U.S. patent application number 14/935102 was filed with the patent office on 2017-05-11 for strategy to manage pump interactions in multi-rig applications.
This patent application is currently assigned to CATERPILLAR INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Caterpillar Inc.. Invention is credited to Venkata Bhagavathi Dandibhotla, Evan E. Jacobson, Koti Ratnam Padarthy, Yanchai Zhang.
Application Number | 20170130712 14/935102 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58667960 |
Filed Date | 2017-05-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170130712 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhang; Yanchai ; et
al. |
May 11, 2017 |
Strategy to Manage Pump Interactions in Multi-Rig Applications
Abstract
A system for managing a pump arrangement is provided. The system
may include at least one pressure sensor configured to generate a
pressure signal indicative of a pump pressure of a targeted pump
within the pump arrangement, and at least one controller in
electrical communication with the pressure sensor. The controller
may be configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure
sensor, apply a band pass filter on the pressure signal to filter
frequencies associated with untargeted pumps, isolate at least a
base frequency of the filtered pressure signal, and detect at least
the pump pressure of the targeted pump based on the base
frequency.
Inventors: |
Zhang; Yanchai; (Dunlap,
IL) ; Dandibhotla; Venkata Bhagavathi; (Peoria,
IL) ; Jacobson; Evan E.; (Edwards, IL) ;
Padarthy; Koti Ratnam; (Edwards, IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar Inc. |
Peoria |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CATERPILLAR INC.
Peoria
IL
|
Family ID: |
58667960 |
Appl. No.: |
14/935102 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 2205/05 20130101;
F04B 47/02 20130101; F04B 49/08 20130101; F04B 49/065 20130101;
E21B 43/26 20130101; F04B 23/04 20130101; F04B 2201/1201 20130101;
F04B 2203/0209 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/08 20060101
F04B049/08; E21B 43/267 20060101 E21B043/267 |
Claims
1. A system for managing a pump arrangement, comprising: at least
one pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal
indicative of a pump pressure of a targeted pump within the pump
arrangement; and at least one controller in electrical
communication with the pressure sensor, the controller being
configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor,
apply a band pass filter on the pressure signal to filter
frequencies associated with untargeted pumps, isolate at least a
base frequency of the filtered pressure signal, and detect at least
the pump pressure of the targeted pump based on the base
frequency.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is configured
to generate pressure signals including pump pressure information
measured in terms of pump speed.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensor is configured
to generate pressure signals including pump failure information
measured in terms of vibrations in the pump.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
apply the band pass filter to isolate at least the base frequency
of the targeted pump.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
apply the band pass filter to isolate a failure frequency of the
targeted pump, and detect a pump failure of the targeted pump based
on the failure frequency.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to
detect when pump speeds of the targeted pump and one or more
untargeted pumps are substantially the same, compare amplitudes of
the detected base frequencies to a theoretical amplitude of the
base frequency of the targeted pump at the given pump speed, and
apply an adjustment factor to the pressure signal based on the
amplitude comparison to exclude base frequencies of untargeted
pumps.
7. A controller for managing a targeted pump in a pump arrangement,
comprising: a receiver module configured to receive a pressure
signal from a pressure sensor associated with the targeted pump; a
filter module configured to apply a band pass filter on the
pressure signal to filter frequencies associated with untargeted
pumps and isolate at least a base frequency of the targeted pump;
and a detection module configured to detect at least a pump
pressure of the targeted pump based on the base frequency.
8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the receiver module is
configured to receive pressure signals including pump pressure
information measured in terms of pump speed.
9. The controller of claim 7, wherein the receiver module is
configured to receive pressure signals including pump failure
information measured in terms of vibrations in the pump.
10. The controller of claim 7, wherein the filter module is
configured to center the band pass filter on at least the base
frequency of the targeted pump.
11. The controller of claim 7, wherein the filter module is
configured to apply the band pass filter to isolate a failure
frequency of the targeted pump, and the detection module is
configured to detect a pump failure of the targeted pump based on
the failure frequency.
