Pig pumping unit
View Patent ↗A pumping unit is provided that allows at least four passes to be made simultaneously with a single pumping unit. A single engine is used to drive two pumps, each connected into separate pumping circuits. Fluid flow in each of the pumping circuits is controlled by respective flow control elements on the pumping circuits, as for example a variable flow valve. Two engines may thus be used to drive four pumps.
1. A four pass pig pumping unit, comprising:
a trailer having an engine and pump compartment;
one or more clean water tanks on the trailer;
one or more dirty water tanks on the trailer;
a first engine connected to drive a first pump and to drive a second pump, each of the first engine, the first pump and the second pump lying in the engine and pump compartment;
the first pump having at least a first inlet and a first power outlet, the first inlet being connected to receive water from at least one of the one or more clean water tanks;
the second pump having at least a second inlet and a second power outlet, the second inlet being connected to receive water from at least one of the one or more clean water tanks;
a first valved pumping circuit connected to receive pig drive fluid from the first power outlet and including a first return conduit connected to return pig drive fluid to at least one of the one or more dirty water tanks, the first valved pumping circuit having connections for connecting a first pipe to be cleaned into the first valved pumping circuit;
a second valved pumping circuit connected to receive pig drive fluid from the second power outlet and including a second return conduit connected to return pig drive fluid to at least one of the one or more dirty water tanks, the second valved pumping circuit having connections for connecting a second pipe to be cleaned into the second valved pumping circuit;
a first variable flow control element on the first valved pumping circuit;
a second variable flow control element on the second valved pumping circuit;
a second engine connected to drive a third pump and to drive a fourth pump, the second engine, the third pump and the fourth pump lying in the engine and pump compartment;
the third pump having at least a third inlet and a third power outlet, the third inlet being connected to receive water from at least one of the one or more clean water tanks;
the fourth pump having at least a fourth inlet and a fourth power outlet, the fourth inlet being connected to receive water from at least one of the one or more clean water tanks;
a third valved pumping circuit connected to receive pig drive fluid from the third power outlet and including a third return conduit connected to return pig drive fluid to at least one of the one or more dirty water tanks, the third valved pumping circuit having connections for connecting a third pipe to be cleaned into the third valved pumping circuit;
a fourth valved pumping circuit connected to receive pig drive fluid from the fourth power outlet and including a fourth return conduit connected to return pig drive fluid to at least one of the one or more dirty water tanks, the fourth valved pumping circuit having connections for connecting a fourth pipe to be cleaned into the fourth valved pumping circuit;
a third variable flow control element on the third valved pumping circuit; and
a fourth variable flow control element on the fourth valved pumping circuit, wherein first pump, second pump, third pump and fourth pump are located on one trailer.
2. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 in which:
the one or more clean water tanks comprise at least a first clean water tank connected to the first inlet and a second clean water tank connected to the second inlet; and
the first clean water tank and the second clean water tank are located on opposite sides of the engine and pump compartment.
3. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 in which:
the first variable flow control element is a first valve is located on the first return conduit; and the second variable flow control element is a second valve is located on the second return conduit.
4. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 3 in which:
the one or more clean water tanks comprise at least a first clean water tank connected to the first inlet and a second clean water tank connected to the second inlet; and
the first clean water tank and the second clean water tank are located on opposite sides of the engine and pump compartment.
5. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 in which:
the one or more clean water tanks comprise at least a first clean water tank connected to the first inlet and to the third inlet, and a second clean water tank connected to the second inlet and to the fourth inlet; and
the first clean water tank and the second clean water tank are located on opposite sides of the engine and pump compartment.
6. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 in which:
the third variable flow control element is a third valve is located on the third return conduit; and
the fourth variable flow control element is a fourth valve is located on the fourth return conduit.
7. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 in which the first pump is connected to be driven at a first end of the first engine, the second pump is connected to be driven at a second end of the first engine opposed to the first end of the first engine, the third pump is connected to be driven at a first end of the second engine, and the fourth pump is connected to be driven at a second end of the second engine opposed to the first end of the second engine.
8. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 7 further comprising:
a first integral clutch of the first engine connected by a first drive shaft to the first pump;
the first engine being connected to drive the second pump through a standalone clutch;
a second integral clutch of the second engine connected by a second drive shaft to the third pump; and
the second engine being connected to drive the fourth pump through a standalone clutch.
9. The four pass pig pumping unit of claim 1 further comprising an operator's cabin on the trailer, the operator's cabin being provided with a plurality of consoles comprising a first console for the first valved pumping circuit, a second console for the second valved pumping circuit, a third console for the third valved pumping circuit and a fourth console for the fourth valved pumping circuit, the plurality of consoles being located together in pairs for operation by a first operator and a second operator, each operator operating a pair of consoles.