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US 12,742,445 B2Granted
Greenhouse gas reduction with externally pressurized gas seal and gas lubrication for a reciprocating compressor
OwnerDavid Thomas Stilesinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Externally pressurized gas is used to provide a gas seal and gas lubrication for a piston rod packing unit of a reciprocating compressor. The externally pressurized gas can also be used to provide gas lubrication for the cylinder via flow of the externally pressurized gas through the piston of the reciprocating compressor. The gas seal and gas lubrication can reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from a reciprocating compressor used to compress natural gas.
Claims16
A process comprising:
- permeating a piston gas through a porous media of a piston assembly of a piston of a reciprocating compressor and into a space between an inner surface of a cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and the porous media of the piston assembly, wherein the piston gas comprises a process compatible gas, a secondary gas, or both the process compatible gas and the secondary gas;
- and
- forming, with the piston gas, a gas interface in the space between the inner surface of the cylinder of the reciprocating compressor and the porous media of the piston assembly,
- wherein the gas interface lubricates the piston assembly and the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is not oil lubricated.
1 more element
A reciprocating compressor comprising:
- a prime mover;
- a crank shaft coupled to the prime mover, wherein the prime mover is configured to turn the crank shaft;
- a connecting rod having an end coupled to the crank shaft;
- a crosshead coupled to an opposite end of the connecting rod;
- a piston comprising a piston assembly and a piston rod, the piston rod having an end coupled to the crosshead, wherein the piston assembly comprises a porous media;
- a cylinder having an interior configured for a longitudinal movement of the piston assembly therein;
- and
- a piston rod packing unit, wherein the piston rod extends through the piston rod packing unit;
- wherein a piston gas permeates through the porous media of the piston assembly into a space between the porous media of the piston assembly and an inner surface of the cylinder to form a gas interface between the porous media of the piston assembly and the inner surface of the cylinder,
- wherein the gas interface lubricates the piston assembly and the cylinder during a reciprocating movement of the piston assembly in the cylinder,
- wherein the cylinder is not oil lubricated.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.