Linear natural gas compressor with hydraulic motor
AssigneeThe Williams Companies, Inc.
InventorTyler King
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for evacuating gases from a source to destination includes a natural gas compressor that is driven by hydraulic pressure, which may be available from a passenger vehicle, trailer or other transport. The compressor can be constructed as a three-stage reciprocating compressor operably connected to a hydraulic motor through a rotary-to-linear transmission.
Claims18
A system for transferring gases from a source to a destination, the system comprising:
- a hydraulic pump;
- a hydraulic circuit;
- and
- a compressor connected to the hydraulic pump through the hydraulic circuit, wherein the compressor comprises:
- a first stage section;
- an inlet line connected between the source and the first stage section;
- a second stage section;
- a third stage section;
- a discharge line connected between the third stage section and the destination;
- a common shaft extending through the first stage section, the second stage section, and the third stage section;
- a hydraulic motor connected to the hydraulic pump through the hydraulic circuit;
- and
- a transmission connected between the common shaft and the hydraulic motor, wherein the transmission comprises a rotary-to-linear mechanism.
A system for recovering pressurized gas that would otherwise be vented to atmosphere, comprising:
- a gas source defining an isolated volume of gas;
- a gas destination having a pressure equal to or greater than a pressure of the gas source;
- a reciprocating gas compressor fluidly connected between the gas source and the gas destination and configured to transfer gas from the gas source to the gas destination without venting the gas to atmosphere;
- and
- a drive system operably coupled to the reciprocating gas compressor, wherein the drive system comprises:
- a hydraulic pump that supplies a pressurized working fluid;
- and
- a hydraulic motor driven by the pressurized working fluid and configured to impart reciprocating motion to the reciprocating gas compressor.
A method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from pipeline or compressor operations, comprising:
- isolating a volume of pressurized gas from a pipeline, pig trap, or compressor component;
- fluidly connecting the isolated volume of pressurized gas to a reciprocating compressor;
- driving the reciprocating compressor using energy derived from a pressurized working fluid;
- compressing the isolated volume of pressurized gas using the reciprocating compressor;
- and
- reintroducing the compressed gas into a pipeline, compressor suction, or compressor discharge line without venting the compressed gas to atmosphere.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.