Progressing cavity pump with heat management system

Abstract

A progressing cavity pump heat management system including a progressing cavity pump and a controller. The controller is configured to receive data relating to the temperature of materials exiting the pump and the differential pressure across the pump to determine whether corrective action is required. The controller is configured such that if the controller determines that corrective action is required, the controller institutes corrective action to seek to reduce at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or differential pressure across the pump.

1 . A progressing cavity pump heat management system comprising:
 a progressing cavity pump; and   a controller configured to receive data relating to the temperature of materials exiting the pump and the differential pressure across the pump to determine whether corrective action is required, and wherein said controller is configured such that if the controller determines that corrective action is required, said controller institutes corrective action to seek to reduce at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or differential pressure across the pump.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of materials exiting the pump, a discharge pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of material exiting the pump, and an inlet pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of material entering the pump, wherein said temperature sensor, said discharge pressure sensor, and said inlet pressure sensor are operatively coupled to said controller such that said controller can thereby receive data relating to the temperature of materials exiting the pump and the differential pressure across the pump. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said corrective action includes at least one of reducing the speed of said pump or introducing fluid into said pump. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is configured to calculate a single composite value based upon said temperature and said differential pressure, and wherein said composite value is used by said controller to determine whether corrective action is required. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said controller determines that corrective action is required if said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, exceeds a predetermined threshold or thresholds. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said corrective action is instituted to cool a stator of the progressing cavity pump. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is configured to compare said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, to an initial threshold or thresholds, and if such initial threshold or thresholds are exceeded, to institute a first corrective action which seeks to reduce at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or the differential pressure across the pump, and wherein said controller is configured to compare said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, to a secondary threshold or thresholds, and if such secondary threshold or thresholds are exceeded, to institute a second corrective action which seeks to reduce at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or the differential pressure across the pump and which differs from said first corrective action. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein said secondary threshold or thresholds are surpassed when at least one of said temperature, said differential pressure, or said composite value is higher than is required to surpass said initial threshold or thresholds. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said controller is configured to compare said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, to a tertiary threshold or thresholds, and if such tertiary threshold or thresholds are exceeded, to institute a tertiary corrective action which differs from said primary and secondary corrective action, and wherein said tertiary threshold or thresholds are surpassed when at least one of said temperature, said differential pressure, or said composite value is higher than is required to surpass said initial threshold or thresholds or said secondary threshold or thresholds. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein said tertiary corrective action constitutes ceasing pumping operations of said pump. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said progressing cavity pump includes a rotor, a stator, an inlet and an outlet, said rotor being rotationally disposed in said stator such that rotation of said rotor causes material in said pump to be pumped from said inlet toward said outlet. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said rotor is an externally threaded rotor in the form of a single lead helical screw, and wherein said stator has an opening extending generally axially therethrough in the form of a double lead helical nut, and wherein said rotor is received in said opening. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said stator is made of an elastomer material. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said pump is coupled to a wellhead to receive materials pumped therefrom. 
   
   
       15 . A method for pumping materials comprising the steps of:
 pumping materials through a progressing cavity pump;   monitoring a temperature of materials exiting the pump;   monitoring a differential pressure across the pump; and   instituting corrective action if it is determined that corrective action is required based at least in part upon the monitored pressure and differential pressure.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the corrective action is instituted if said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, exceeds a predetermined threshold or thresholds, and wherein said corrective action leads to cooling of the progressing cavity pump. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said corrective action includes at least one of reducing the speed of said pump, or introducing fluid into said pump, or ceasing pumping operations of said pump. 
   
   
       18 . A method for pumping materials comprising the steps of:
 providing a progressing cavity pump operatively coupled to a wellhead such that said pump is configured to pump materials provided from said wellhead; and   operating said pump while actively reducing at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or the differential pressure across the pump during at least part of said operation such that the pump pumps material constituting at least 80% gas by volume therethrough for at least two minutes without significant damage to the pump.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said operating step includes monitoring the temperature of materials exiting the pump, monitoring the differential pressure across the pump, and instituting corrective action to cool the pump if it is determined that corrective action is required based upon the monitored pressure and differential pressure. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the corrective action is required if said temperature and said differential pressure, or a composite value thereof, exceeds a predetermined threshold or thresholds, and wherein said corrective action includes at least one of reducing the speed of said pump or introducing fluid into said pump. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said differential pressure is a pressure differential between an inlet of said pump and an outlet of said pump. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said progressing cavity pump includes a rotor, a stator, an inlet and an outlet, said rotor being rotationally disposed in said stator such that rotation of said rotor causes material in said pump to be pumped from said inlet toward said outlet, and wherein said differential pressure is a pressure differential between an inlet of said pump located at a position upstream of said rotor and an outlet of said pump located at a position downstream of said rotor and in fluid communication with said inlet. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said progressing cavity pump includes a rotor, a stator, an inlet and an outlet, said rotor being rotationally disposed in said stator such that rotation of said rotor causes material in said pump to be pumped from said inlet toward said outlet, and wherein said data relating to the temperature of materials exiting the pump is data relating to the temperature of material at position downstream of said rotor. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said controller is configured to institute corrective action if the differential pressure exceeds a predetermined value. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said controller is configured to take into consideration both: a) data relating to the temperature of said materials exiting the pump; and b) the differential pressure across the pump in determining whether corrective action is required. 
   
   
       26 . A progressing cavity pump heat management system comprising:
 a controller configured to receive data relating to the temperature of materials exiting a progressing cavity pump and the differential pressure across the pump to determine whether corrective action is required, and wherein said controller is configured such that if the controller determines that corrective action is required, said controller institutes corrective action to seek to reduce at least one of the temperature of materials exiting the pump or differential pressure across the pump.