Split refrigerant compressor for the liquefaction of natural gas
AssigneeNuovo Pignone Technologie SRL
InventorsAngelo Grimaldi, Antonio Pelagotti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compressor system is disclosed, including a first compressor unit having: at least a first gas inlet at a first gas pressure level; a second gas inlet at a second gas pressure level; and a gas discharge; a second compressor unit having: at least a third gas inlet at a third gas pressure level; a fourth gas inlet at a fourth gas pressure level; and a gas delivery. The gas discharge of the first compressor unit is fluidly coupled to one of the third gas inlet and fourth gas inlet of the second compressor unit.
Claims14
A compressor system for compressing a first refrigerant comprising:
- a first compressor unit comprising:
- a first gas inlet that is configured to receive the first refrigerant at a first gas pressure level;
- a second gas inlet that is configured to receive the first refrigerant at a second gas pressure level and is located downstream of the first gas inlet;
- and a gas discharge located downstream of the second gas inlet;
- and
- a second compressor unit comprising:
- a third gas inlet that is configured to receive the first refrigerant at a third gas pressure level;
- a fourth gas inlet that is configured to receive the first refrigerant at a fourth gas pressure level and is located downstream of the third gas inlet;
- wherein the gas discharge of the first compressor unit is fluidly coupled to the fourth gas inlet of the second compressor unit;
- wherein the fourth gas pressure level is higher than the first gas pressure level and higher than the second gas pressure level, and the second gas pressure level is higher than the first gas pressure level;
- and
- wherein (i) if the second gas pressure level is lower than the third pressure level, then the flow rate through a compression stage from the third gas inlet to fourth gas inlet is reduced, and (ii) if the second gas pressure level is higher than the third pressure level, then the flow rate through a compression stage from the second gas inlet to fourth gas inlet is reduced.
A method for compressing a first refrigerant by using a first compressor unit comprising:
- a first gas inlet;
- a second gas inlet located downstream of the first gas inlet;
- and a gas discharge located downstream of the second gas inlet and a second compressor unit comprising:
- a third gas inlet;
- a fourth gas inlet located downstream of the third gas inlet, the method comprising:
- introducing a single gas flow of the first refrigerant at a first gas pressure level into the first gas inlet;
- introducing a single gas flow of the first refrigerant at a second gas pressure level into the second gas inlet;
- introducing a gas flow of the first refrigerant at a third gas pressure level into the third gas inlet;
- introducing a gas flow of the first refrigerant at a fourth gas pressure level into the fourth gas inlet;
- and
- introducing a gas flow of the first refrigerant from the first compressor unit into the fourth gas inlet of the second compressor unit,
- wherein the fourth gas pressure level is higher than the first gas pressure level and higher than the second gas pressure level, and the second gas pressure level is higher than the first gas pressure;
- and
- wherein (i) if the second gas pressure level is lower than the third pressure level, then the flow rate through a compression stage from the third gas inlet to fourth gas inlet is reduced, and (ii) if the second gas pressure level is higher than the third pressure level, then the flow rate through a compression stage from the second gas inlet to fourth gas inlet is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.