US 12,492,695 B2Granted

Reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor

AssigneeFlowco MasterCo LLC

InventorsWilliam Elmer, Will Nelle

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments include a reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor having a first-stage compression cylinder, a second-stage compression cylinder, and two stepped cylinders. Each of the stepped cylinders include first and second compression cylinders. The gas flow paths through the stepped cylinders are configured in a user-selectable configuration to be in series or in parallel so that the reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor functions as one of: a three-stage compressor, as a four-stage compressor, and as a hybrid three/four stage compressor. In first and second configurations, the system generates four stages of compression and outputs 4-stage compressed gas through a single exit port, and through dual exit ports, respectively. In a third configuration, the system outputs hot and cooled 3-stage compressed gas through first and second ports and 4-stage compressed gas through a third port. In a fourth configuration, the system outputs hot and cooled 3-stage compressed gas with no 4-stage compressed gas.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor system, comprising:

a first-stage compression cylinder configured to output first-stage compressed gas;
a second-stage compression cylinder configured to receive the first-stage compressed gas and output second-stage compressed gas;
a first stepped cylinder having a first larger bore stage and a first smaller bore stage;
a second stepped cylinder having a second larger bore stage and a second smaller bore stage;
a first inlet plumbing line fluidly connected to an outlet of the second-stage compressor to receive the second stage compressed gas and fluidly connected to inlets of the first and second larger bore stages;
a first outlet plumbing line fluidly connected to outlets of the first and second larger bore stages;
a second inlet plumbing line connected to inlets of the first and second smaller bore stages, wherein the second inlet plumbing line is selectively fluidly connected to and fluidly isolated from the first inlet plumbing line by a first valve;
a second outlet plumbing line connected to outlets of the first and second smaller bore stages, wherein the second outlet plumbing line is selectively fluidly connected to and fluidly isolated from the first outlet plumbing line by a second valve;
a third valve disposed in the second inlet plumbing line that selectively fluidly connects and fluidly isolates the inlets of the first and second smaller bore stages;
a fourth valve disposed in the second outlet plumbing line that selectively fluidly connects and fluidly isolates the outlets of the first and second smaller bore stages;
a connecting plumbing line fluidly connecting the first outlet plumbing line to the second plumbing inlet line, wherein the first outlet plumbing line selectively fluidly connected to and fluidly isolated from the second inlet plumbing line by a fifth valve;
wherein gas flow paths through the stepped cylinders as defined by selective connection and isolation of the first through fifth valves allow the reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor to function as one of:
a three-stage compressor, as a four-stage compressor, and as a hybrid three/four stage compressor.

10 more elements

A reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor system, comprising:

a first-stage compression cylinder configured to output first-stage compressed gas,
a second-stage compression cylinder configured to receive the first-stage compressed gas and output second-stage compressed gas;
a first stepped cylinder having a first compression cylinder and a second compression cylinder;
a second stepped cylinder having a first compression cylinder and a second compression cylinder;
wherein the first compression cylinders of the first and second stepped cylinders are plumbed in parallel between a first inlet line and a first outlet line;
wherein the second compression cylinders of the first and second stepped cylinders are plumbed in parallel between a second inlet line and a second outlet line;
a first valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting the first inlet line and the second inlet line;
a second valve for selectively connecting and disconnecting the first outlet line and the second outlet line;
a bypass line fluidly connecting the first outlet line to the second inlet line;
and
a third valve in the bypass line for selectively connecting the first outlet line and the second inlet line;
a fourth valve disposed in the second inlet line for selective ting and isolating inlets of the second compression cylinders of the first and second stepped cylinders;
a fifth valve disposed in the second outlet line for selectively connecting and isolating outlets of the second compression cylinders of the first and second stepped cylinders;
and
wherein gas flow paths through the stepped cylinders as defined by selective connection and isolation of the first, second and third valves allow the reconfigurable multi-stage gas compressor to function as one of a three-stage compressor and a four-stage compressor.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/971,130Filed 21 Oct 2022 · continuation
Priority: 15 Nov 2019
Published: US 2023/0039317 A19 Feb 2023
Granted: 9 Dec 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

F04B 25/00
Multi-stage pumps
F04B 49/007
Control , e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided…:…
F04B 25/02
Multi-stage pumps: of stepped piston type
F04B 39/16
Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of…:…

Family

Application62/936,066Us provisional application · filed 15 Nov 2019
Application17/097,369Parent of this continuation · filed 13 Nov 2020
US 2023/0039317 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Feb 2023
US 11,549,496 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2021/0148344 A1Published application
US 12,492,695 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.