Lubrication system for a frac pump

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11566748-B2
Application number	US-201816638717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2018
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Jan 31, 2023
Grant date	Jan 31, 2023

Abstract

A lubrication system for a frac pump includes a lubrication system housing, a lubricant tank held by the lubrication system housing, a heating device held by the lubrication system housing, a cooling device held by the lubrication system housing, and a filtration device held by the lubrication system housing. The lubrication system housing is configured to be at least one of mounted to a frac pump housing of the frac pump or held within the frac pump housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lubrication system for a frac pump, the lubrication system comprising:
a lubrication system housing,
wherein the lubrication system housing is free-standing, being supported independently of the frac pump, and configured to be integrated into the frac pump;

a lubricant tank directly supported on the lubrication system housing and configured to hold a lubricant;
a heating device supported on the lubrication system housing, the heating device being fluidly connected to the lubricant tank such that the heating device is configured to heat the lubricant;
a cooling device directly supported on the lubrication system housing, the cooling device being fluidly connected to the lubricant tank such that the cooling device is configured to cool the lubricant; and
a filtration device directly supported on the lubrication system housing, the filtration device being fluidly connected to the lubricant tank such that the filtration device is configured to filter the lubricant,
wherein the lubrication system housing, the lubricant tank, the heating device, the cooling device, and the filtration device are contained within a power end housing of the frac pump.

2. The lubrication system of claim 1 , further comprising a lubricant pump configured to move lubricant between the lubricant tank, the heating device, the cooling device, the filtration device, and the frac pump.

3. The lubrication system of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to monitor and control at least one of a temperature of the lubricant, a pressure of the lubricant, a quality of the lubricant, a flow rate of the lubricant, or operation of a pump of the lubrication system.

4. The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the lubricant tank comprises;
an outlet fluidly connected to a lubricant circuit of the frac pump and configured to deliver a flow of lubricant to the lubricant circuit, and
an inlet fluidly connected to the lubricant circuit and configured to receive a flow of the lubricant from the lubricant circuit.

5. The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein the heating device is at least partially contained within the lubricant tank.

6. The lubrication system of claim 1 , wherein an inlet of the lubrication system, located in the lubricant tank, extends from inside to outside a plane defined by an outer frame of the lubrication system housing.

7. A frac pump comprising;
a fluid end including a fluid cylinder;
a power end operatively connected to the fluid end, the power end comprising a power end housing,
wherein an interior of the power end housing partly encloses a plunger rod assembly,
wherein the fluid cylinder is outside the interior of the power end housing, and
wherein the plunger rod assembly extends outside the interior of the power end housing and into the fluid cylinder to pump fluid through the fluid cylinder; and

a lubrication system fluidly connected to the power end for delivering lubricant to the power end, the lubrication system comprising:
a lubrication system housing contained within the power end housing, the lubrication system housing enclosing:
a lubricant tank,
a heating device configured to heat the lubricant,
a cooling device configured to cool the lubricant, and
a filtration device configured to filter the lubricant.

8. The frac pump of claim 7 , wherein the lubrication system further comprises a lubricant pump configured to move lubricant between the lubricant tank, the heating device, the cooling device, the filtration device, and the frac pump.

9. The frac pump of claim 7 , wherein the lubrication system further comprises a control system configured to monitor and control at least one of a temperature of the lubricant, a pressure of the lubricant, a quality of the lubricant, a flow rate of the lubricant, or operation of a pump of the lubrication system.

10. The frac pump of claim 7 , wherein the power end comprises a lubricant circuit and the lubricant tank comprises:
an outlet fluidly connected to the lubricant circuit and configured to deliver a flow of lubricant to the lubricant circuit, and
an inlet fluidly connected to the lubricant circuit and configured to receive a flow of the lubricant from the lubricant circuit.

11. The frac pump of claim 7 , wherein the heating device of the lubrication system is at least partially contained within the lubricant tank.

12. A frac pump system comprising:
a platform;
a frac pump held on the platform, the frac pump comprising a fluid end and a power end operatively connected to the fluid end,
wherein the power end includes a power end housing having an interior and an exterior, the exterior being mounted on the platform,
wherein the interior of the power end housing encloses a lubricant circuit including:
an inlet;
an outlet; and
a plurality of channels in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet,

the plurality of channels being configured to distribute lubricant to components of the power end within the interior of the power end housing; and

a lubrication system fluidly connected to the lubricant circuit for supplying the components of the power end with lubricant, the lubrication system comprising:
a housing contained within the interior of the power end housing,
a lubricant tank in the housing,
wherein an inlet of the lubrication system, located in the lubricant tank, extends from inside to outside a plane defined by an outer frame of the housing,

and wherein the inlet of the lubrication system is in direct fluid communication with the outlet of the lubricant circuit,
a heating device in the housing,
a cooling device in the housing, and
a filtration device in the housing.

13. The frac pump system of claim 12 , wherein the platform comprises at least one of a skid, a trailer, a fixture, a frame, or a manifold.

Assignees

• Spm Oil & Gas Inc

Inventors

• Bayyouk Jacob

Classifications

• F01M2001/126

  Dry-sumps · CPC title

• F01M2011/0083

  Dry sumps · CPC title

• F16N7/38 Primary

  with a separate pump; Central lubrication systems · CPC title

• F16N39/02

  by cooling (heat-exchangers in general F28) · CPC title

• F16N39/04

  by heating (heat-exchangers in general F28) · CPC title