Multi-stage compressors and associated systems, processes and methods
OwnerRoy Edward McAlisterinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multi-stage compressors for compressing and/or liquefying gases are disclosed herein. A multi-stage compressor in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a cylinder bank having a plurality of cylinders. A first insert having a first inside diameter can be positioned within a first individual cylinder, and a second insert having a second inside diameter, smaller than the first inside diameter, can be positioned within a second individual cylinder. A first compression piston can be positioned within the first individual cylinder to compress the gas to a first volume and a second compression piston can be positioned within the second individual cylinder to compress the gas to a second volume, smaller than the first volume.
Claims21
A multi-stage compressor comprising:
- an engine block having a plurality of compression cylinders and a plurality of combustion cylinders;
- a plurality of compression pistons, individual compression pistons operably positioned at least partially within corresponding compression cylinders;
- a plurality of combustion pistons, individual combustion pistons operably positioned at least partially within corresponding combustion cylinders;
- a crankshaft operably coupled to the compression pistons and the combustion pistons, wherein the combustion pistons are operable to rotate the crankshaft and drive the compression pistons to compress gases;
- a production line operably coupled to the compression cylinders and configured to transport the compressed gases;
- and
- a plurality of heat exchangers operably coupled to the production line to cool the compressed gases.
A multi-stage compressor for compressing gases, the multi-stage compressor comprising:
- an engine block having a plurality of compression cylinders and a plurality of combustion cylinders;
- a plurality of compression pistons, individual compression pistons operably positioned at least partially within corresponding compression cylinders;
- a plurality of combustion pistons, individual combustion pistons operably positioned at least partially within corresponding combustion cylinders;
- a crankshaft operably coupled to the compression pistons and the combustion pistons, wherein the combustion pistons are operable to rotate the crankshaft and drive the compression pistons;
- and
- a plurality of inlet ports, individual inlet ports positioned to deliver gases to corresponding compression cylinders, wherein the individual inlet ports are disposed at an angle to their corresponding compression cylinder, and wherein the angle is selected to produce a swirl to gases that are delivered to the compression cylinders via the inlet ports.
A multi-stage compressor for compressing a gas, the multi-stage compressor comprising:
- a cylinder bank having a plurality of cylinders;
- a first insert positioned in a first individual cylinder and having a first inside diameter;
- a second insert positioned in a second individual cylinder and having a second inside diameter, smaller than the first inside diameter;
- a first compression piston positioned within the first individual cylinder;
- and
- a second compression piston positioned within the second individual cylinder, wherein the first compression piston compresses the gas to a first volume, and the second compression piston compresses the gas to a second volume, smaller than the first volume.
A method for compressing gases, the method comprising:
- combusting fuel in a plurality of combustion cylinders to reciprocate pistons and rotate a crankshaft;
- driving compression pistons positioned within corresponding compression cylinders via the crankshaft to compress gases;
- and
- transporting the gases through a plurality of heat exchangers via a production line.
A method for compressing gases, the method comprising:
- injecting gases into a compression chamber;
- inducing a swirl to the gases;
- and
- compressing the gases with a compression piston.
A multi-stage compressor for compressing a gas, the multi-stage compressor comprising:
- a plurality of cylinders;
- a crankshaft with a plurality of throw magnitudes to articulate a plurality of pistons;
- a first compression piston attached to the crankshaft and positioned to reciprocate within a first compression cylinder;
- and
- a second compression piston attached to the crankshaft and positioned to reciprocate within a second compression cylinder, wherein the second compression piston is reciprocated a smaller magnitude by the crankshaft than the magnitude reciprocated by the first piston, and wherein the first compression piston compresses the gas to a first volume, and the second compression piston compresses the gas to a second volume, smaller than the first volume.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.