High-throughput diaphragm compressor

A diaphragm compressor system, comprising:

• a first compressor head comprising:
• a head cavity, and
• a diaphragm mounted in the head cavity and dividing the head cavity into a work oil region and a process gas region,
• the diaphragm configured to actuate from a first position to a second position during a discharge cycle to pressurize process gas in the process gas region from an inlet pressure to a discharge pressure, and discharge the pressurized process gas through the first compressor head;
• a hydraulic drive configured to pressurize work oil and provide the pressurized work oil to the first compressor head, the hydraulic drive comprising:
• a drive housing comprising:
• a drive cavity,
• a plurality of ports, the plurality of ports comprising a first distal port and a second distal port, wherein the hydraulic drive is configured to provide a variable-pressure supply of work oil to the drive cavity through one or more of the plurality of ports,
• a first plurality of orifices in communication with both the drive cavity and one or more ports of the plurality of ports, and
• a second plurality of orifices in communication with both the drive cavity and one or more ports of the plurality of ports, and
• a piston subassembly comprising:
• a first diaphragm piston mounted in the drive cavity and comprising a first diameter, wherein a first variable volume region comprises the work oil region of the first compressor head and is defined between the first diaphragm piston and the diaphragm of the first compressor head, and
• an actuator piston located in the drive cavity, the actuator piston dividing the drive cavity into a first actuation volume in communication with the first distal port and the first plurality of orifices and a second actuation volume in communication with the second distal port and the second plurality of orifices, the actuator piston comprising a first side oriented toward the first actuation volume and a second side oriented toward the second actuation volume,
• wherein, during the discharge cycle of the first compressor head:
• the hydraulic drive is configured to provide the variable-pressure supply of work oil through the second distal port to the second actuation volume to press against the second side of the actuator piston to drive the actuator piston, driving the first diaphragm piston to actuate the corresponding first compressor head, intensifying the work oil in the first variable volume region to an intensified pressure, and actuating the diaphragm of the first compressor head to the second position,
• the drive cavity is configured to dampen the driving of the actuator piston due to a volume of work oil in the first actuation volume that vents through the first plurality of orifices during driving of the actuator piston, and
• the first plurality of orifices is configured to be open to the first actuation volume when the driving of the actuator piston begins, and the first plurality of orifices being progressively covered by the actuator piston during the driving, increasing a damping force of work oil remaining in the first actuation volume against the first side of the actuator piston.