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US 2025/0067283 A1Published application
Intensification system and method
AssigneeKraft Werks Group, LLC
InventorEdward A Dray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An intensifier system comprising at least two intensifiers configured in series, wherein each intensifier in the series is configured to generate a greater pressure in a process medium than the preceding intensifier. A process medium pilot-operated check valve is configured between each intensifier to operate normally as a check valve (e.g., closed) and to operate in a bypass mode when piloted (e.g., open), allowing for both full bypass and enhanced control over a smoother depressurization of the intensifier system without the need for assistance from external devices.
Claims12
An intensifier system, comprising:
- at least two intensifiers configured to fluidly couple in series, each intensifier configured to increase a pressure of a process medium and comprising:
- a control medium chamber configured to fluidly couple to a control medium inlet and a process medium chamber configured to fluidly couple to both a process medium intensifier inlet and a process medium intensifier outlet,
- wherein an orientation of the process medium intensifier inlet represents an upstream direction relative to the intensifier and
- wherein an orientation of the process medium intensifier outlet represents a downstream direction relative to the intensifier;
- a process medium inlet check valve configured to fluidly couple between the process medium system inlet and the process medium intensifier inlet of the first intensifier in the series;
- at least one of a process medium pilot-operated check valve, wherein each process medium pilot-operated check valve is configured to fluidly couple between the process medium intensifier outlet of the upstream intensifier and the process medium intensifier inlet of the downstream intensifier;
- a process medium pilot-operated two-way valve configured to fluidly couple between the process medium system outlet and the process medium intensifier outlet of the last intensifier in the series;
- and
- a control system, comprising:
- at least one control medium power unit configured to fluidly couple to at least one control medium proportional control valve,
- wherein each of the intensifiers is configured to fluidly couple to one of the control medium proportional control valves;
- at least one proportional integration regulator,
- wherein each of the proportional integration regulators is configured to electronically couple to one control medium proportional control valve;
- and
- at least one process medium pressure sensor configured to detect a process medium pressure at the process medium system outlet;
- and
- a programmable logic controller configured to execute a control system logic comprising a sequence of commands, comprising:
- during a pressurization phase, pressurizing each of the intensifiers in sequence from the first intensifier in the series to the last intensifier in the series,
- wherein each intensifier is pressurized until a process medium pressure reaches the lesser of a process medium test pressure and a process medium transition pressure,
- wherein the process medium transition pressure is the maximum process medium pressure generated by the intensifier,
- wherein the process medium pilot-operated check valve that is configured to fluidly couple to the process medium inlet of the intensifier being pressurized is operated in a closed position when the intensifier is being pressurized;
- during a depressurization phase, depressurizing each of the intensifiers in sequence from the last intensifier in the series to the first intensifier in the series,
- wherein each intensifier is depressurized until a process medium pressure nears, but does not reach, the process medium transition pressure of the upstream intensifier in the series,
- wherein the process medium pilot-operated check valve that is configured to fluidly couple to the process medium inlet of the intensifier being depressurized is operated in a closed position during the depressurization of the intensifier and is operated in an open position after the intensifier has been depressurized;
- and
- depressurizing all the intensifiers until the process medium pressure reaches zero.
23 more elements
A method for operating an intensifier system, comprising:
- during a pressurization phase, pressurizing a first intensifier until a process medium pressure nears a process medium transition pressure,
- wherein the process medium transition pressure is the maximum process medium pressure generated by the intensifier;
- and
- pressurizing a second intensifier until the process medium pressure reaches a process medium test pressure,
- wherein a pilot-operated check valve is configured to fluidly couple in series between the first intensifier and the second intensifier,
- wherein the pilot-operated check valve is operated in a closed position during the pressurization of the second intensifier;
- during a depressurization phase, depressurizing the second intensifier;
- opening the pilot-operated check valve when the process medium pressure nears, but does not reach, the process medium transition pressure of the first intensifier;
- and
- depressurizing both of the intensifiers until the process medium pressure reaches zero.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.