초록 ▼

A self-contained portable unit for producing a mixture of substances in response to two separate flows includes a portable trailer upon which a holding tank is mounted. Various additive channels are maintained on the trailer for introducing additives, at selectable concentrations or rates, into a fi

A self-contained portable unit for producing a mixture of substances in response to two separate flows includes a portable trailer upon which a holding tank is mounted. Various additive channels are maintained on the trailer for introducing additives, at selectable concentrations or rates, into a first flow which occurs through an inlet conduit connected to an input of the holding tank. Connected to an output of the holding tank is an outlet conduit to which an external blender device can be connected. The trailer has additional additive channels contained thereon for introducing further additives, at selectable concentrations or rates, into a second flow between the holding tank and the external device. Control of the additives is maintained by a microcomputer-based controller or a manual, back-up controller, whichever is switchably selected for each additive channel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for controlling the mixing of a plurality of substances, comprising: portable support means for being transported; a holding tank mounted on said support means; first container means, mounted on said support means, for holding a first additive; second container means, mounted o

1. An apparatus for controlling the mixing of a plurality of substances, comprising: portable support means for being transported; a holding tank mounted on said support means; first container means, mounted on said support means, for holding a first additive; second container means, mounted on said support means, for holding a second additive; inlet conduit means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path to said holding tank; outlet conduit means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said holding tank; first connector means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said first container means to said inlet conduit means; second connector means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said second container means; and control means, for controlling, in response to a flow along said inlet conduit means, the flow of said first additive from said first container means into said inlet conduit means so that a selectable amount of said first additive is added to a fluid flowing through said inlet conduit means to define a reactable mixture flowed into said holding tank, and for controlling, in response to a flow along said outlet conduit means occurring at a time after said mixture has reacted in said holding tank, the flow of said second additive from said second container means into the reacted mixture. 2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein: said first connector means includes first pump means for pumping said first additive from said first container means to said inlet conduit means; said second connector means includes second pump means for pumping said second additive from said second container means; and said control means includes: digital means for automatically controlling said first and second pump means to pump the respective additives at automatically determined rates by which preselected concentrations of said additives will be achieved; analog means for controlling said first and second pump means to pump the respective additives at manually selected rates; first switch means for selecting one of said digital means and said analog means to control said first pump means; and second switch means for selecting one of said digital means and said analog means to control said second pump means. 3. An apparatus for controlling the mixing of a plurality of substances, comprising: portable support means for being transported; a holding tank mounted on said support means; first container means, mounted on said support means, for holding a first additive; second container means, mounted on said support means, for holding a second additive; inlet conduit means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path to said holding tank; outlet conduit means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said holding tank; first connector means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said first container means to said inlet conduit means, said first connector means including first pump means for pumping said first additive from said first container means to said inlet conduit means, said first pump means including: a first pump having an inlet connected to said first container means and having an outlet connected to said inlet conduit means; and first drive means for driving said first pump; second connector means, mounted on said support means, for providing a flow path from said second container means, said second connector means including second pump means for pumping said second additive from said second container means, said second pump means including: a second pump having an inlet connected to said second container means; and second drive means for driving said second pump; and control means, for controlling, in response to a flow along said inlet conduit means, the flow of said first additive from said first container means into said inlet conduit means and for controlling, in response to a flow along said outlet conduit means, the flow of said second additive from said second container means for mixing with a flow including said first additive, said control means including: first detector means for providing a first electrical signal proportional to a speed at which said first drive means drives said first pump; second detector means for providing a second electrical signal proportional to a speed at which said second drive means drives said second pump; third detector means for providing a third electrical signal proportional to a rate at which a fluid flows through said inlet conduit means; fourth detector means for providing a fourth electrical signal proportional to a rate at which a mixture including said fluid and said first additive flows through said outlet conduit means; first digital means, responsive to said first and third electrical signals, for providing a first control signal for controlling said first drive means; and second digital means, responsive to said second and fourth electrical signals, for providing a second control signal for controlling said second drive means. 4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said control means further includes: first analog means for providing a third control signal for controlling said first drive means to drive said first pump at a preselected rate; second analog means for providing a fourth control signal for controlling said second drive means to drive said second pump at a preselected rate; and switch means for selectably connecting either said first control signal or said third control signal to said first drive means and for selectably connecting either said second control signal or said fourth control signal to said second drive means. 5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein: said first detector means includes means for providing a fifth electrical signal proportional to said speed at which said first drive means drives said first pump; said second detector means includes means for providing a sixth electrical signal proportional to said speed at which said second drive means drives said second pump; and said control means further includes match meter means, responsive to said fifth and sixth electrical signals, for visually indicating the relationships between the speeds of said first and second pumps and said preselected rates. 