Controlling suction valves of a fluid pump
A controller may monitor an operating parameter relating to at least one of a fluid pump or a prime mover for the fluid pump. The fluid pump may be configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles. The fluid pump may have a suction valve configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles. The controller may cause, responsive to the operating parameter indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated, the suction valve to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles.
1 . A suction valve control system of a fluid pump that is driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles, the suction valve control system comprising:
a plurality of suction valves, of the fluid pump, that are configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles, wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump; and
a controller configured to:
cause, responsive to a pump deactivating event and to deactivate the fluid pump, the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles,
wherein the open position corresponds to an opening of the plurality of suction valves during a plurality of suction cycles of the fluid pump;
receive, from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state; and
release, based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
2 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
cause, during one or more prior discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles prior to the pump deactivating event, the plurality of suction valves not to be maintained in the open position during any portion of the one or more prior discharge cycles.
3 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
receive an indication, based on a user input, that the fluid pump is to be deactivated,
wherein receiving the indication is the pump deactivating event.
4 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
monitor a discharge pressure or a flow rate of the fluid pump; and
detect that the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfies a threshold,
wherein detecting that the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfies the threshold is the pump deactivating event.
5 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the open position is a full open position that corresponds to a maximum flow area of the plurality of suction valves.
6 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of valve control components configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves.
7 . The suction valve control system of claim 6 , wherein the controller, to cause the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in the open position, is configured to:
cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position.
8 . The suction valve control system of claim 7 , wherein the controller, to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position, is configured to:
cause actuation of the plurality of valve control components to an extended position to hold open the plurality of suction valves.
9 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suction valves are to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles while the reciprocating engine is in a non-stationary state.
10 . The suction valve control system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suction valves are to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles to cause termination of all discharge flow from the fluid pump.
11 . A method, comprising:
monitoring, by a controller, a discharge pressure or a flow rate of a fluid pump,
the fluid pump driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission and configured to discharge fluid during a plurality of discharge cycles, and
the fluid pump having a plurality of suction valves configured to close during the plurality of discharge cycles wherein the plurality of suction valves include all suction valves of the fluid pump;
causing, by the controller and responsive to the discharge pressure or the flow rate indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated, the plurality of suction valves to be maintained in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the plurality of discharge cycles;
receiving, by the controller from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state; and
releasing, by the controller and based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the open position corresponds to an opening of the plurality of suction valves during a plurality of suction cycles of the fluid pump.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfying a threshold indicates that the fluid pump is to be deactivated.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of suction valves are to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles while the reciprocating engine is in a non-stationary state.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of suction valves are to be maintained in the open position throughout the one or more discharge cycles to cause termination of all discharge flow from the fluid pump.
16 . A fluid pump system, comprising:
a fluid pump, comprising:
a fluid end having a fluid chamber, a plunger configured to reciprocate with respect to the fluid chamber, and a plurality of suction valves biased to a closed position with respect to the fluid chamber; and
a power end, operably connected to the plunger, configured to be driven by a reciprocating engine without use of a transmission; and
a suction valve control system, comprising:
a plurality of valve control components configured to control actuation of the plurality of suction valves; and
a controller, communicatively coupled to the plurality of valve control components, configured to:
cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in an open position throughout one or more discharge cycles of the fluid pump to cause termination of all discharge flow from the fluid pump;
receive, from an additional controller of the reciprocating engine, a measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in a stationary state; and
release, based on the measurement indicating that the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state, the plurality of suction valves from being maintained in the open position.
17 . The fluid pump system of claim 16 , wherein the open position is a full open position that corresponds to a maximum flow area of the plurality of suction valves.
18 . The fluid pump system of claim 16 , wherein the controller, to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position, is configured to:
cause actuation of the plurality of valve control components to an extended position to hold open the plurality of suction valves.
19 . The fluid pump system of claim 16 , wherein the controller, to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position, is configured to:
cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position until the reciprocating engine is in the stationary state.
20 . The fluid pump system of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
monitor a discharge pressure or a flow rate of the fluid pump; and
detect that the discharge pressure or the flow rate satisfies a threshold,
wherein the controller is configured to cause the plurality of valve control components to maintain the plurality of suction valves in the open position responsive to the discharge pressure or the flow rate indicating that the fluid pump is to be deactivated.