12. The controller of claim 7, wherein the detection module is
configured to detect when pump speeds of the targeted pump and one
or more untargeted pumps are substantially the same.
13. The controller of claim 12, further comprising: a comparison
module configured to compare amplitudes of the detected base
frequencies to a theoretical amplitude of the base frequency of the
targeted pump at the given pump speed; and an adjustment module
configured to apply an adjustment factor to the pressure signal
based on the amplitude comparison to exclude base frequencies of
untargeted pumps.
14. A controller-implemented method for managing a pump arrangement
having a targeted pump and one or more untargeted pumps,
comprising: receiving a pressure signal from a pressure sensor
associated with the targeted pump; applying a band pass filter on
the pressure signal configured to filter frequencies associated
with the untargeted pumps; isolating at least a base frequency of
the targeted pump based on the filtered pressure signal; and
detecting at least a pump pressure of the targeted pump based on
the base frequency.
15. The controller-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the
pressure signal includes at least pump pressure information
measured in terms of pump speed.
16. The controller-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the
pressure signal includes pump failure information measured in terms
of vibrations in the pump.
17. The controller-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the band
pass filter is centered on the base frequency and a failure
frequency of the targeted pump.
18. The controller-implemented method of claim 17, further
comprising: isolating at least the failure frequency of the
targeted pump based on the filtered pressure signal; and detecting
at least a pump failure of the targeted pump based on the failure
frequency.
19. The controller-implemented method of claim 14, further
comprising: detecting when pump speeds of the targeted pump and one
or more untargeted pumps are substantially the same; comparing
amplitudes of the detected base frequencies to a theoretical
amplitude of the base frequency of the targeted pump at a given
pump speed; and applying an adjustment factor to the pressure
signal based on the amplitude comparison to exclude base
frequencies of untargeted pumps.
20. The controller-implemented method of claim 19, wherein detected
failure frequencies caused by interactions with pressure sensors
associated with one or more untargeted pumps are also excluded
based on amplitude comparisons and adjustment factors.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to pump management
systems, and more particularly, to systems and methods for managing
interactions between pump sensors in a multi-rig application.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A hydraulic fracturing or fracking application generally
involves the use of multiple rigs, each having a fracking fluid
pump that is connected to a common manifold being supported by a
missile trailer. The manifold is further configured to deliver the
collective pressurized fluid to a wellhead and to equipment further
downstream. Furthermore, each pump is provided with a pressure
sensor which monitors the pump for existing or anticipated fault
conditions. Pressure sensors may typically monitor pump health
based on the discharge pressure or other pump attributes. In such
fracking environments, or in any other multi-rig, multi-pump
application where two or more pumps are situated in relatively
close proximity to one another and share a common manifold, there
may be noticeable unwanted interactions between the adjacent pump
pressures, which may adversely affect and compromise the overall
integrity of the management system.
[0003] In a typical multi-rig application, for instance, a pressure
sensor that is designated for a particular, targeted pump may
inadvertently detect or receive pressure fluctuations caused by or
originating from adjacent and untargeted pumps, in addition to
those pressures originating from the targeted pump. Although some
of the undesired interferences may be filtered out using signal
processes already built into the pressure monitoring system, this
is only possible when the base and/or harmonic frequencies of the
desired and undesired pressure signals, among others, are
sufficiently distinguishable by the signal processes. More
specifically, conventional pressure monitoring systems are unable
to filter out undesired pressure readings or interference from
untargeted pumps and isolating the desired pressure readings from
the targeted pump if the base and/or harmonic frequencies
coincide.
[0004] Although filtering schemes for use with pressure monitoring
systems may be available, there is still room for improvement. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,830,749 ("Kyllingstad") discloses a method
of filtering that can be used with pressure gauges designed to
measure the discharge pressure of a piston pump. Moreover,
Kyllingstad is directed to filtering out noise attributed to the
operation of the pump itself using mathematical noise models
specific to the given pump, and thereby providing a cleaner reading
of the pump condition. While the methods disclosed in Kyllingstad
filter undesired noise, Kyllingstad is unable to filter and/or
distinguish between signals originating from two or more pumps when
the pumps are operating at similar pump speeds, such as in a
multi-pump fracking site or other multi-rig application.
