Air Compressor Systems for Remote Settings

A method of compressing air, the method comprising:

• selectively routing process fluid from an upstream portion of a pipeline to an expander, via an input line, the pipeline including a valve between the upstream portion and a downstream portion;
• expanding the process fluid with the expander so that the expander rotates to power a compressor, the compressor thereby operating to receive air via an air input line and to output compressed air to an air tank via an air output line;
• and
• routing the expanded process fluid from the expander into the downstream portion of the pipeline via an output line.

An air compressor system, comprising:

• a process fluid portion, including:
• a pipeline section that includes a valve defining an upstream portion and a downstream portion of the pipeline;
• and
• an expander in fluid communication with the pipeline, the expander configured to selectively receive process fluid from the upstream portion of the pipeline via an input line and provide expanded process fluid to the downstream portion of the pipeline via an output line;
• and
• an instrument air portion, including:
• a compressor in mechanical communication with the expander to be powered by rotation of the expander, the compressor being configured to receive air for compression at an inlet;
• and
• an air tank in fluid communication with an outlet of the compressor, the air tank configured to supply compressed air from the compressor to one or more pneumatic instruments;
• wherein flow of process fluid from the upstream portion of the pipeline to the downstream portion of the pipeline, via the expander, powers the compressor to supply the compressed air to the air tank.