Gas compression cooling system

A multi-stage gas compression system for compression of gas at the production site of a natural gas well or at central collection points of a natural gas gathering system, the system comprising:

• an inlet port for receiving natural gas to be compressed, a reciprocating compressor, and an outlet port for delivering compressed natural gas from the reciprocating compressor to a discharge line;
• the reciprocating compressor comprising a plurality of cylinders, each cylinder comprising an inlet cylinder valve and an outlet cylinder valve, the cylinders being configured in series to provide a flow pattern for staged compression of the natural gas, between the inlet port and the outlet port;
• a plurality of intercoolers, each intercooler comprising:
• a pipe having an exterior surface and being coupled with an outlet cylinder valve of one cylinder and an inlet cylinder valve of another cylinder for conveying the natural gas from one cylinder to another cylinder, in the flow pattern;
• a variable speed, independently controlled fan, positioned in proximity of the intercooler pipe to provide cooling to the natural gas in the pipe, which fan is powered by a compression system engine which also supplies energy to the compressor;
• wherein each intercooler moves air along the exterior surface of the pipe resulting in an adjustable rate of cooling differentiable among the intercoolers;
• a control system coupled with the intercoolers, the control system comprising a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor being coupled with the pipe of one of the intercoolers, respectively, to measure the temperature of the natural gas in the pipe and generate and transmit measured temperature signals representing the measured temperature of the natural gas in the pipe of the respective intercooler,
• wherein the control system receives and compares the measured temperature signal from each of the temperature sensors to an optimal temperature or temperature range for the respective intercooler, generates a control signal based upon the comparison and transmits the control signal to the respective intercooler;
• and
• wherein each of the intercoolers receives the respective control signal from the control system and adjusts the voltage supplied to the fan of the intercooler, resulting in a change in the rotational blade speed of the fan in direct proportion to the voltage supplied to the fan, thereby adjusting the rate of cooling provided by the intercooler based upon the control signal received by the intercooler.