Well Site Engine Emission Optimization via Speed and Gear Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorized equipment used in well site operations, such as pumps and engines, produce significant emissions that pose health and safety risks and are subject to regulatory limits, necessitating effective monitoring and optimization of emission rates to ensure compliance and reduce environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
Systems and methods for monitoring, calculating, and optimizing engine emissions by determining optimal engine speeds and transmission gears to minimize emissions, using data plots and curve-fitting to generate equations for emission rates as functions of engine speed and brake horsepower, allowing real-time adjustment of equipment operation to reduce exhaust emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If engine speed is increased to maintain productivity, then power output is improved, but emissions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts engine operating parameters (speed, load, transmission gear) in real-time based on actual job requirements and emissions calculations, rather than operating at fixed high-power settings. This allows the engine to maintain necessary power output while operating at emission-minimizing conditions when possible.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the engine (speed, brake horsepower, transmission gear selection) to optimize the balance between power output and emissions. By calculating emissions as a function of these parameters and selecting optimal values, the system achieves both productivity and emission reduction goals.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If emission monitoring and optimization systems are implemented, then emissions control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from emissions rate calculations to automatically adjust engine operating parameters. Emissions are calculated based on measured or estimated engine parameters (speed, brake horsepower), and this information feeds back to optimize operational decisions, creating a closed-loop control system that manages emissions effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating emissions and determining optimal operating parameters without requiring constant external intervention. The engine control system uses built-in sensors and pre-programmed emissions models to autonomously optimize its operation, reducing the need for complex external monitoring infrastructure.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If engine speed is reduced to minimize emissions, then emissions are decreased, but productivity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial emission reduction actions by optimizing emissions only during phases or conditions where it does not compromise job completion. By calculating total emissions for the entire job and identifying optimization opportunities that maintain productivity, the system achieves emission reduction without sacrificing necessary power output during critical operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations of emissions and optimal operating parameters before executing tasks. By pre-calculating the emission-minimizing speed and brake horsepower combinations that still meet productivity requirements, the system ensures that emission reduction actions do not compromise job completion efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for monitoring, calculating, and/or optimizing engine emissions produced in operating motorized equipment in well site operations or other jobs are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a set of exhaust emissions rates for one or more engines at a job site as a function of a speed of each engine and total brake horsepower to be provided by each engine; identifying one or more operating speeds or transmission gears for the one or more engines during an operation at the job site based at least in part on the set of exhaust emissions rates for the one or more engines; and operating the one or more engines at the one or more operating speeds or transmission gears during an operation at the job site.