Methods, Systems, and Computer Readable Media for Sectional-Based Speed Control of a Linear Pump

Abstract

Described are methods, systems, and computer readable media for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly. The method can include the steps of setting the speed of a first stroke of the pump assembly to a first value and setting the speed of a second stroke of the pump assembly to a second value, modifying the speed of the first stroke while the pump is engaged in an upstroke, and modifying the speed of the second stroke while the pump is engaged in a downstroke through manual or automatic configuration processes. The computer readable medium can include an application that can be adapted to execute instructions that can configure the upstrokes and downstroke of the pump. Through these automatic or manual configuration parameters, a linear pump can execute fully configurable multiple speed settings within a stroke on the pump assembly, thus increasing the pump's efficiency irrespective of pump fillage. The methods and systems described herein are applicable to a variety of pump assemblies, including linear rod pumps, hydraulic rod pumps, artificial lift systems, and the like.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 setting the initial speed of the pump assembly to a first, initial value; and   modifying the speed of the pump assembly throughout the upstroke and downstroke of the pump assembly during operation;   wherein the upstroke and the downstroke speeds are configurable throughout the range of the upstroke and downstroke cycles.   
     
     
         2 . A method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
 setting the speed of a first stroke of the pump assembly to a first value;   setting the speed of a second stroke of the pump assembly to a second value;   modifying the speed of the first stroke while the pump is engaged in an upstroke; and   modifying the speed of the second stroke while the pump is engaged in a downstroke;   wherein the first and second values are configurable throughout the upstroke and downstroke, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the step of modifying the speed of the first stroke further includes decreasing the speed of the pump to equate to a third value subsequent to the pump completing approximately 80% of its upstroke. 
     
     
         4 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the step of modifying the speed of the upstroke at a position includes determining a stroke position that is equivalent to a range from a first position near the start of the upstroke to a second position near the end of the upstroke. 
     
     
         5 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of setting the speed of the second stroke further includes setting the speed to a value greater than the third value. 
     
     
         6 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the step of modifying the speed of the second stroke further includes decreasing the speed of the pump to equate to a fourth value subsequent to the pump completing approximately 80% of its downstroke. 
     
     
         7 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the step of setting the speed of the first stroke further includes setting the speed to a value greater than the fourth value. 
     
     
         8 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the upstroke speed near the beginning of the upstroke or downstroke position is modified to a setting equal to, less than, or greater than the last recorded run speed value. 
     
     
         9 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly of  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the pump assembly is a linear rod pump, a hydraulic rod pump, or an artificial lift pump assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the speed change position or location is a value based on a manual value entered by an operator, and/or a calculated value based on system data, system analysis, system diagnostic information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the speed change value is a predefined valued based on a manual value entered by a user, and/or a calculated value based on system data, system analysis, system diagnostic information, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein the speed change and the corresponding location position are adjusted a plurality of times through the stroke. 
     
     
         13 . A computer readable medium configured to store an application for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly, the application being adapted to execute instruction, comprising:
 controlling the speed of the pump assembly throughout the stroke cycle; and   modifying the speed a plurality of times throughout the stroke cycle.   
     
     
         14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the pump assembly is selected from the group consisting of linear rod pumps, hydraulic rod pumps, and artificial lift pump assemblies. 
     
     
         15 . A computer readable medium configured to store an application for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly, wherein the application is adapted to execute instructions, comprising:
 controlling the speed of a first stroke and a second stroke of a linear pump;   modifying the speed of the first stroke a plurality of times while the pump is engaged in an upstroke; and   modifying the speed of the second stroke a plurality of times while the pump is engaged in a downstroke;   wherein the step of controlling the speed of the first and second stokes comprises configuring the speeds of the upstroke and downstroke, respectively.   
     
     
         16 . A system for adjusting the speed control of a pump, the system comprising:
 a pump assembly, wherein the pump assembly is adapted to perform an upstroke and a downstroke at a first and second speed, respectively; and   a control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to execute instructions, comprising:
 modifying the speed of the upstroke while the pump assembly is engaged in an upstroke; and 
 modifying the speed of the downstroke while the pump assembly is engaged in a downstroke; 
   wherein the step of modifying the speed of the first and second stokes comprises configuring the speeds of the upstroke and downstroke, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . A system for adjusting the speed control of a pump assembly, the system comprising:
 a pump adapted to perform a plurality of speed change operations within a stroke;   a control unit, wherein the application is adapted to execute instructions, comprising:   controlling the speed of the pump;   modifying the speed of the pump on a plurality of times throughout the stroke, and   HMI and/or a communication infrastructure wherein speed change and the corresponding position/location values are set.