Pumping equipment cooling system

Abstract

A system is disclosed for cooling at least one pump used to supply fluids to subterranean formations in connection with the recovery of hydrocarbons, where the cooling system includes a cooling tower connected to the at least one pump to remove heat from the at least one pump, with a plurality of fans configured in an array and oriented vertically within the cooling tower, wherein each of the plurality of fans comprises an inner flow path having an output end directed towards the cooling tower output end, and an intake end. The cooling system may further include an exhaust pipe axially located within the cooling tower to direct heated air from the exhaust pipe towards the cooling tower output end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system comprising:
 a cooling tower having a cooling tower output end,   a radiator having at least one conduit which supplies a cooling fluid to at least one pump,   a plurality of bladeless fans configured in an array within the cooling tower,   wherein each bladeless fan comprises:
 an outer wall encompassing an inner flow path, wherein the inner flow path has an output end and an intake end, 
 a pressure partition axially aligned with the outer wall, wherein the pressure partition comprises at least one air flow slot connecting the outer chamber with the inner flow path, 
 an outer chamber located between the outer wall and the pressure partition, and 
 an air compressor port connected to the outer chamber, and 
   a suction chamber defined between the radiator and the plurality of bladeless fans.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 an exhaust pipe axially located within the inner flow path, wherein the exhaust pipe comprises an exhaust pipe wall, an exhaust pipe output end, and an exhaust flow path defined within the exhaust pipe wall.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the exhaust pipe further comprises at least one heat exchange fin disposed on the exhaust pipe wall. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heat exchange fin extends outward from the exhaust pipe wall and into the inner flow path. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one heat exchange fin extends inward from the exhaust pipe wall and into the exhaust flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a nozzle engaging the exhaust pipe output end, wherein the nozzle has an inner nozzle path diameter less than an exhaust flow path diameter within the exhaust pipe to increase an exit velocity of exhaust emitted from the exhaust pipe output end. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bladeless fans are in parallel with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer chamber has an outer chamber air pressure and the inner flow path has an inner flow path air pressure, wherein the outer chamber air pressure is at least about 60 psi greater than the inner flow path air pressure. 
     
     
         9 . A system for cooling at least one pump used to supply fluids to subterranean formations in connection with the recovery of hydrocarbons, the cooling system comprising:
 a cooling tower connected to the at least one pump to remove heat from the at least one pump, wherein the cooling tower comprises:
 a cooling tower output end, 
 a plurality of bladeless fans configured in an array and oriented vertically within the cooling tower, wherein each of the plurality of bladeless fans comprises:
 an inner flow path having an output end directed towards the cooling tower output end, and an intake end, 
 a pressure partition axially located between the inner flow path and an outer chamber, wherein the pressure partition comprises at least one air flow slot connecting the outer chamber with the inner flow path, and 
 
 a radiator having at least one conduit which supplies a cooling fluid to the at least one pump, 
 a suction chamber defined between the plurality of bladeless fans and the radiator, wherein the plurality of bladeless fans are configured to pull air from the suction chamber and thereby cool the radiator by drawing heat therefrom. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising
 an exhaust pipe axially located within the inner flow path, wherein the exhaust pipe comprises an exhaust pipe wall, an exhaust pipe output end, and an exhaust flow path defined within the exhaust pipe wall.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the exhaust pipe further comprises at least one heat exchange fin disposed on the exhaust pipe wall. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one heat exchange fin extends outward from the exhaust pipe wall and into the inner flow path. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one heat exchange fin extends inward from the exhaust pipe wall and into the exhaust flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a nozzle engaging the exhaust pipe output end, wherein the nozzle has an inner nozzle path diameter less than an exhaust flow path diameter within the exhaust pipe to increase an exit velocity of exhaust emitted from the exhaust pipe output end. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of bladeless fans are in parallel with each other. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer chamber has an outer chamber air pressure and the inner flow path has an inner flow path air pressure, wherein the outer chamber air pressure is at least about 60 psi greater than the inner flow path air pressure. 
     
     
         17 . A system for cooling at least one pump used to supply fluids to subterranean formations in connection with the recovery of hydrocarbons, the cooling system comprising:
 a cooling tower connected to the at least one pump to remove heat from the at least one pump, wherein the cooling tower comprises:
 a cooling tower output end, 
 a plurality of fans configured in an array and oriented vertically within the cooling tower, wherein each of the plurality of fans comprises an inner flow path having an output end directed towards the cooling tower output end, and an intake end, 
 a radiator having at least one conduit which supplies a cooling fluid to the at least one pump, 
 a suction chamber defined between the plurality of fans and the radiator, wherein the plurality of fans are configured to pull air from the suction chamber and thereby cool the radiator by drawing heat therefrom, and 
 an exhaust pipe axially located within the cooling tower, wherein the exhaust pipe comprises an exhaust pipe wall, an exhaust pipe output end, and an exhaust flow path defined within the exhaust pipe wall, wherein the exhaust pipe output end directs air from the exhaust pipe towards the cooling tower output end. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of fans comprises a shrouded fan, wherein the shrouded fan comprises a fan with a plurality of blades connected to and extending from a fan center and a cylindrical duct connected to a termination end of each of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the exhaust pipe further comprises at least one heat exchange fin disposed on the exhaust pipe wall. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fans are in parallel with each other.