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:
- Timestamp
- Maximum Discharge Pressure all pumps
- Average Discharge Pressure all pumps
- Combined Pump Rate all pumps
- Combined Pump Total all pumps
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group A
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group A
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group B
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group B
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group C
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group C
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group D
- 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
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:
- Timestamp
- Maximum Discharge Pressure all pumps
- Average Discharge Pressure all pumps
- Combined Pump Rate all pumps
- Combined Pump Total all pumps
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group A
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group A
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group A
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group B
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group B
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group B
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group C
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group C
- Combined Pump Total pumps from group C
- Maximum Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
- Average Discharge Pressure pumps from group D
- Combined Pump Rate pumps from group D
- 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: