Fracturing pump with in-line fluid end
A fluid end for use with a power end. The fluid end comprises a plurality of fluid end sections positioned adjacent one another. Each section includes a single horizontally positioned bore. A plunger is installed within the bore and includes a fluid passageway. Low-pressure fluid enters the bore through the plunger and high-pressure fluid exits the fluid end through an outlet valve installed within the bore. The intake of low-pressure fluid within the fluid end section is regulated by an inlet valve installed within the plunger. Low-pressure fluid enters the plunger through an inlet component attached to both the plunger and an inlet manifold.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a fluid end body having a borehole formed therein, the fluid end body configured to be attached to a power end using a plurality of stay rods;
a plunger positioned within the borehole, in which the plunger comprises:
a plunger body having a first fluid passageway formed therein and opposed first and second ends; and
an inlet valve positioned at the first end of the plunger body; and
at least one packing seal installed within the borehole and engaging an outer surface of the plunger body; in which the plunger body is movable within the borehole relative to the at least one packing seal; and
a flexible inlet conduit having a first end and an opposed second end; in which the first end of the inlet conduit is configured to be attached to a stationary inlet manifold and the second end of the inlet conduit is attached to the second end of the plunger body.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the plunger is configured to reciprocate within the borehole to pressurize fluid, in which a given reciprocation of the plunger includes:
an intake stroke, in which fluid enters into the borehole of the fluid end body via the inlet conduit and the first fluid passageway; and
a pressure stroke, in which the plunger pressurizes the fluid contained within the borehole.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , in which the inlet conduit moves in response to reciprocal movement of the plunger.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an outlet valve installed within the fluid end body and in a spaced-relationship with the first end of the plunger body.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the fluid end body has opposed front and rear surfaces; in which the second end of the plunger body projects from the rear surface of the fluid end body; and in which fluid discharges from adjacent the front surface of the fluid end body.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the apparatus is situated in an ambient environment; and in which at least a portion of the inlet conduit is exposed to the ambient environment.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
an inlet component having a second fluid passageway formed therein and interposed between the inlet conduit and the second end of the plunger body such that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the first fluid passageway.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connect plate supporting the fluid end body and configured to be interposed between the fluid end body and the power end.
9. The fluid end of claim 8 , in which the connect plate is configured to be attached to the power end using the plurality of stay rods such that the connect plate and the power end are in a spaced-relationship.
10. A fluid end comprising:
a plurality of fluid end bodies positioned in a side-by-side relationship, each fluid end body having a horizontal bore formed therein; in which the plurality of fluid end bodies are configured to be attached to a power end using a plurality of stay rods;
a plurality of plungers, each plunger installed within a corresponding one of the horizontal bores and having a central fluid passage formed therein;
a plurality of packing seals, at least one packing seal installed within a corresponding one of the horizontal bores and engaging an outer surface of a corresponding one of the plungers, in which the corresponding one of the plungers is movable within the corresponding one of the horizontal bores relative to the at least one packing seal; and
a plurality of flexible inlet conduits, each inlet conduit configured to interconnect a stationary inlet manifold and a corresponding one of the plungers such that the inlet manifold is in fluid communication with the central fluid passage formed in each plunger.
11. The fluid end of claim 10 , further comprising:
a connect plate supporting each of the plurality of fluid end bodies and configured to be interposed between the fluid end bodies and the power end.
12. The fluid end of claim 11 , in which the connect plate is configured to be attached to the power end using the plurality of stay rods such that the connect plate and the power end are in a spaced-relationship.
13. The fluid end of claim 10 , in which each of the plurality of plungers is configured to reciprocate within the corresponding one of the horizontal bores to pressurize fluid, in which a given reciprocation of each plunger includes:
an intake stroke, in which fluid enters the horizontal bore of the fluid end body via a corresponding one of the inlet conduits and the first fluid passageway; and
a pressure stroke, in which the plunger pressurizes the fluid contained within the horizontal bore.
14. The fluid end of claim 13 , in which each of the plurality of inlet conduits moves in response to reciprocal movement of the corresponding plunger.
15. The fluid end of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of outlet valves, each outlet valve installed within a corresponding one of the fluid end bodies and in a spaced-relationship with the corresponding plunger.
16. The fluid end of claim 10 , in which each of the plurality of fluid end bodies has opposed front and rear surfaces; in which at least a portion of the corresponding plunger projects from the rear surface of the corresponding fluid end body; and in which fluid discharges from adjacent the front surface of the corresponding fluid end body.
17. The fluid end of claim 10 , in which the fluid end is situated in an ambient environment; and in which at least a portion of each of the plurality of inlet conduits is exposed to the ambient environment.
18. The fluid end of claim 10 , further comprising:
a plurality of inlet components, each inlet component having a second fluid passageway formed therein and interposed between a corresponding one of the inlet conduits and a corresponding one of the plungers such that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the inlet conduit and the first fluid passageway;
in which each inlet component has opposed top and bottom surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces; and in which the second fluid passageway opens on the top surface and the front surface of each inlet component.
19. A system, comprising:
a power end comprising at least one pony rod; and
a fluid end assembly attached to the power end, the fluid end assembly comprising:
a fluid end body having a borehole formed therein;
a plunger positioned within the borehole, in which the plunger comprises:
a plunger body having a first fluid passageway formed therein and opposed first and second ends; and
an inlet valve positioned at the first end of the plunger body, the inlet valve movable between open and closed positions; and
an inlet manifold supported above the fluid end body; and
a flexible inlet conduit having a first end and an opposed second end; in which the first end of the inlet conduit is attached to the inlet manifold and the second end of the inlet conduit is attached to the second end of the plunger body;
in which the at least one pony rod is attached to the plunger.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which the plunger body is configured to be attached to a pony rod installed within the power end.
21. The apparatus of claim 7 , in which the inlet component has opposed top and bottom surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces;
and in which the second fluid passageway opens on the top surface and the front surface of the inlet component.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , in which the rear surface of the inlet component is configured to be attached to a pony rod installed within the power end.
23. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a stationary inlet manifold supported above the fluid end body and attached to the first end of the inlet conduit.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 , in which at least a portion of the fluid end body is configured to contain a fluid having a pressure of at least 8,000 pounds per square inch.
25. The fluid end of claim 10 , in which the plurality of plungers are configured to be attached to a plurality of pony rods installed within the power end in a one-to-one relationship.
26. The fluid end of claim 10 , in which the plurality of fluid end bodies comprises five and only five fluid end bodies.
27. An apparatus, comprising:
a fluid end body having a borehole formed therein;
a plunger positioned within the borehole, in which the plunger comprises:
a plunger body having a first fluid passageway formed therein and opposed first and second ends; and
an inlet valve positioned at the first end of the plunger body; and
at least one packing seal installed within the borehole and engaging an outer surface of the plunger body; in which the plunger body is movable within the borehole relative to the at least one packing seal;
a flexible inlet conduit having a first end and an opposed second end; in which the first end of the inlet conduit is configured to be attached to a stationary inlet manifold and the second end of the inlet conduit is attached to the second end of the plunger body; and
an inlet component having a second fluid passageway formed therein and interposed between the flexible inlet conduit and the second end of the plunger body such that the second fluid passageway is in fluid communication with the flexible inlet conduit and the first fluid passageway;
in which the inlet component has opposed top and bottom surfaces and opposed front and rear surfaces; and in which the second fluid passageway opens on the top surface and the front surface of the inlet component.