[0005] In view of the foregoing disadvantages associated with
conventional pressure monitoring systems, a need therefore exists
for a more reliable solution that can easily be implemented in any
applicable multi-pump or multi-rig arrangement. Moreover, there is
a need to provide a pressure monitoring system which efficiently
and effectively accounts for undesired interactions between
neighboring pumps within a multi-pump arrangement, such as in a
fracking site, to provide more accurate indications of the
condition of each of the plurality of pumps.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0006] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for
managing a pump arrangement is provided. The system may include at
least one pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure signal
indicative of a pump pressure of a targeted pump within the pump
arrangement, and at least one controller in electrical
communication with the pressure sensor. The controller may be
configured to receive the pressure signal from the pressure sensor,
apply a band pass filter on the pressure signal to filter
frequencies associated with untargeted pumps, isolate at least a
base frequency of the filtered pressure signal, and detect at least
the pump pressure of the targeted pump based on the base
frequency.
[0007] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a controller
for managing a targeted pump in a pump arrangement is provided. The
controller may include a receiver module, a filter module, and a
detection module. The receiver module may be configured to receive
a pressure signal from a pressure sensor associated with the
targeted pump. The filter module may be configured to apply a band
pass filter on the pressure signal to filter frequencies associated
with untargeted pumps and isolate at least a base frequency of the
targeted pump. The detection module may be configured to detect at
least a pump pressure of the targeted pump based on the base
frequency.
[0008] In yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a
controller-implemented method for managing a pump arrangement
having a targeted pump and one or more untargeted pumps is
provided. The controller-implemented method may include receiving a
pressure signal from a pressure sensor associated with the targeted
pump; applying a band pass filter on the pressure signal configured
to filter frequencies associated with the untargeted pumps;
isolating at least a base frequency of the targeted pump based on
the filtered pressure signal; and detecting at least a pump
pressure of the targeted pump based on the base frequency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of one exemplary pump
management system that is implemented at a fracturing site;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of one exemplary pump
management system of the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of one exemplary
controller of a pump management system of the present
disclosure;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a graphical illustration of a pressure signal
corresponding to the discharge pressure of a targeted pump;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a graphical illustration of base and harmonic
frequencies of the pressure signal of FIG. 4;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a graphical illustration of pressure signals
corresponding to the discharge pressures of a targeted pump and
untargeted pumps;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a graphical illustration of base and harmonic
frequencies of the pressure signals of FIG. 6;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration of a band pass filter
being applied onto pressure signals originating from targeted and
untargeted pumps having sufficiently distinguishable pump
speeds;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration of a band pass filter
being applied onto pressure signals originating from targeted and
untargeted pumps having substantially the same pump speeds; and
[0018] FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating one exemplary method of
the present disclosure for managing pump interactions.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, one exemplary pump management
system 100 that may be implemented at a fracturing site 102 and
used to manage interactions between pumps is provided. As shown,
the fracturing site 102 may include a multi-rig application, or
sets of rigs, trucks or trailers each performing a designated role
necessary for fracking at a given wellhead 104. For example, a
fracturing site 102 may generally include water supply rigs 106 for
storing water, chemical storage rigs 108 for storing chemicals to
be mixed with the water, mineral storage rigs 110 for storing sand
or other minerals to be used for fracking, blender rigs 112 for
mixing the chemicals and sand with water, pump rigs 114 which pump
and pressurize the mixture to be discharged, and a manifold rig 116
which combines the mixture discharged by each of the pump rigs 114
and sends the pressurized mixture into the wellhead 104. The
fracturing site 102 may further include a local data center 118
from which the fracking operations may be managed. Furthermore, the
pump management system 100 may be implemented directly on the one
or more of the pump rigs 114, within the data center 118, or
combinations thereof. In still further alternatives, the pump
management system 100 may be partially implemented and/or operated
from a remote site via one or more wired and/or wireless
networks.
