Proppant discharge system and a container for use in such a proppant discharge system
A proppant discharge system has a container with an outlet positioned in a bottom thereof and a gate affixed adjacent the outlet so as to be movable between a first position covering the outlet to a second position opening the outlet, and a support structure having an actuator thereon. The container is removably positioned on the top surface of the support structure. The actuator is engageable with gate so as to move the gate from the first position to the second position. A conveyor underlies the container so as to receive proppant as discharged from the container through the outlet. The container can be a ten foot ISO container.
1. An apparatus to move proppant from a plurality of containers, the apparatus comprising:
a frame having a continuous surface positioned to receive and to support a plurality of containers when positioned in a side-by-side arrangement thereon, the frame extending longitudinally and having a length longer than a combined length of the plurality of containers, and each of the containers comprising:
an interior volume;
walls defining a lateral periphery of the interior volume;
a plurality of support braces positioned proximate the walls, the support braces being positioned to provide structural support to the walls;
a bottom positioned on the surface of the frame and having an outlet associated therewith; and
a gate positioned proximate the outlet, the gate being moveable between open and closed positions;
one or more hoppers associated with the frame and positioned to underlie the plurality of containers when positioned on the surface of the frame and to receive proppant when flowing from one or more containers of the plurality of containers, each of the one or more hoppers having an opening at a lower end of the hopper to discharge proppant received from the outlet of the one or more containers; and
a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of the one or more hoppers, the surface of the conveyor being positioned to receive the proppant from the opening of the one or more hoppers to convey the proppant when positioned thereon away from the one or more hoppers.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a receptacle translatably positioned adjacent the surface of the frame; and
an actuator engaging the receptacle to move the receptacle between a first position and a second position, such that the proppant is not discharged from the outlet when the receptacle is in the first position and the proppant is discharged from the outlet when the receptacle is in the second position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , where each container of the plurality of containers comprises ramps downwardly inclined and extending inwardly from the walls to direct the proppant toward the outlet, and openings in the frame positioned peripherally about the one or more hoppers such that exterior surfaces of the one or more hoppers are visible through the openings.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:
a metering gate translatably positioned adjacent the opening of the one or more hoppers; and
an actuator connected to the metering gate to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position, in which a flow rate of the proppant from the one or more hoppers is controlled by the movement of the metering gate between the open and closed positions.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the metering gate has a substantially inverted V-shaped configuration mated with and substantially corresponding to a substantially inverted V-shaped configuration of the opening.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a path extending beyond the one or more containers and beyond the length of the frame to move the proppant toward a fracturing site, an upwardly extending section, and a chute coupled to the path and receiving the proppant therefrom, the chute being directable toward a desired location.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more containers are positioned side-by-side along a length of the path, the one or more hoppers are positioned side-by-side and substantially aligned with the one or more containers, the one or more hoppers are positioned below the surface of the frame, the one or more hoppers comprise inwardly angled sides to form a funnel-like shape, and the proppant has particles that have a substantially spherical shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each container of the plurality of containers comprises a frame positioned to form a cage-like structural configuration, the cage-like structural configuration having a plurality of vertical members positioned adjacent and extending below intersections of the walls and horizontal members positioned along at least a portion of a periphery of the bottom of the plurality of containers, the horizontal members abutting the vertical members.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises one or more mounting locations arranged in a side-by-side arrangement along the frame to secure the plurality of containers to the frame when positioned thereon.
10. An apparatus to move proppant from a plurality of containers, the apparatus comprising:
a support structure comprising a frame to provide structural support to a container positioned thereon, the frame comprising:
a continuous top surface arranged to receive the container, the top surface comprising horizontal support members defining a periphery of the frame, a frame periphery of the frame having a larger perimeter than a corresponding perimeter of a container periphery of the container;
a bottom surface positioned opposite the top surface;
a plurality of vertical support members extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; and
a plurality of angled support members extending between the top surface and the bottom surface;
a hopper coupled to the frame and arranged below the top surface to underlie the container when positioned on the support structure and to receive proppant when flowing from the container, the hopper comprising walls formed in a funnel-like shape extending downwardly and inwardly from the top surface and an opening at a lower end of the hopper to discharge proppant received from the container, the container comprising:
an interior volume;
walls defining a lateral periphery of the interior volume;
a plurality of support braces positioned proximate the walls, the support braces being positioned to provide structural support to the walls;
a bottom positioned on the bottom surface of the frame and having an outlet associated therewith; and
a gate positioned proximate the outlet, the gate being moveable between open and closed positions; and
a conveyor having a surface positioned below the opening of the hopper, the surface of the conveyor being positioned to receive the proppant from the opening of the hopper to convey the proppant when positioned thereon away from the hopper.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising openings in the frame positioned peripherally about the hopper such that exterior surfaces of the hopper are visible through the openings.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the hopper is coupled to the horizontal support members of the frame and further comprises an opening that is smaller than the periphery of the frame.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a metering gate arranged at an outlet of the opening of the hopper, the metering gate being movable between an open position and a closed position to control the flow of proppant through the opening.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a receptacle translatably positioned adjacent the top surface of the frame; and
an actuator engaging the receptacle to move the receptacle between a first position and a second position, such that the proppant is not discharged from the outlet of the container when the receptacle is in the first position and the proppant is discharged from the outlet of the container when the receptacle is in the second position.