Direct drive unit removal system and associated methods
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for the removal of a direct drive unit (DDU) housed in an enclosure, such as a direct drive turbine (DDT) connected to a gearbox for driving a driveshaft connected to a pump for use in a hydraulic fracturing operations.
1. A method of removing a direct drive unit (DDU) housed in an enclosure, the DDU including a gearbox and a turbine engine connected to the gearbox for driving a driveshaft connected to a pump for use in high-pressure, high-power hydraulic fracturing operations, the method comprising:
accessing the enclosure, the enclosure containing air inlet ducting connected to the turbine engine and air exhaust ducting connected to the turbine engine;
disconnecting the turbine engine from the air inlet ducting;
disconnecting the turbine engine from at least one fuel line;
disconnecting the gearbox from the driveshaft; disconnecting the turbine engine from an at least one exhaust flange connected to the air exhaust ducting;
operating a DDU positioner assembly to position the DDU for withdrawal from the enclosure wherein the operating the DDU positioner assembly comprises first moving the DDU in a longitudinal direction towards the pump and then moving the DDU in a lateral direction transverse to the longitudinal direction and wherein the DDU positioner assembly comprises a plurality of lateral rails mounted on the floor of the enclosure, a platform slidably mounted on the plurality of lateral rails, a plurality of longitudinal rails mounted on the platform, and the DDU is slidably mounted to the longitudinal rails; and
removing the DDU from the enclosure.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting the driveshaft from the pump and removing the drive shaft prior to removing the DDU from the enclosure.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting the turbine engine from at least one of a hydraulic connection and an electrical connection.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first moving the DDU in the longitudinal direction comprises sliding the DDU along the longitudinal rails and the moving the DDU in the lateral direction comprises sliding the platform along the plurality of lateral rails.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the DDU positioner assembly comprises a plurality of lateral guide rollers slidably connecting the platform to a respective lateral rail of the plurality of lateral rails and a plurality of longitudinal guide rollers slidably connecting the DDU to a respective longitudinal rail of the plurality of longitudinal rails.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal guide rollers is positioned longitudinally between the plurality of lateral guide rollers.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal guide rollers is mounted to the gearbox.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the DDU positioner assembly comprises a plurality of locking mechanisms for locking the DDU in a fixed position on the plurality of lateral rails and the plurality of longitudinal rails.