US 12,264,667 B2
Controlling ramp up of a fluid pump
Todd Ryan Kabrich, Tomball, TX (US); Andy Publes, Katy, TX (US); Mark Francis Grimes, Cypress, TX (US); and Yuesheng He, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 31, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/649,521.
Prior Publication US 2023/0243350 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
Int. Cl. F04B 49/08 (2006.01); E21B 43/26 (2006.01); F04B 51/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04B 49/08 (2013.01) [E21B 43/2607 (2020.05); F04B 51/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for hydraulic fracturing, comprising:
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:
receive an operator input that indicates a setting for a maximum discharge pressure associated with the fluid pump;
monitor, during a ramp up period of the fluid pump, an intake pressure of the fluid pump, a discharge pressure of the fluid pump, a torque of the motor, and a flow rate associated with the fluid pump;
detect, based on monitoring the discharge pressure and the torque, whether the torque corresponds to a maximum torque that is based on the setting for the maximum discharge pressure associated with the fluid pump that was indicated by the operator input;
detect, based on monitoring the flow rate associated with the fluid pump, whether the flow rate is less than a flow rate set point; and
cause, via the VFD, reduction of the torque of the motor based on the torque corresponding to the maximum torque and the flow rate being less than the flow rate set point, the flow rate set point being associated with the maximum torque.