Fuel, communications, and power connection systems and related methods
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.
1. A method for pressure testing at least a portion of a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to one or more 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 one or more 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 filter configured to filter one or more of particulates or liquids from fuel and 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 increasing pressure is caused until a predetermined time has elapsed on 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 predetermined time to a predetermined 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 predetermined 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 predetermined 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 and waiting for a second predetermined 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 predetermined 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 predetermined 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 predetermined 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 a determination of the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak occurs.
8. The method of claim 1 , 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.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fuel delivery system comprises a controller, and wherein the method 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 one or more gas turbine engines, the fuel delivery system including a controller, the method comprising:
causing a first valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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 one or more gas turbine engines;
causing a second valve to be in a closed condition via the controller, the second valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between a filter configured to filter one or more of particulates or liquids from fuel and the first gas turbine engine;
causing a third valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising initiating a timer, wherein increasing pressure is caused until a predetermined time has elapsed on the timer.
12. The method of claim 11 , 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 predetermined time to a predetermined 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak further comprises:
initiating the timer and waiting for a second predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
14. The method of claim 13 , 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure or greater.
15. 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.
16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating a signal via the controller indicative of a leak when a determination of a leak occurs.
17. The method of claim 10 , 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.
18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising one or more of:
increasing, via the controller, the pressure via the pressure source;
monitoring, via the controller, the signal indicative of pressure, and
determining, via the controller, whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.
19. A method for pressure testing at least a portion of a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to one or more gas turbine engines, the fuel delivery system including a controller, the method comprising:
causing a first valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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 one or more gas turbine engines;
causing a second valve to be in a closed condition via the controller, the second valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between a filter configured to filter one or more of particulates or liquids from fuel and the first gas turbine engine;
causing a third valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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, increasing pressure via the pressure source includes (a) activating a compressor in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system, or (b) opening a valve of a pressurized cylinder in flow communication with 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;
based at least in part on the signal, determining whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak; and
generating a signal via the controller indicative of the leak.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising initiating a timer, wherein increasing pressure is caused until a predetermined time has elapsed on the timer.
21. The method of claim 20 , 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 predetermined time to a predetermined 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein determining the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak further comprises:
initiating the timer and waiting for a second predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
23. The method of claim 22 , 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure or greater.
24. The method of claim 19 , 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 via the controller, the fourth valve configured to release pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.
25. The method of claim 19 , further comprising one or more of:
increasing, via the controller, the pressure via the pressure source;
monitoring, via the controller, the signal indicative of pressure, and
determining, via the controller, whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.
26. A method for pressure testing at least a portion of a fuel delivery system for supplying fuel from a fuel source to one or more gas turbine engines, the fuel delivery system including a controller, the method comprising:
causing a first valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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 one or more gas turbine engines;
causing a second valve to be in a closed condition via the controller, the second valve configured to one of facilitate flow communication or prevent flow communication between a filter configured to filter one or more of particulates or liquids from fuel and the first gas turbine engine;
causing a third valve to be in an open condition via the controller, 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, increasing pressure via the pressure source includes (a) activating a compressor in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system, or (b) opening a valve of a pressurized cylinder in flow communication with the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system;
monitoring via the controller a signal indicative of pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system;
based at least in part on the signal, determining via the controller whether the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system has a leak.
27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising initiating a timer, wherein increasing pressure is caused until a predetermined time has elapsed on the timer, and 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 predetermined time to a predetermined pressure; and
determining via the controller 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein determining the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system does not have a leak further comprises:
initiating the timer and waiting for a second predetermined 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 predetermined pressure.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein after waiting for the second predetermined time to elapse, the method further comprises determining via the controller 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 predetermined 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 predetermined pressure or greater.
30. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:
initiating via a controller a timer;
ceasing the pressure testing after a predetermined time has elapsed;
causing a fourth valve to be in an open condition via the controller, the fourth valve configured to release pressure in the at least a portion of the fuel delivery system.