Assemblies and methods for enhancing diversion of gas and/or fluid from operation of a reciprocating compressor

A reciprocating compressor comprising:

• a cylinder;
• a piston rod having a first end connected to a crankshaft;
• a piston connected to a second end of the piston rod and being positioned to reciprocate in the cylinder, via rotation of the crankshaft, from a first position to a second position during a suction stroke, and from the second position to the first position during a discharge stroke;
• a packing assembly through which the piston rod passes between the crankshaft and the cylinder, the packing assembly providing an at least partial fluid seal between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the compressor;
• a diversion passage extending between the cylinder and the interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor, the diversion passage providing a flow path for fluid at a first pressure from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus;
• and
• a valve associated with the diversion passage and positioned to control pressure in the diversion passage, thereby to enhance diversion of the leakage fluid to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor or the collection apparatus.

A packing assembly to enhance diversion of leakage fluid from a cylinder of a reciprocating compressor to an intake of the reciprocating compressor, the packing assembly comprising:

• (a) a packing gland having a gland body and at least partially defining:
• (i) a gland aperture extending axially through the gland body and positioned to receive a piston rod of the reciprocating compressor therethrough, and
• (ii) a diversion aperture extending axially through the gland body and partially defining a diversion passage positioned to receive fluid flow at a first pressure;
• and
• (b) a plurality of packing rings axially extending from a cylinder end to a gland end and connected to the packing gland via the gland end, one or more of the plurality of packing rings having a respective ring body and at least partially defining a respective ring aperture extending axially through the respective ring body, the respective ring aperture of each of the one or more packing rings at least partially defining a packing cylinder passage positioned to received therethrough the piston rod of the reciprocating compressor, the one or more packing rings further at least partially defining:
• a diversion passage positioned to extend between the cylinder and an interior cavity of the reciprocating compressor, the diversion passage providing a flow path for fluid at the first pressure from the cylinder to one or more of (a) an intake of the reciprocating compressor or (b) a collection apparatus, via the diversion aperture of the packing gland, thereby to divert leakage fluid from the cylinder to the one or more of the intake of the reciprocating compressor during operation or the collection apparatus.