[0020] Turning to FIG. 2, one exemplary embodiment of the pump
management system 100 that is implemented in relation to a set of
pump rigs 114 and an associated pump arrangement 120 is provided.
In general, the pump management system 100 may include one or more
pressure sensors 122 and one or more controllers 124 in electrical
communication with the pressure sensors 122. Moreover, each
individual pressure sensor 122 may be disposed in fluid
communication with a discharge port of an associated or targeted
hydraulic pump 126 and configured to generate a pressure signal
indicative of at least pump pressure information of the targeted
pump 126. Each pressure sensor 122 may also generate a pressure
signal that is additionally indicative of pump failure information,
or information relating to any detected or anticipated fault
conditions or failures in the targeted pump 126. Pump pressure
information may be monitored, measured or derived based on pump
speed, discharge pressure, or the like, while pump failure
information may be monitored, measured or derived based on pump
speed, discharge pressure, vibrations in the pump 126, or the
like.
[0021] Still referring to FIG. 2, the pump management system 100
may employ any one of a variety of different arrangements of
controllers 124. As shown, a controller 124 may be provided for
each individual pump rig 114, and configured to communicate with
the pressure sensor 122 and/or pump 126 associated therewith.
Alternatively, a central controller 124 may be provided and
configured to communicate with multiple pressure sensors 122 and/or
associated pumps 126. In other embodiments, two or more of
controllers 124 may operate in conjunction with one another to
collectively communicate with a single pressure sensor 122 and/or
associated pump 126. Additionally, one or more of the controllers
124 may be remotely situated relative to the fracturing site 102
and configured to indirectly communicate with one or more of the
pressure sensors 122 via networking devices, or the like.
Furthermore, while the controllers 124 may be directly integrated
into the electronic control module (ECM) or electronic control unit
(ECU) of the associated pump rig 114, the controllers 124 may
alternatively be implemented using any one or more of a processor,
a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a field programmable gate
array (FPGA), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), or any other
device that can be operated in accordance with preprogrammed
instructions and/or algorithms disclosed herein.
[0022] Turning to FIG. 3, one exemplary embodiment of a controller
124 that may be used in conjunction with the pump management system
100 is provided. As shown, for example, the controller 124 may be
preprogrammed according to one or more algorithms generally
categorized into a receiver module 128, a filter module 130, a
detection module 132, a comparison module 134, and an adjustment
module 136. The receiver module 128 may be configured to receive
pressure signals 138, as shown in FIG. 4 for example, from one or
more pressure sensors 122 associated with the targeted pump 126,
where the pressure signals 138 may include pump pressure
information, pump failure information, and any other relevant
information the associated pressure sensor 122 is capable of
reading. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 5, the pressure
signals 138 may include a base frequency 140 and one or more
harmonic frequencies 142, which may correspond to the pump speed,
discharge pressure, and/or other attributes of the targeted pump
126. In other embodiments, the pressure signals 138 may similarly
include a failure frequency that is indicative of any faults or
failures in the targeted pump 126.
