MPC (Multi-Pump Control)

Overview

Multi-Pump Control software is designed to control up to 24 Frac Pumps simultanously from one PC. The pumps can be controlled individually or in groups. Software allows to control and monitor all engine, transmission, pump and hydraulic system parameters. All diagnostic messages (alarms, warnings and events) and CAN J1929 DM1 messages are displayed. Additionally Overpressure Setpoint and Overpressure Setpoint Limit ensure save pump operation. 

The software communicates with pump over TCP Modbus Protocol.  

MPC Features

Engine

  • Start, stop engine
  • Throttle up/down
  • Monitoring engine oil, fuel, coolant, intercooler, charge air and system parameters

Transmission

  • Switch gear: 1-9, -, +,
  • Brake
  • Switch to neutral
  • Switch to instant neutral (switch to neutral and set engine to idle)
  • Lockup inhibit
  • Monitoring oil and speed parameters

HP Pump

  • Calibrate pressure sensor range
  • Monitoring suction, discharge oil and speed parameters

C-Pump

  • Speed control

Others

  • Overpressure setpoint, overpressure setpoint limit
  • Calculating global flow rate and global discharge total
  • Reset discharge total
  • Monitoring hydraulic parameters

Pump Control

Single Pump Control

From a Single Pump Control you can control and monitor single pump individually.

  Switch Over Control – activate pump control from MPC software

  Assign To Group – allow to control from group control bar

  Overpressure Setpoint – display and set overpressure setpoint

  Calibrate Pressure Sensor Range – short click calibrates offset, long click offset and gain

  Reset Total – reset discharge total valu to ‘0’

   Engine Throttle Up/Down – speed up or down engine

    Set Gear – increase or decrease gear

   Set Gear – switch to selected gear 1-9

   Brake – activate internal transmission brake or external brake

   Switch to Instant Neutral – switch transmission to neutral and set throttle to ‘0’

  Transmission Lockup Inhibit – activate lockup inhibit (blinking when activated)

  Lockup Indicator – displays current transmission lockup state

  Start/Stop Engine – click or click and hold to start/stop engine

  Show Details – open a window with monitored parameters / error indicators

Global Control Bar

Global Control Bar allows to control all pumps simultaneously.

  Stop engine – stop all engines

  Switch to Instant Neutral – switch all transmissions to Instant Neutral

  Calibrate Pressure Sensor Range – calibrate all pressure sensors

  Reset Total – reset all discharge totals

  C-Pump – Open C-Pump Control Window

  Overpressure Setpoint Limit – Set Global Overpressure Setpoint Limit

Group Control Bar

Group Control Bar allows to control all pumps assigned to selected group.

  Selected Group – selected Pump group to control

  Ovepressure Setpoint – set overpressure setpoint in all pumps in group

      Transmission Control – Brake, Neutral, Set Gear

  Engine Throttle Up/Down – speed up or down engine

  Sync RPM – set all engine RPM in group to the smallest engine RPM in the group

Global Total Rate And Total Discharge Box

The global total rate and total box displays calculated total discharge rate and total from all pumps.

C-Pump Control Window

C-Pump Control window allows to control each c-pump individually or globally from Global C-Pump Control Bar.

Single C-Pump control box

Global C-Pump Control Bar – allows to control all C-Pump simultanously

  C-Pump Speed – Set C-Pump speed to 0, 50, 75 or 100%

  C-Pump Speed Up/Down – Increase/Decrease C-Pump speed 

Details Window

To open Details Window click on one of the following buttons:

  Engine

  Transmission

  HP Pump

  Hydraulic system

Red symbols and blinking indicates that one or more errors occured.

Diagnostic Messages

Diagnostic Window display all warning and alarm messages

CAN Diagnostic Messages (DM1)

CAN Diagnostic Messages window display J1929 DM1 messages received from engine, transmission or pump.

For exact SPN, FMI message search in manufacturer component documentation.

Data Stream

MPC Data Stream feature allows to stream data in ASCII format to third party software in realtime. MPC acts as TCP/IP Server and accepts max 10 connections simultaneously.

Data Stream Channels

For data streaming MPC generates following channels:

  1. Timestamp
  2. Maximum Discharge Pressure all pumps
  3. Average Discharge Pressure all pumps
  4. Combined Pump Rate all pumps
  5. Combined Pump Total all pumps
  6. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
  7. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
  8. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group A
  9. Combined Pump Total pumps from group A
  10. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
  11. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
  12. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group B
  13. Combined Pump Total pumps from group B
  14. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
  15. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
  16. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group C
  17. Combined Pump Total pumps from group C
  18. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
  19. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
  20. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group D
  21. Combined Pump Total pumps from group D

For all generated channels MPC uses units from first connected pump. Mixing unit systems will cause calculating incorrect values.

Data Stream Settings

Data format can be set to meet third party software needs.

There are following options available:

  • enable/disable data streaming
  • set server port
  • Timestamp format
  • Separator between values
  • Decimal separator
  • Data Rounding
By applying settings currently generated record in selected format can be seen in preview window.

Data Logger

MPC Data Logger allows to log data in CSV file. To start logging data to file click on Data Logger on top right side on main screen.

Logging data is indicated by blinking red circle

By selected option ‘Autostart’ data logging starts automatically with program start.

In job name window user can assign a name of existing data file or start new file.

All data files are stored in default MPC folder. To navigate to that folder use ‘Open folder’ button.

Data filenames are combined from timestamp and job name:

When job name is empty filename contains only timestamp. The filename can be renamed every time even during logging to file.

Logging is possible only when minimum one pump is connected.

CSV Data File

Each CSV data file contains header with channel names and channel units. Channel units are taken from first connected pump.

In case of incorrect display in Excel program, data format must be set to meet local country settings. To change data format refer to Data Logger Setting below.

Data Logger Channels

Data logger generates following channels:

  1. Timestamp
  2. Maximum Discharge Pressure all pumps
  3. Average Discharge Pressure all pumps
  4. Combined Pump Rate all pumps
  5. Combined Pump Total all pumps
  6. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
  7. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
  8. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group A
  9. Combined Pump Total pumps from group A
  10. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
  11. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
  12. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group B
  13. Combined Pump Total pumps from group B
  14. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
  15. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
  16. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group C
  17. Combined Pump Total pumps from group C
  18. Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
  19. Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
  20. Combined Pump Rate pumps from group D
  21. Combined Pump Total pumps from group D

For all generated channels MPC uses units from first connected pump. Mixing unit systems will cause calculating incorrect values.

Data Logger Settings

In Data Logger Settings window following option are available:

  • Maximum period for keeping file on disc (1, 3, 6, or 12 months). All older files will be automatically deleted.

Data format options:

  • Timestamp format
  • Separator between values
  • Decimal separator
  • Data Rounding

MPSim (Multi-Pump Simulator)

MPSim is a Multi Pump Simulator software that allows user test almost all MPC features. MPSim is a part of MPC installation and will be installed together with MPC.

To start MPSim click on icon

MPSim simulates 24 pumps. In order of connect MPC with MPSim user has to setup IP and Port in MPC Configuration (Settings) window.

MPSim acts as 24 TCP modbus servers on local IP: 127.0.0.1 and ports accordingly 50201-50224.

 

MPC Settings

Multi Pump Control (for 5 Pumps) example configuration: