US 2018/0037307 A1Published application

Ultra-high pressure regulator and a method of using the same

AssigneeADA Technologies, Inc.

InventorsAndrew Timon Brewer, Thierry Carriere

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A need exists for a tank regulator that can reduce a pressure of more than about 4,300 psi to a much lower pressure. The present disclosure describes a piston regulator that allows for pressure to be reduced from an inlet pressure of about 5,000 psi or more to outlet pressure of about 2,000 psi or less. The regulator includes intermediate chambers to provide step-down pressures along the piston. The internal chambers enable to hold pressure differentials between the high-pressure inlet and the low-pressure outlet. The pressure in the intermediate chambers is maintained by a pressure-limiting valve to control the pressure differentials across piston seals. These seals allow the piston to actuate while maintaining a seal between the various pressure chambers.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

an inlet channel for introducing a pressurized gas having an inlet gas pressure, wherein the inlet pressure:
(i) applies a lifting force to a first piston contained within a first regulator channel, wherein the applying of the lifting force breaks a gas-tight seal between a first piston seat and the first piston;
(ii) applies the inlet gas pressure to a lower last dynamic pressure-sealing element surface of a last dynamic pressure-sealing element, and
(iii) introduces the pressurized gas into a first piston channel to:
(a) flow the pressurized gas to an outlet;
and
(b) convert the inlet gas pressure to an outlet gas pressure, wherein the inlet gas pressure is greater than outlet pressure, wherein the first piston channel traverses the first piston longitudinal axis;
a second regulator channel for applying a second fluid pressure to both the upper last dynamic pressure-sealing element surface and to a lower intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element surface, wherein the upper and lower last dynamic pressure-sealing element surfaces are in an opposing relationship,
wherein the inlet gas pressure is applied to the lower last dynamic pressure-sealing element surface,
wherein the outlet gas pressure is applied to an upper first dynamic pressure-sealing element surface, wherein the upper and lower first dynamic pressure-sealing element surfaces are in an opposing relationship,
a first pressurized gas to apply a first fluid pressure to a lower first dynamic pressure-sealing element surface and the upper intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element surface,
wherein the inlet pressure is greater than one or both of the first and second fluid pressures, and
wherein the outlet pressure is no greater than one or both of first and second fluid pressures.

10 more elements

A device, comprising:

a first regulator channel configured to accept a first piston having a first piston groove, a last piston groove, and an intermediate piston groove positioned between the first and last piston grooves;
wherein the last piston groove contains a last dynamic pressure-sealing element having upper and lower last dynamic pressure-sealing element surfaces, wherein the upper last dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subjected to a second pressure, wherein the lower last dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subjected to a fourth pressure, wherein the fourth and second pressures exert different pressure forces on the last dynamic pressure-sealing element,
wherein the intermediate piston groove contains an intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element having upper and lower intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element surfaces, wherein the upper intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subject to the first pressure, wherein the lower intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subject to the second pressure, wherein the second and first pressures exert different pressure forces on the intermediate dynamic pressure-sealing element,
wherein the first piston groove contains a first dynamic pressure-sealing element having upper and lower first dynamic pressure-sealing element surfaces, wherein the upper first dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subject to a third pressure, wherein the lower first dynamic pressure-sealing element surface is subject to the first pressure, wherein the third and first pressures exert different pressure forces on the first dynamic pressure-sealing element, and
wherein the fourth pressure is more than first pressure.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.