Multiple gas generator driven pressure supply
A pressure supply device in accordance to one or more aspects includes an elongated body having an internal bore extending from a power end to a discharge end having a discharge port, two or more gas generators connected to the power end and a hydraulic fluid disposed in the bore between a piston and the discharge end. The ignition of one of the gas generators drives the piston to exhaust a partial volume of the hydraulic fluid that is less than the total operational volume of the hydraulic fluid under pressure to operate at a connected device.
1. A method of actuating a hydraulically operated device, comprising:
exhausting, in response to a demand to actuate the hydraulically operated device, a first volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid through a discharge port of a pressure supply device in response to igniting a first gas generator of two or more gas generators, wherein the pressure supply device comprises:
an elongated body having an internal bore extending from a power end to a discharge end having the discharge port, the two or more gas generators connected to the power end, and hydraulic fluid disposed in the internal bore between a piston and the discharge end;
exhausting, in response to a demand to actuate the hydraulically operated device, a second volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid through the discharge port in response to igniting a second gas generator of the two or more gas generators;
actuating the hydraulically operated device to a first position in response to receiving the first volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid; and
actuating the hydraulically operated device to a second position in response to receiving the second volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second gas generators comprise a propellant that produces a gas in response to being ignited.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second gas generators are connected directly to the power end.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second gas generators are connected to the power end through a conduit.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and the second gas generators comprise a propellant that produces a gas in response to being ignited; and
the first and second gas generators are connected directly to the power end.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and the second gas generators comprise a propellant that produces a gas in response to being ignited; and
the first and the second gas generators are connected to the power end through a conduit.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is a valve.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is connected in a well system.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising a one-way valve connected between the discharge port and the hydraulically operated device.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piston separates a hydraulic chamber formed between the piston and the discharge end and a gas expansion chamber on an opposite side of the piston, the hydraulic fluid disposed in the hydraulic chamber.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is located subsea.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is a ram.
13. The method of claim 1 , comprising a one-way valve connected between the discharge port and the hydraulically operated device; and
the piston separating a hydraulic chamber formed between the piston and the discharge end and a gas expansion chamber formed between the piston and the power end, the hydraulic fluid disposed in the hydraulic chamber.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exhausting the first volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the first gas generator; and
the exhausting the second volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the second gas generator.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is connected in a well system.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the piston separates a hydraulic chamber formed between the piston and the discharge end and a gas expansion chamber formed between the piston and the power end, the hydraulic fluid disposed in the hydraulic chamber;
the exhausting the first volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the first gas generator being communicated into the gas expansion chamber; and
the exhausting the second volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the second gas generator being communicated into the gas expansion chamber.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is connected in a well system.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is a ram.
19. The method of claim 1 , comprising a one-way valve connected between the discharge port and the hydraulically operated device;
the piston separating a hydraulic chamber formed between the piston and the discharge end and a gas expansion chamber formed between the piston and the power end, the hydraulic fluid disposed in the hydraulic chamber;
the exhausting the first volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the first gas generator being communicated into the gas expansion chamber; and
the exhausting the second volume of pressurized hydraulic fluid comprises driving the piston toward the discharge end in response to a gas produced by the igniting the second gas generator being communicated into the gas expansion chamber.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the hydraulically operated device is connected in a well system.