[0023] In actual practice, such as during a multi-rig fracking
application, a given pressure sensor 122 and/or corresponding
controller 124 may pick up on not only the pressure signals 138-1
from targeted pumps 126-1, but also pick up on unwanted pressure
signals 138-2, 138-3 originating from untargeted pumps 126-2,
126-3, as illustrated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 6, for example,
the receiver module 128 of the controller 124 may receive pressure
signals 138-2, 138-3 originating from one or more adjacent
untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3 in addition to the desired pressure
signals 138-1 originating from the targeted pump 126-1. As further
shown in FIG. 7, the interaction of pressure signals 138 received
may reflect multiple base frequencies 140 and multiple sets of
harmonic frequencies 142 corresponding to the pump speeds and/or
discharge pressures of the untargeted pumps 126. Thus, the filter
module 130 of FIG. 3 may apply the appropriate filters configured
to filter out any unwanted base frequencies 140-2, 140-3 associated
with untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3 that may be included in the
pressure signals 138 due to pump interactions, and isolate the base
frequency 140-1 and any failure frequencies associated with the
targeted pump 126-1.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 8, for example, the filter module 130 may
be configured to apply a band pass filter 144 that is centered on
at least the base frequency 140-1 of the targeted pump 126-1. By
applying the band pass filter 144 on the pressure signals 138, the
controller 124 may be able to filter out other undesired
frequencies which may have been inadvertently received. Similarly,
the filter module 130 may also be configured to center a band pass
filter 144 on a failure frequency of the targeted pump 126-1 so as
to filter out any other failure frequencies originating from
untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3. Based on the filtered pressure
signals 138 and the isolated base frequency 140-1, the detection
module 132 of the controller 124 may be configured to detect the
discharge pressure of the targeted pump 126-1. The detection module
132 may also be configured to detect pump failures of the targeted
pump 126-1 based on any failure frequencies that may be present in
the filtered pressure signals 138. In certain situations, however,
the band pass filter 144 may not be sufficient to isolate the base
frequency 140-1 of a targeted pump 126-1 if, for instance, the base
frequencies 140-2, 140-3, or corresponding pump speeds and/or
discharge pressures, of the untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3 are
substantially the same as those of the targeted pump 126-1. Such
situations may demand additional signal processes.
[0025] As shown in FIG. 9, for example, the base frequency 140-1 of
the targeted pump 126-1 may be the substantially the same as the
base frequencies 140-2, 140-3 of an untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3.
Moreover, the two base frequencies shown may be indistinguishable
by the band pass filter 144 provided. In order to prevent such
interactions from causing inaccurate pressure readings, the
detection module 132 may also be configured to monitor pump speeds
of the targeted pump 126-1 and the untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3.
For example, the detection module 132 may detect for situations
where the pump speeds of the targeted pump 126-1 and one or more
untargeted pumps 126-2, 126-3 are substantially the same, or for
any other situation that could potentially result in overlapping or
substantially similar base frequencies 140 as shown in FIG. 9.
While adjustments to the band pass filter 144 may be one way to
isolate the base frequency 140-1 of the targeted pump 126-1, the
controller 124 may implement amplitude-based techniques for
isolating the base frequency 140-1 of the targeted pump 126-1.
[0026] If the detection module 132 detects that the pump speeds of
the targeted pump 126-1 and one or more untargeted pumps 126-2,
126-3 are substantially the same, the comparison module 134 of the
controller 124 may compare the amplitudes of the base frequencies
140 provided in the pressure signals 138 to a theoretical amplitude
or threshold 146 as shown in FIG. 9. The comparison module 134 may
determine or lookup the theoretical amplitude or threshold 146
based on the given pump speed of the targeted pump 126-1 by
referring to a theoretical pump model, map, lookup table, or any
other set of relationships between the pump speed and pressure
signal amplitudes that may be preprogrammed into the controller
124. Additionally, the adjustment module 136 of the controller 124
may be configured to apply an adjustment factor to the pressure
signals 138 based on the comparisons assessed by the comparison
module 134, so as to eliminate or reduce any existing base
frequencies 140-2, 140-3 originating from the untargeted pumps
126-2, 126-3. In alternative embodiments, the controller 124 may be
preprogrammed according to other combinations or arrangements of
modules configured to collectively provide comparable results. For
instance, the controller 124 may be programmed to perform
amplitude-based assessments other than those performed by the
comparison module 134 and the adjustment module 136 in order to
isolate the base frequency 140 of the targeted pump 126.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0027] In general terms, the present disclosure sets forth
techniques for managing a pump arrangement, or more particularly,
systems and methods for managing interactions between an
arrangement of pumps simultaneously operating in fluid
communication with one another. Although applicable to any type of
pump monitoring or management system, the present disclosure may be
particularly applicable to pump arrangements in a multi-rig
application, such as in a fracturing application, where multiple
hydraulic pumps are used to discharge pressurized fluids into a
common manifold and where the individual pump pressures are
susceptible to influence by pressures from neighboring pumps. In
general, the present disclosure employs a combination of band pass
filters and theoretical pump models to manage pump interactions.
