Hydraulically controlled reciprocating pump system

摘要

A system for pressurizing a working fluid including a cylinder having an outlet through which the working fluid is exhausted at a discharge pressure and a plunger translatably disposed within the cylinder, the plunger including a first piston coupled thereto. In addition, the system includes a second piston disposed opposite the first piston, the second piston driven to reciprocate and a variable-volume chamber disposed between the first piston and the second piston, the variable-volume chamber substantially filled with a volume of hydraulic fluid. Further, the system includes a hydraulic system configured to adjust the volume of hydraulic fluid within the variable-volume chamber, whereby the discharge pressure is maintained substantially at a first predetermined level. Still further, the system includes a transducer coupled to each of the first piston and the second piston, wherein the transducer is configured to measure a relative position of the first piston and the second piston.

主权项

1. A system for pressurizing a working fluid, the system comprising:
a first piston-cylinder assembly including:
a first cylinder having a first outlet through which the working fluid is exhausted at a first discharge pressure;a first pair of opposing pistons; anda first variable-volume chamber disposed between the first pair of opposing pistons, the first variable-volume chamber substantially filled with hydraulic fluid;a first control valve fluidicly coupled to the first variable-volume chamber, the first control valve actuatable to relieve hydraulic fluid from the first variable-volume chamber when the first discharge pressure exceeds a first pre-selected pressure and to enable delivery of hydraulic fluid to the first variable-volume chamber when the first discharge pressure is less than the first pre-selected pressure; anda first transducer disposed within the first variable-volume chamber and coupled between the first pair of opposing pistons such that the first transducer extends from a first piston of the first pair of opposing pistons to a second piston of the first pair of opposing pistons, wherein the first transducer is configured to measure a distance from the first piston of the first pair of opposing pistons to the second piston of the first pair of opposing pistons;wherein the first control valve is configured to adjust the first pre-selected pressure based at least partially on the distance from the first piston of the first pair of opposing pistons to the second piston of the first pair of opposing pistons measured by the first transducer.