6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said control means includes means for detecting the pH of a substance flowing along said inlet conduit means into said holding tank. 7. An apparatus for producing a well fracturing substance utilizing water from a water source and a liquid gel concentrate from a liquid gel concentrate source and further utilizing a blender tub having an inlet line and an outlet line, said outlet line being connectible to a well, said apparatus comprising: a holding tank; inlet conduit means for connecting said water source to said holding tank; first connector means for connecting said liquid gel concentrate source to said inlet conduit means, said first connector means including first pump means for pumping said liquid gel concentrate from said liquid gel concentrate source to said inlet conduit means; first additive container means for containing an additive including a buffering agent; second connector means for connecting said first additive container means to said inlet conduit means, said second connector means including second pump means for pumping said buffering agent from said first additive container means to said inlet conduit means; third pump means, disposed in said inlet conduit means, for pumping a mixture of said water, said liquid gel concentrate and said buffering agent into said holding tank; outlet conduit means for connecting said holding tank to said blender tub; second additive container means for containing an additional additive; third connector means for connecting said second additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub, said third connector means including fourth pump means for pumping said additional additive from said second additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub; and control means for controlling said first, second and fourth pump means to pump said liquid gel concentrate and said buffering agent into said inlet conduit means and said additional additive into said outlet line of said blender in preselected proportions, said control means including: first flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said water flowing through said inlet conduit means; second flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said liquid gel concentrate flowing through said first connector means; third flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said buffering agent flowing through said second connector means; fourth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said mixture flowing through said outlet conduit means; fifth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said additional additive flowing through said third connector means; first speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said first pump means operates; second speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said second pump means operates; third speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said fourth pump means operates; concentration setting means for setting a liquid gel concentrate concentration value, a buffering agent concentration value and an additional additive concentration value; first digital means, responsive to said first flow rate detector means, said second flow rate detector means, said third flow rate detector means, said first speed detector means, said second speed detector means, said liquid gel concentrate concentration value and said buffering agent concentration value, for providing a first signal for controlling said first pump means and a second signal for controlling said second pump means; and second digital means, responsive to said fourth flow rate detector means, said fifth flow rate detector means, said third speed detector means, and said additional additive concentration value, for providing a third signal for controlling said fourth pump means. 8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said control means further includes: first electrical means for manually setting a fourth signal proportional to a rate at which said liquid gel concentrate is to flow through said first connector means; second electrical means for manually setting a fifth signal proportional to a rate at which said buffering agent is to flow through said second connector means; third electrical means for manually setting a sixth signal proportional to a rate at which said additional additive is to flow through said third connector means; first switch means for selectably connecting either said first signal or said fourth signal to said first pump means; second switch means for selectably connecting either said second signal or said fifth signal to said second pump means; and third switch means for selectably connecting either said third signal or said sixth signal to said fourth pump means. 9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, further comprising a portable trailer having disposed thereon said holding tank, said inlet conduit means, said first connector means, said first additive container means, said second connector means, said third pump means, said outlet conduit means, said second additive container means, said third connector means, said first flow rate detector means, said second flow rate detector means, said third flow rate detector means, said fifth flow rate detector means, said first speed detector means, said second speed detector means, said third speed detector means, said concentration setting means, said first digital means, said second digital means, said first electrical means, said second electrical means, said third electrical means, said first switch means, said second switch means, and said third switch means. 10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein: said apparatus further comprises: third additive container means for containing a clay stabilizing agent; fourth connector means for connecting said third additive container means to said inlet conduit means, said fourth connector means including fifth pump means for pumping said clay stabilizing agent from said third additive container means to said inlet conduit means; fourth additive container means for containing a surfactant; fifth connector means for connecting said fourth additive container means to said inlet conduit means, said fifth connector means including sixth pump means for pumping said surfactant from said fourth container means to said inlet conduit means; fifth additive container means for containing a breaker; sixth connector means for connecting said fifth additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub, said sixth connector means including seventh pump means for pumping said breaker from said fifth additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub; said additional additive includes a cross-linking agent; said control means further includes: sixth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said clay stabilizing agent flowing through said fourth connector means; seventh flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said surfactant flowing through said fifth connector means; eighth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said breaker flowing through said sixth connector means; fourth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said fifth pump means operates; fifth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said sixth pump means operates; and sixth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said seventh pump means operates; said concentration setting means includes means for setting a clay stabilizing agent concentration value, a surfactant concentration value and a breaker concentration value; said first digital means is further responsive to said sixth flow rate detector means, said seventh flow rate detector means, said fourth speed detector means, said fifth speed detector means, said clay stabilizing agent concentration value and said surfactant concentration value, for providing a seventh signal for controlling said fifth pump means and an eighth signal for controlling said sixth pump means; and said second digital means is further responsive to said eighth flow rate detector means, said sixth speed detector means and said breaker concentration value, for providing a ninth signal for controlling said seventh pump means. 11. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, further comprising a portable trailer having disposed thereon said holding tank, said inlet conduit means, said first connector means, said first additive container means, said second connector means, said third pump means, said outlet conduit means, said second additive container means, said third connector means, said first flow rate detector means, said second flow rate detector means, said third flow rate detector means, said fifth flow rate detector means, said first speed detector means, said second speed detector means, said third speed detector means, said concentration setting means, said first digital means, and said second digital means. 12. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein: said apparatus further comprises: third additive container means for containing a clay stabilizing agent; fourth connector means for connecting said third additive container means to said inlet conduit means, said fourth connector means including fifth pump means for pumping said clay stabilizing agent from said third additive container means to said inlet conduit means; fourth additive container means for containing a surfactant; fifth connector means for connecting said fourth additive container means to said inlet conduit means, said fifth connector means including sixth pump means for pumping said surfactant from said fourth container means to said inlet conduit means; fifth additive container means for containing a breaker; sixth connector means for connecting said fifth additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub, said sixth connector means including seventh pump means for pumping said breaker from said fifth additive container means to said outlet line of said blender tub; said additional additive includes a cross-linking agent; said control means further includes: sixth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said clay stabilizing agent flowing through said fourth connector means; seventh flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said surfactant flowing through said fifth connector means; eighth flow rate detector means for detecting a flow rate of said breaker flowing through said sixth connector means; fourth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said fifth pump means operates; fifth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said sixth pump means operates; and sixth speed detector means for detecting a speed at which said seventh pump means operates; said concentration setting means includes means for setting a clay stabilizing agent concentration value, a surfactant concentration value and a breaker concentration value; said first digital means is further responsive to said sixth flow rate detector means, said seventh flow rate detector means, said fourth speed detector means, said fifth speed detector means, said clay stabilizing agent concentration value and said surfactant concentration value, for providing a fourth signal for controlling said fifth pump means and a fifth signal for controlling said sixth pump means; and said second digital means is further responsive to said eighth flow rate detector means, said sixth speed detector means and said breaker concentration value, for providing a sixth signal for controlling said seventh pump means. 13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, further comprising a portable trailer having disposed thereon said holding tank, said inlet conduit means, said first connector means, said first additive container means, said second connector means, said third pump means, said outlet conduit means, said second additive container means, said third connector means, said first flow rate detector means, said second flow rate detector means, said third flow rate detector means, said fifth flow rate detector means, said first speed detector means, said second speed detector means, said third speed detector means, said concentration setting means, said first digital means, said second digital means, said third additive container means, said fourth connector means, said fourth additive container means, said fifth connector means, said fifth additive container means, said sixth connector means, said sixth flow rate detector means, said seventh flow rate detector means, said eighth flow rate detector means, said fourth speed detector means, said fifth speed detector means, and said sixth speed detector means. 14. A method for producing a fracturing substance, comprising: flowing water through a conduit; actuating a first pump to flow a liquid gel concentrate into said conduit; actuating a second pump to flow a buffering agent into said conduit; detecting the rate said water flows through said conduit; detecting the speed at which said first pump is actuated; detecting the speed at which said second pump is actuated; computing, in response to the detected rate of said water and the detected speeds of said first and second pumps, a total flow of a mixture including said water, liquid gel concentrate, and buffering agent through said conduit; entering a first numerical value representing a concentration at which said liquid gel concentrate is to be maintained in said mixture; entering a second numerical value representing a concentration at which said buffering agent is to be maintained in said mixture; controlling said step of actuating said first pump in response to said total flow, said speed at which said first pump is actuated, and said first numerical value; controlling said step of actuating said second pump in response to said total flow, said speed at which said second pump is actuated, and said second numerical value; flowing said mixture into a holding tank; flowing said mixture from said holding tank and into a blender tub having an outlet line through which said mixture flows; actuating a third pump to flow an additional additive into said outlet line of said blender tub; detecting the rate said mixture flows from said holding tank into said blender tub; detecting the speed at which said third pump is actuated; entering a third numerical value representing a concentration at which said additional additive is to be maintained in said fracturing substance including said mixture and said additional additive; and controlling said step of actuating said third pump in response to said rate at which said mixture flows from said holding tank into said blender tub, said speed at which said third pump is actuated, and said third numerical value.