Blending Apparatus with an Integrated Energy Source and Related Methods

Abstract

Blending apparatuses and related methods and computer program products are disclosed. In an aspect, blending apparatuses and related methods and computer program products of the present disclosure may include at least one energy source associated with the blending apparatuses such that at least one energy source may be used to provide at least one portion of the energy required for a given blending apparatus to function, thereby reducing or eliminating need for a separate energy source to power the blending apparatus, which reduces the overall spatial footprint required by the blending apparatus and other device(s) associated therewith. Energy generated by the at least one energy source may also be used to power one or more additional devices. Blending apparatuses of the present disclosure may additionally comprise at least one control station that allows one or more users to monitor, adjust, control, interact with the blending apparatuses, thereby increasing efficiency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A blending apparatus configured to be at least partially self-powered, wherein the blending apparatus comprises:
 at least one energy source configured proximal to the blending apparatus;   wherein the blending apparatus is configured to combine at least two substances together to form a third substance.   
     
     
         2 . The blending apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source is affixed to at least one portion of the blending apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . The blending apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises at least one of: a turbine generator, a switched reluctance motor, a windmill, a solar panel, and a battery. 
     
     
         4 . The blending apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one energy source is configured to utilize at least one fuel; wherein the at least one fuel comprises at least one of: natural gas, compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, condensate, gasoline, sunlight, electricity, and wind. 
     
     
         5 . The blending apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blending apparatus and the at least one energy source are configured upon at least one of: a single trailer, a single skid, a single vehicle, a single container, and a single transportable package. 
     
     
         6 . The blending apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blending apparatus further comprises:
 at least one control station configured to control at least one aspect of at least one of: the blending apparatus and the at least one energy source;   wherein the at least one control station is configured proximal to the blending apparatus;   wherein the at least one control station comprises at least one computing device.   
     
     
         7 . The blending apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one control station is affixed to at least one portion of the blending apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The blending apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one energy source is configured to supply at least one amount of energy to at least one additional device. 
     
     
         9 . The blending apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one additional device comprises at least one of: a pumping mechanism, a hydration unit, a chemical additive unit, a gel tanker, an acid tanker, at least one piece of sand equipment, and at least one piece of water equipment. 
     
     
         10 . A method for supplying at least one amount of usable energy to at least one device from at least one blending apparatus that comprises at least one energy source, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one energy source to the at least one device, wherein the at least one energy source is configured proximal to the at least one blending apparatus;   generating the at least one amount of usable energy via the at least one energy source; and   delivering the at least one amount of usable energy to the at least one device.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one energy source is affixed to at least one portion of the at least one blending apparatus. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises at least one of: a turbine generator, a switched reluctance motor, a windmill, a solar panel, and a battery. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one energy source is configured to utilize at least one fuel; wherein the at least one fuel comprises at least one of: natural gas, compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, condensate, gasoline, sunlight, electricity, and wind. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blending apparatus and the at least one energy source are configured upon at least one of: a single trailer, a single skid, a single vehicle, a single container, and a single transportable package. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one blending apparatus further comprises:
 at least one control station configured to control at least one aspect of at least one of: the at least one blending apparatus and the at least one energy source;   wherein the at least one control station is configured proximal to the at least one blending apparatus;   wherein the at least one control station comprises at least one computing device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one control station is affixed to at least one portion of the at least one blending apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one device comprises at least one of: the at least one blending apparatus, an electric motor, a pumping mechanism, a hydration unit, a chemical additive unit, a gel tanker, an acid tanker, a piece of sand equipment, and piece of water equipment. 
     
     
         18 . A method for combining at least two substances together to form a third substance, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving at least two substances within at least one portion of at least one blending apparatus;   combining the at least two substances together to form a third substance via the at least one blending apparatus; and   delivering the third substance to at least one device;   wherein the at least one blending apparatus comprise at least one energy source configured proximal to the at least one blending apparatus.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one energy source is affixed to at least one portion of the at least one blending apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one energy source comprises at least one of: a turbine generator, a switched reluctance motor, a windmill, a solar panel, and a battery; wherein the at least one energy source is configured to utilize at least one fuel; wherein the at least one fuel comprises at least one of: natural gas, compressed natural gas, diesel fuel, condensate, gasoline, sunlight, electricity, and wind.