Configurable fluid compression apparatus, control, and associated methods

A method comprising:

• fluidly coupling an inlet line to a first location;
• fluidly coupling a discharge line to a second location;
• fluidly coupling a compressor to the inlet line and to the discharge line, the compressor including:
• a first compression cylinder;
• a second compression cylinder coupled to the first compression cylinder;
• a first piston movable within the first compression cylinder;
• and
• a second piston movable within the second compression cylinder and coupled to the first piston to move with the first piston;
• positioning a valve along the inlet line downstream of the first compression cylinder and upstream of the second compression cylinder;
• and
• fluidly coupling a bypass line between the valve and a location along the discharge line, the location upstream of the first compression cylinder and downstream of the second compression cylinder, the valve to:
• when the valve is in a first position, restrict fluid from flowing from the first location to the bypass line and enable the fluid to flow to the second compression cylinder, movement of the first piston in the first compression cylinder and the second piston in the second compression cylinder to compress the fluid to a first pressure and expel the compressed fluid to the second location via the discharge line, and
• when the valve is in a second position, restrict the fluid from flowing to the second compression cylinder and enable the fluid to flow through the bypass line, the movement of the first piston in the first compression cylinder to compress the fluid to a second pressure and expel the compressed fluid to the second location, the movement of the second piston in the second compression cylinder to cause existing fluid in the second compression cylinder to cycle through the second compression cylinder via the bypass line.

An apparatus comprising:

• first means for enabling fluid flow therethrough fluidly coupled to a first location;
• second means for enabling fluid flow therethrough fluidly coupled to a second location;
• means for compressing fluidly coupled between the first means for enabling fluid flow therethrough and the second means for enabling fluid flow therethrough, the means for compressing including:
• first means for receiving fluid;
• second means for receiving fluid coupled to the first means for receiving fluid;
• first means for sliding movable within the first means for receiving fluid;
• and
• second means for sliding movable within the second means for receiving fluid and coupled to the first means for sliding to move with the first means for sliding;
• means for switching positioned along the first means for enabling fluid flow therethrough downstream of the first means for receiving fluid and upstream of the second means for receiving fluid;
• and
• third means for enabling fluid flow therethrough fluidly coupled between the means for switching and a location along the second means for enabling fluid flow therethrough, the location upstream of the first means for receiving fluid and downstream of the second means for receiving fluid, the means for switching to:
• when the means for switching is in a first position, restrict fluid from flowing from the first location to the third means for enabling fluid flow therethrough and enable the fluid to flow to the second means for receiving fluid, movement of the first means for sliding in the first means for receiving fluid and the second means for sliding in the second means for receiving fluid to compress the fluid to a first pressure and expel the compressed fluid to the second location via the second means for enabling fluid flow therethrough, and
• when the means for switching is in a second position, restrict the fluid from flowing to the second means for receiving fluid and enable the fluid to flow through the third means for enabling fluid flow therethrough, the movement of the first means for sliding in the first means for receiving fluid to compress the fluid to a second pressure and expel the compressed fluid to the second location, the movement of the second means for sliding in the second means for receiving fluid to cause existing fluid in the second means for receiving fluid to cycle through the second means for receiving fluid via the third means for enabling fluid flow therethrough.