Method and apparatus for resisting disabling fouling of compressors in multistage compression systems

2:

• The system according to claim 1, wherein said compressor does not have any valves.

4:

• The system according to claim 3, wherein said first compressor does not have any valves, and wherein said second compressor does not have any valves.

5:

• The system according to claim 3, wherein said first compressor does not have any valves, and wherein said second compressor does have one or more valves.

7:

• The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to vary a speed of operation of said compressor to maintain an operating temperature of said compressor below a predetermined threshold temperature.

8:

• The system according to claim 7, further comprising a backpressure regulator provided at a suction side of said compressor.

11:

• The system according to claim 10, wherein said first compressor does not have any valves, and wherein said second compressor does not have any valves.

12:

• The system according to claim 10, wherein said first compressor does not have any valves, and wherein said second compressor does have one or more valves.

13:

• The system according to claim 10, wherein said first compressor is a rotary lobe blower compressor, a screw compressor, or a Lyscholm compressor.

14:

• The system according to claim 10, wherein said second compressor is a reciprocating piston compressor.

16:

• The system according to claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to vary a speed of operation of said compressor to maintain an operating temperature of said compressor below a predetermined threshold temperature.

17:

• The system according to claim 16, further comprising a backpressure regulator provided at a suction side of said compressor.

19:

• The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for resisting disabling fouling is a pressure ratio of said compressor that provides a desired discharge temperature that remains below a temperature at which any contaminants entrapped or dissolved within the solvent are chemically degraded for a given upstream gas pressure, a given upstream gas temperature, and a given specific heat for the gas flow.

20:

• The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for resisting disabling fouling is a type of compressor that does not have any valves.

21:

• The system according to claim 18, wherein said means for resisting disabling fouling includes a controller configured to vary a speed of operation of said compressor to maintain an operating temperature of said compressor below a predetermined threshold temperature.

22:

• The system according to claim 21, further comprising a backpressure regulator provided at a suction side of said compressor.

24:

• The method according to claim 23, wherein the resisting of disabling fouling of the compressor is performed by controlling a discharge temperature of the compressor.

25:

• The method according to claim 24, wherein the discharge temperature is controlled to remain below a temperature at which any contaminants entrapped or dissolved within the solvent are chemically degraded.

26:

• The method according to claim 24, wherein the discharge temperature is controlled by providing the compressor with a pressure ratio selected to provide a desired discharge temperature for a given upstream gas pressure, a given upstream gas temperature, and a given specific heat for the gas flow.

29:

• The method according to claim 28, further comprising:
• supplying solvent to the gas passage downstream of the first compressor and at or upstream of the second compressor to entrap or dissolve the contaminants in the gas flow.

31:

• The method according to claim 23, wherein the solvent is lubricant used to lubricate the compressor.

32:

• The method according to claim 23, wherein the resisting of disabling fouling of the compressor is performed by using a type of compressor that is not susceptible to being disabled by fouling as the first compressor.

33:

• The method according to claim 32, wherein the type of compressor used as the compressor does not have any valves.

34:

• The method according to claim 32, wherein the type of compressor used as the compressor is a rotary lobe blower compressor, a screw compressor, or a Lyscholm compressor.

35:

• The method according to claim 24, wherein the resisting of disabling fouling of the compressor is further performed by using a type of compressor that is not susceptible to being disabled by fouling as the compressor.

36:

• The method according to claim 28, wherein the resisting of disabling fouling of the first compressor is performed by using a type of compressor that is not susceptible to being disabled by fouling as the first compressor.

37:

• The method according to claim 36, wherein the resisting of disabling fouling of the second compressor is performed by using a type of compressor that is not susceptible to being disabled by fouling as the second compressor.

38:

• The method according to claim 36, wherein the second compressor is a type of compressor that does have one or more valves.

39:

• The method according to claim 23 further comprising varying a speed of operation of the compressor to maintain an operating temperature of the compressor below a predetermined threshold temperature.

40:

• The method according to claim 39, further comprising providing a backpressure regulator at a suction side of the compressor.