Hydraulic Fracturing System for Driving a Plunger Pump with a Turbine Engine

Abstract

The present invention discloses a hydraulic fracturing system for driving a plunger pump with a turbine engine using a drive train. The driving train may include a reduction gearbox and a transmission device. The turbine engine is connected to an input of the reduction gearbox, an output of the reduction gearbox is connected to an input of the transmission device, and an output of the transmission device is connected to a drive input of the fracturing pump. The transmission device is configured to be switchable to one of a set of rotational speed conversion ratios. The transmission device may further include a clutch for effectuate a switching between the set of rotational speed conversion ratios. The drivetrain may alternatively or further include a torque convertor disposed between the reduction gearbox and the transmission device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
 a fracturing equipment comprising a turbine engine driving a fracturing pump via a drivetrain,   wherein:
 the drivetrain comprises a reduction gearbox and a transmission device; 
 the turbine engine is connected to an input of the reduction gearbox, an output of the reduction gearbox is connected to an input of the transmission device, and an output of the transmission device is connected to a drive input of the fracturing pump; and 
 the transmission device is configured to be switchable to one of a set of rotational speed conversion ratios. 
   
     
     
         2 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission device further comprises a clutch for effectuate a switching between the set of rotational speed conversion ratios. 
     
     
         3 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the drivetrain further comprises a torque convertor disposed between the reduction gearbox and the transmission device. 
     
     
         4 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the torque convertor is associated with an input rotational speed range, and wherein an output rotational speed of the reduction gearbox is configured to fall within the input rotational speed range of the torque convertor. 
     
     
         5 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the torque convertor is assisted by an auxiliary hydraulic system. 
     
     
         6 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the torque convertor is configured with a lock mode in which an output rational speed of the torque convertor is locked to an input rational speed of the torque convertor. 
     
     
         7 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the fracturing pump comprises a plunger pump. 
     
     
         8 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 7 , wherein the plunger pump comprises an integrated reduction gearbox and wherein the output of the transmission device drives the plunger pump via the integrated reduction gearbox. 
     
     
         9 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission device is integrated as part of the fracturing pump. 
     
     
         10 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the turbine engine is adapted to be fueled by natural gas delivered to the turbine engine by any one of:
 a compressed CNG tanker through CNG pressure regulating equipment;   
       an LNG) tanker through LNG gasification conveying equipment;
 a wellhead gas treatment equipment connected to a gas port of a wellhead; or 
 a gas pipeline connected to pipeline gas treatment equipment. 
 
     
     
         11 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 3 , wherein the fracturing equipment is vehicle-mounted, semi-trailer mounted, or skid mounted. 
     
     
         12 . A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising:
 a fracturing equipment comprising a turbine engine driving a fracturing pump via a drivetrain,   wherein:
 the drivetrain comprises a reduction gearbox and a torque convertor; and 
 the turbine engine is connected to an input of the reduction gearbox, an output of the reduction gearbox is connected to an input of the torque convertor, and an output of the torque convertor is connected to a drive input of the fracturing pump. 
   
     
     
         13 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 12 , wherein the torque convertor is associated with an input rotational speed range, and wherein an output rotational speed of the reduction gearbox is configured to fall within the input rotational speed range of the torque convertor. 
     
     
         14 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 12 , wherein the torque convertor is assisted by an auxiliary hydraulic system. 
     
     
         15 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 12 , wherein the torque convertor is configured with a lock state in which an output rational speed of the torque convertor is locked to an input rational speed of the torque convertor. 
     
     
         16 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 12 , wherein the drivetrain further includes a transmission device disposed between the torque convertor and the fracturing pump, and wherein the transmission device is configured to be switchable to one of a set of rotational speed conversion ratios. 
     
     
         17 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 16 , wherein the transmission device further comprises a clutch for effectuate a switching between the set of rotational speed conversion ratios. 
     
     
         18 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 12 , wherein the fracturing pump comprises a plunger pump. 
     
     
         19 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 18 , wherein the plunger pump comprises an integrated reduction gearbox and wherein the output of the torque convertor drives the plunger pump via the integrated reduction gearbox.