Methods and devices for constructively using the pressure pulsations in reciprocating compressors installations

A method of using a pulse charging effect to enhance a volumetric efficiency of a reciprocating compressor, the method comprising:

• providing a gas circulation device between a valve of the reciprocating compressor and a volume bottle buffering the reciprocating compressor from an installation, wherein the gas circulation device is configured to have a resonance frequency that is substantially equal to a frequency of performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor;
• and
• controlling timing of actuating the valve to constructively use the pressure pulses inherently occurring in the gas circulation device to enhance the volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.

A method for retrofitting a reciprocating compressor installation in which an output or an input of a reciprocating compressor is buffered by a volume bottle from the rest of the installation, the installation being retrofitted to use a pulse charging effect of the reciprocating compressor to enhance a volumetric efficiency thereof, the method comprising:

• modifying a gas circulation device by connecting an output or an input of the reciprocating compressor to the volume bottle, by adding at least one acoustic resonator to a pipe of the gas circulation device, to make the gas circulation device to have a resonance frequency substantially equal to a frequency of performing compression cycles in the reciprocating compressor;
• and
• connecting a valve between the reciprocating compressor and the gas circulation device to a controller configured to control timing of actuating the valve in order to constructively use the pressure pulsations occurring in the gas circulation device, to enhance a volumetric efficiency of the reciprocating compressor.