Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit

Abstract

Systems and methods for exchanging fracturing components of a hydraulic fracturing unit and may include an exchangeable fracturing component section to facilitate quickly exchanging a fracturing component of a hydraulic fracturing unit. The fracturing component section may include a section frame including a base, and a fracturing component connected to the base. The fracturing component section also may include a component electrical assembly and a component fluid assembly connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section further may include a coupling plate connected to the section frame. The fracturing component section also may include one or more of a plurality of quick-connect electrical couplers or a plurality of quick-connect fluid couplers connected to a coupling plate. The quick-connect electrical and fluid couplers may be positioned to receive respective electrical and fluid connections of the component electrical and fluid assemblies and connect to other portions of the hydraulic fracturing unit.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
 a platform;   a dual-shaft gas turbine engine, a transmission, and a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the platform, wherein the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are aligned on the platform such that the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are positioned adjacent one another, wherein the transmission is mounted to the platform via a mount comprising a base plate configured to be connected to a support frame located on the trailer and an upper plate configured to be connected to the transmission;   an engine control module including a first plurality of sensors, the first plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the engine control unit connected to a terminal in an engine terminal unit located on the platform; and   a second plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the hydraulic fracturing pumps, the second plurality of sensors connected to a fracturing pump terminal unit, wherein the engine terminal unit and the fracturing pump terminal unit are configured to communicate with a supervisory control system.   
     
     
         3 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission comprises a reduction gearbox and a driveshaft and the gas turbine engine is cantilever-mounted to the reduction gearbox. 
     
     
         4 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission comprises a multi-gear transmission. 
     
     
         5 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , wherein the platform is a trailer. 
     
     
         6 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , further comprising an auxiliary engine connected to the platform, the auxiliary engine configured to supply power to drive one or more lubrication pumps located on the platform. 
     
     
         7 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , wherein an absorbing portion is disposed between the base plate and the upper plate, the absorbing portion configured to compress and expand as load changes on the mount. 
     
     
         8 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 2 , further comprising a transmission terminal unit located on the platform and configured to communicate with the supervisory control system, the transmission terminal unit including a third plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the transmission. 
     
     
         9 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of sensors and the third plurality of sensors each include a lube pressure sensor and a lube temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 8 , wherein the engine terminal unit, the transmission terminal unit, and the fracturing pump terminal unit are each connected to the supervisory control system via a communications cable. 
     
     
         11 . A hydraulic fracturing system, comprising;
 a plurality of hydraulic fracturing units, each hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
 a platform; 
 a dual-shaft gas turbine engine, a transmission, and a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the platform, wherein the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are aligned on the platform such that the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are positioned adjacent one another, wherein the transmission is mounted to the platform via a mount comprising a base plate configured to be connected to a support frame located on the trailer and an upper plate configured to be connected to the transmission; 
 an engine control module including a first plurality of sensors, the first plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the engine control unit connected to a terminal in an engine terminal unit located on the platform; 
 a second plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the hydraulic fracturing pumps, the second plurality of sensors connected to a fracturing pump terminal unit; and 
 a supervisory control system in communication with the engine terminal, and the fracturing pump terminal unit. 
   
     
     
         12 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises a reduction gearbox and a driveshaft and the gas turbine engine is cantilever-mounted to the reduction gearbox. 
     
     
         13 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises a multi-gear transmission. 
     
     
         14 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein the platform is a trailer. 
     
     
         15 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein each hydraulic fracturing unit further comprises an auxiliary engine connected to the platform, the auxiliary engine configured to supply power to drive one or more lubrication pumps located on the platform. 
     
     
         16 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein an absorbing portion is disposed between the base plate and the upper plate, the absorbing portion configured to compress and expand as load changes on the mount. 
     
     
         17 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , further comprising a transmission terminal unit located on the platform and configured to communicate with the supervisory control system, the transmission terminal unit including a third plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the transmission. 
     
     
         18 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 17 , wherein the second plurality of sensors and the third plurality of sensors each include a lube pressure sensor and a lube temperature sensor. 
     
     
         19 . A hydraulic fracturing unit comprising:
 a platform;   a dual-shaft gas turbine engine, a transmission, and a hydraulic fracturing pump mounted on the platform, wherein the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are aligned on the platform such that the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the transmission, and the hydraulic fracturing pump are positioned adjacent one another, wherein the transmission is mounted to the platform via a mount comprising an absorbing portion, the absorbing portion configured to compress and expand as load changes on the mount;   an engine control module including a first plurality of sensors, the first plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the dual-shaft gas turbine engine, the engine control unit connected to a terminal in an engine terminal unit located on the platform; and   a second plurality of sensors configured to generate signals indicative of parameters associated with operation of the hydraulic fracturing pumps, the second plurality of sensors connected to a fracturing pump terminal unit, wherein the engine terminal unit and the fracturing pump terminal unit are configured to communicate with a supervisory control system.   
     
     
         20 . The hydraulic fracturing unit of  claim 19 , further comprising an auxiliary motor connected to the platform, the auxiliary motor configured to drive one or more lubrication pumps located on the platform. 
     
     
         21 . The hydraulic fracturing system of  claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises a reduction gearbox and a driveshaft and the gas turbine engine is cantilever-mounted to the reduction gearbox.