Reciprocating pump packing lubricator
A lubricator package for intermittently delivering a lubricant to lubrication points on packing on a high-pressure reciprocating pump, a frac pump is described. A preferred package includes a large (e.g., 10 gallon) capacity reservoir; a three or five outlet pump; a common manifold receiving oil from the large capacity reservoir and supplying oil or grease to the pumps; a mounting stand supporting the large capacity reservoir and the five outlet pump; and an optional a control package providing low level monitoring of lubricant flow and controlling the pump providing a pump stroke counter or timer.
1. A lubrication system for intermittently delivering a lubricant to lubrication points on packing on a high-pressure reciprocating pump, comprising:
a reservoir for storing lubricant;
a stand supporting the reservoir;
at least one pump assembly, including:
a pump supported by the stand and having multiple pump elements, each pump element having a corresponding pump element inlet and a pump element outlet; and
a manifold supported above the pump, the manifold receiving lubricant from the reservoir and supplying the lubricant all of the multiple pump elements;
a first filter for removing contaminants from the lubricant prior to the lubricant entering the reservoir;
a second filter for filtering lubricant leaving the reservoir and entering the manifold; and
multiple system outlet connections mounted on the stand, each system outlet connected to corresponding pump element outlet; and
a flow sensor connected to each of the system outlets.
2. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which:
the at least one pump assembly comprises a single pump assembly;
the reservoir has a capacity of greater than 5 gallons of lubricant;
the manifold has a capacity of less than 1 gallon; and
the pump comprises three or five pump elements.
3. The lubrication system of claim 2 in which:
the reservoir has a capacity of about 10 gallons of lubricant; and
the manifold has a capacity of about 2 liters.
4. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which:
the at least one pump assembly comprises two pump assemblies;
the reservoir has a capacity of greater than about ten gallons;
the manifold in each of the two pump assemblies has a capacity of less than 1 gallon; and
the pump in each of the two pump assemblies comprises three or five pump elements.
5. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which the manifold in the at least one pump assembly has a capacity that is between 0.02 and 0.1 that of the reservoir.
6. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which the flow sensors comprise flow meters.
7. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which the flow sensors comprise pressure gauges or pressure transducers.
8. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which the flow sensors provide visual feedback of flow.
9. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising a control system configured to receive signals from the flow sensors.
10. The lubrication system of claim 1 further comprising a low level sensor for determining when the lubricant level in the reservoir tank is low.
11. The lubrication system of claim 1 in which the lubricant is oil or grease.