be driven by one rotation of the pump's motor. Additionally, the planetary drive system is stackable to allow, for example eight, twelve, or other multiples of fluid ends or compressor cylinders to be driven while minimizing any reduction in output pressure. The chemical injection pump also includes threaded vents on the fluid ends to capture chemicals primed through the valves to avoid spillage and waste during the priming process. The air compressor cylinders also include pistons with enhanced vacuum actuation under a flexible inlet (e.g. flapper inlet).