IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,287,350
Granted Patent B2
US 11,287,350 · App. 17/383,739 · Granted Mar 29, 2022

Fuel, communications, and power connection methods

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,287,350
App. No.
17/383,739
Filed
Jul 23, 2021
Granted
Mar 29, 2022
Kind
B2
Examiner
LE, MINH Q
Art Unit
3753
USPC
137/883
Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for supplying fuel, enabling communications, and conveying electric power associated with operation of a hydraulic fracturing unit of a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units are disclosed and may include a fuel line connection assembly configured to be connected to the first hydraulic fracturing unit and to supply fuel from a fuel source to a gas turbine engine connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit. A system also may include a communications cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to enable data communications between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a data center or another hydraulic fracturing unit. A system further may include a power cable assembly configured to be connected to the hydraulic fracturing unit and to convey electric power between the hydraulic fracturing unit and a remote electrical power source or the plurality of hydraulic fracturing units.

Claims (67)

1. A method for pressure testing at least a portion of a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to a plurality of gas turbine engines, the method comprising:

causing a first valve to be in an open condition, the first valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between the fuel source and a first gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines;

causing a second valve to be in a closed condition, the second valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between (a) a filter configured to filter one or more of: (i) particulates or (ii) liquids from fuel, and (b) the first gas turbine engine;

causing a third valve to be in an open condition, the third valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between a pressure source and the filter;

increasing pressure via the pressure source in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system;

monitoring a signal indicative of pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system; and

based at least in part on the signal, determining whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising initiating a timer, wherein the increasing pressure is caused until a preselected time has elapsed as indicated by the timer.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak comprises:

comparing the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system at the end of the selected time to a preselected pressure; and

determining one of:

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is less than the preselected pressure; or

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is at least the preselected pressure.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein determining the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak further comprises:

initiating the timer;

waiting for a second preselected time to elapse; and

comparing the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system at the second predetermined time to the preselected pressure.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein after waiting for the second predetermined time to elapse, the method further comprises determining one of:

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is 5% or more less than the preselected pressure; or

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is within 5% of the preselected pressure or greater.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing pressure via the pressure source in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system comprises one or more of:

activating a compressor in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system; or

opening a valve of a pressurized cylinder in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a signal indicative of a leak when the method determines the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

initiating a timer;

ceasing the pressure testing after a preselected time has elapsed;

causing a fourth valve to be in an open condition, the fourth valve configured to release pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel delivery system comprises a controller, and wherein the method further comprises one or more of:

causing, via the controller, the first valve to be in the open condition;

causing, via the controller, the second valve to be in the closed condition;

causing, via the controller, the third valve to be in the open condition;

increasing, via the controller, the pressure via the pressure source;

monitoring, via the controller, the signal indicative of pressure, or

determining, via the controller, whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.

10. A method for pressure testing at least a portion of a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to a plurality of gas turbine engines, the fuel delivery system including a controller, the method comprising:

causing a first valve to be in an open condition, the first valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between the fuel source and a first gas turbine engine of the plurality of gas turbine engines;

causing a second valve to be in a closed condition, the second valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between (a) a filter configured to filter one or more of: (i) particulates or (ii) liquids from fuel, and (b) the first gas turbine engine;

causing a third valve to be in an open condition, the third valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between a pressure source and the filter;

increasing pressure via the pressure source in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system;

monitoring a signal indicative of pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system; and

based at least in part on the signal, determining whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak, the determining whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak includes:

comparing the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system at the end of a preselected time to a preselected pressure; and

determining one of:

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is less than the preselected pressure; or

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is at least the preselected pressure.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising one or more of:

causing, via the controller, the first valve to be in the open condition;

causing, via the controller, the second valve to be in the closed condition;

causing, via the controller, the third valve to be in the open condition;

increasing, via the controller, the pressure via the pressure source;

monitoring, via the controller, the signal indicative of pressure, or

determining, via the controller, whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

initiating a timer;

ceasing the pressure testing after a predetermined time has elapsed;

causing a fourth valve to be in an open condition, the fourth valve configured to release pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein increasing pressure via the pressure source in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system comprises one or more of:

activating a compressor in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system; or

opening a valve of a pressurized cylinder in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak further comprises:

initiating a timer;

waiting for a preselected time to elapse; and

comparing the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system at the preselected time to the preselected pressure.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein after waiting for the preselected time to elapse, the method further comprises determining one of:

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is 5% or more less than the preselected pressure; or

the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak when the pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system is within 5% of the preselected pressure or greater.