US 11,686,186 B1
Controlling a power demand of a hydraulic fracturing system
Andy Publes, Katy, TX (US); Mark Francis Grimes, Cypress, TX (US); Todd Ryan Kabrich, Tomball, TX (US); Mark C. Paul, Carmel, IN (US); and Riadh Benguedda, Cypress, TX (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,528.
Int. Cl. E21B 43/26 (2006.01); E21B 41/00 (2006.01); F04B 49/06 (2006.01); F04B 49/20 (2006.01); F04B 17/03 (2006.01)
CPC E21B 43/26 (2013.01) [E21B 41/0085 (2013.01); E21B 43/2607 (2020.05); F04B 17/03 (2013.01); F04B 49/06 (2013.01); F04B 49/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
a plurality of power sources that include at least one active power source and at least one inactive power source;
a fluid pump;
a motor configured to drive the fluid pump;
a variable frequency drive (VFD) configured to control the motor; and
a controller configured to:
monitor an available power supply from the at least one active power source, and a current power demand of the system;
determine, based on monitoring the available power supply and the current power demand, whether a relationship between the current power demand and the available power supply is indicative of an impending power failure;
determine, based on determining that the relationship between the current power demand and the available power supply indicates the impending power failure, an adjustment to a speed of the motor that achieves a minimum reduction of the current power demand that avoids the impending power failure;
cause, via the VFD, reduction of the speed of the motor in accordance with the adjustment to achieve the minimum reduction of the current power demand; and
cause activation of the at least one inactive power source to increase the available power supply.