More specifically, the band pass filters are used to filter out
unwanted pressure signals originating from untargeted pumps, and
isolate the desired pressure signals originating from the targeted
pump. In the event an untargeted pump is operating at a pump speed
that is substantially the same as that of the targeted pump, the
theoretical pump model is used a reference, which can further be
used to compare the respective amplitudes of the pressure signals
at the appropriate frequencies, and distinguish between pressure
signals belonging to the targeted pump and more attenuated pressure
signals belonging to any untargeted pumps.
[0028] One exemplary algorithm or controller-implemented method 148
for managing interactions between hydraulic pumps 126 within a
multi-pump arrangement 120 is diagrammatically provided in FIG. 10.
As shown, the controller 124 in block 148-1 may be configured to
continuously, periodically or intermittently receive pressure
signals 138 from a pressure sensor 122 of a targeted pump 126,
where the pressure signals 138 may include information pertaining
to the pump speed, discharge pressure, fault events, and the like.
In block 148-2, the controller 124 may be configured to monitor the
pump speed of the targeted pump 126 relative to the pump speeds of
adjacent untargeted pumps 126 to determine if the pump speeds are
substantially the same. If the pump speed of the targeted pump 126
is sufficiently distinguishable from those of other surrounding
pumps 126, the controller 124 may proceed to block 148-3 and apply
one or more band pass filters 144 onto the pressure signals 138.
Moreover, the band pass filter 144 may be centered on the base
frequency 140, one or more harmonic frequencies 142 thereof, and
any failure frequencies of the targeted pump 126, so as to filter
out undesired frequencies belonging to untargeted pumps 126 which
may have been inadvertently received. Based on the filtered
pressure signals 138, the base frequency 140 and any harmonic
frequency 142 and/or failure frequency associated therewith, the
controller 124 in block 148-4 may be configured to extract
information related to the discharge pressure, fault or failure
events, and any other information relevant to the targeted pump
126.
[0029] If, however, the controller 124 in block 148-2 of FIG. 10
determines that the pump speed of the targeted pump 126 is not
sufficiently distinguishable from an untargeted pump 126, the
controller 124 may proceed to block 148-5. More specifically, the
controller 124 in block 148-5 may apply one or more band pass
filters 144 onto the pressure signals 138 in a manner configured to
filter out undesired frequencies belonging to any untargeted pumps
126. The controller 124 in block 148-6 may additionally compare the
amplitudes of the pressure signal 138 at the appropriate
frequencies, such as at the base frequency 140, harmonic
frequencies 142 and/or the failure frequency, with theoretical
amplitudes which may be derived from a preprogrammed theoretical
pump model, or the like. Based on the amplitude comparisons, the
controller 124 may be able to distinguish between amplitudes
belonging to pressure signals 138 originating from the targeted
pump 126, and more attenuated amplitudes belonging to pressure
signals 138 originating from untargeted pumps 126. Furthermore, the
controller 124 in block 148-7 may apply the appropriate adjustment
factors to the pressure signals 138 based on the previous
comparisons in a manner configured to eliminate or sufficiently
reduce the undesired remnants in the pressures signals 138
originating from the untargeted pumps 126, and extract information
related to the discharge pressure, fault or failure events, and any
other information relevant to the targeted pump 126.
[0030] The controller 124 may thus obtain or determine the desired
pump information, such as information related to the discharge
pressure, fault or failure events, and any other information
relevant to the targeted pump 126, via either block 148-4 or block
148-7 of FIG. 10. The controller 124 in block 148-8 may
additionally process the extracted information for further
diagnostics and prognostics, which may be used for managing the
pump arrangement 120. Alternatively, the controller 124 may forward
any extracted information to a central controller 124 and/or a data
center 118 where more suitable resources for performing the
diagnostics and prognostics may be available. From the foregoing,
it will be appreciated that while only certain embodiments have
been set forth for the purposes of illustration, alternatives and
modifications will be apparent from the above description to those
skilled in the art. These and other alternatives are considered
equivalents and within the spirit and scope of this disclosure and
the appended claims.
* * * * *