Electric fuel shutoff device
An electric fuel flow control device for use with oil and gas equipment, such as fueling systems for frac pumps. The electric fuel flow control device includes a battery, control circuitry, an enclosure that encloses the control circuity, and includes an electric fluid sensor, a valve, a beacon light, a status light, a button, an adapter cap enabling connection to a fuel tank, and a mandrel. The electric fuel flow control device may be used as a primary fuel flow control device or a backup fuel flow control device.
1. A fuel flow control device, comprising:
an enclosure containing control circuity;
a valve having an inlet and an outlet, the valve moveable between an open position and a closed position, the open position configured to permit fuel flow through the valve and the closed position configured to block fuel flow through the valve;
a valve actuator operable to move the valve between the open position and the closed position;
an electric fuel sensor disposed in a sensor housing and comprising a shaft, the shaft comprising a slot such that the electric fuel sensor senses fuel when the slot is submerged in fuel;
an adapter cap configured to couple the fuel flow control device to the fuel tank; and
a battery configured to power the control circuity, the valve actuator, and the electric fuel sensor,
wherein the control circuity comprises logic configured to move the valve between the open position and the closed position in response to a signal provided by the electric fuel sensor.
2. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , comprising a first light and second light, the first light configured to indicate an alarm and the second light configured to indicate operation of the electric fuel sensor.
3. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a motorized ball valve.
4. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , comprising a sliding clamp configured to couple the fuel flow control device to a fuel tank.
5. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , comprising a bracket coupled to the enclosure, the adapter cap, and the valve actuator.
6. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , comprising a button configured to initiate operation of the electric fuel sensor.
7. The fuel flow control device of claim 6 , wherein the button is further configured to reset the valve to the open position.
8. The fuel flow control device of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises a solenoid valve.
9. The fuel flow control device of claim 8 , comprising a mandrel coupled to the electric fuel sensor, the mandrel configured to adjust the depth of the electric fuel sensor in the fuel tank.
10. A method of controlling fuel provided to a fuel tank, comprising
using a fuel flow control device coupled to the fuel tank, the fuel flow control device operable to stop the flow of fuel between an inlet and an outlet when the fuel flow control device detects fuel via an electric fuel sensor extending into the fuel tank, the fuel flow control device comprising:
an enclosure containing control circuity;
a valve having the inlet and the outlet, the valve moveable between an open position and a closed position, the open position configured to permit fuel flow through the valve and the closed position configured to block fuel flow through the valve;
a valve actuator operable to move the valve between the open position and the closed position;
the electric fuel sensor disposed in a sensor housing and comprising a shaft extending into the fuel tank, the shaft comprising a slot such that the electric fuel sensor senses fuel when the slot is submerged in fuel;
an adapter cap configured to couple the fuel flow control device to the fuel tank; and
a battery configured to power the control circuity, the valve actuator, and the electric fuel sensor.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fuel tank comprises a fuel tank located on the suction side of an engine.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fuel tank comprises a fuel tank located on the return side of an engine.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fuel flow control device is connected to a feeder line of a gravity fed fuel system.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the fuel flow control device is connected to a feeder line of a pump powered fuel system.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the valve comprises a motorized ball valve.
16. A system, comprising:
an engine connected to a fuel tank;
a fuel flow control device coupled to the fuel tank, the fuel flow control device comprising:
an enclosure containing control circuity;
a valve having an inlet and an outlet, the valve moveable between an open position and a closed position, the open position configured to permit fuel flow through the valve and the closed position configured to block fuel flow through the valve;
a valve actuator operable to move the valve between the open position and the closed position;
the electric fuel sensor disposed in a sensor housing and comprising a shaft extending into the fuel tank, the shaft comprising a slot such that the electric fuel sensor senses fuel when the slot is submerged in fuel;
an adapter cap configured to couple the fuel flow control device to the fuel tank; and
a battery configured to power the control circuity, the valve actuator, and the electric fuel sensor,
wherein the control circuity comprises logic configured to move the valve between the open position and the closed position in response to a signal provided by the electric fuel sensor.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the fuel tank comprises a suction side fuel tank located on the suction side of the engine.
18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the fuel tank comprises a return side fuel tank comprises a return side fuel tank located on the return side of the engine.
19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the engine provides power to a fracturing fluid pump.
20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the valve comprises a motorized ball valve.
21. A fuel flow control device, comprising:
an enclosure containing control circuity;
a valve having an inlet and an outlet, the valve moveable between an open position and a closed position, the open position configured to permit fuel flow through the valve and the closed position configured to block fuel flow through the valve;
a valve actuator operable to move the valve between the open position and the closed position;
means for sensing fluid in a fuel tank and generating a signal in response thereto; and
an adapter cap configured to couple the fuel flow control device to the fuel tank;
wherein the control circuity comprises logic configured to move the valve between the open position and the closed position in response to the signal.