Negotiating multi-controller logic for fan in mobile fracturing unit

Abstract

A mobile fracturing unit includes a first coolant pump and a second coolant pump. The unit also includes a shared radiator having a first portion fluidly connected to the first coolant pump and a second portion fluidly connected to the second coolant pump and a fan set positioned to blow across the shared radiator. The unit also includes a first controller in electrical connection with the first coolant pump and a second controller in electrical connection with the second coolant pump. In addition, the unit includes a first coolant flow temperature sensor to measure coolant flowing from the first coolant pump and in electrical communication with the first controller and a second coolant flow temperature sensor to measure coolant flowing from the second coolant pump and in electrical communication with the second controller. The first controller and the second controller jointly control the fan set.

1 . A mobile fracturing unit comprising:
 a first coolant pump associated with a first mobile fracturing pump system;   a second coolant pump associated with a second mobile fracturing pump system;   a shared radiator, the shared radiator having a first portion fluidly connected to the first coolant pump and a second portion fluidly connected to the second coolant pump;   a fan set, the fan set including one or more fans, the fan set positioned to blow across the shared radiator;   a first controller, the first controller in electrical connection with the first coolant pump;   a second controller, the second controller in electrical connection with the second coolant pump;   a first coolant flow temperature sensor adapted to measure coolant flowing from the first coolant pump, the first coolant flow temperature sensor in electrical communication with the first controller; and   a second coolant flow temperature sensor adapted to measure coolant flowing from the second coolant pump, the second coolant flow temperature sensor in electrical communication with the second controller;   wherein the first controller and the second controller are adapted to jointly control the fan set.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first coolant pump and the first controller are a part of a first mobile fracturing unit and the second coolant pump and the second controller are part of a second mobile fracturing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein both the first mobile fracturing unit and the second mobile fracturing unit are positioned on a single trailer. 
     
     
         4 . A method for cooling a shared radiator of a first mobile fracturing pump system and a second mobile fracturing pump system, the first mobile fracturing pump system and the second mobile fracturing pump system on the same trailer, the method comprising:
 providing a first coolant pump associated with a first mobile fracturing pump system and a second coolant pump associated with a second mobile fracturing pump system;   providing a shared radiator, the shared radiator having a first portion fluidly connected to the first coolant pump and a second portion fluidly connected to the second coolant pump;   providing a first controller and a second controller, the first controller electrically connected to the first coolant pump and a first coolant flow temperature sensor and the second controller electrically connected to the second coolant pump and the second flow temperature sensor;   designating the first controller or the second controller the primary controller and the first controller and the second controller not designated the primary controller designated the secondary controller;   sharing temperature data sets collected from the first coolant flow temperature sensor and the second coolant flow temperature sensor between the primary and secondary controller; and   when the primary and secondary controllers both receive the temperature data sets, operating a set of fans based on the temperature data measured by the first coolant flow temperature sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising when the secondary controller does not receive temperature data from the primary controller, operating the set of fans at a predetermined secondary set speed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined second set speed is 100% of fan speed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising when the primary controller does not receive temperature data from the secondary controller, operating the set of fans at a predetermined primary set speed. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the predetermined primary set speed is 100% of fan speed. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein if an error is determined for either the primary controller or the secondary controller, operating the fan set at the error set speed. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the error set speed is 100% of fan speed.