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US 2026/0287479 A1Published application
Multipoint gas input switching
AssigneeEcoTec Solutions, Inc.
InventorJamie Tooley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas input switching device (also referred to as a “multipoint system”) receives gas samples from multiple gas sources (e.g., gas wells or other gas source) for testing using a gas analyzer (e.g., a laser sensor). Advantageously, using the multipoint system discussed herein, multiple individual gas sources may be analyzed by a single gas analyzer by alternating input to the gas analyzer between the multiple gas lines, such as according to a multipoint switching algorithm.
Claims20
A multipoint gas analyzer system comprising:
- a plurality of gas intake lines coupled to respective of a plurality of gas sources positioned at different locations of a gas extraction site;
- a plurality of sensor valves coupled at first ends to respective gas intake lines and at second ends to a gas analyzer flow line, wherein each of the sensor valves is configured to selectively allow gas to pass through the sensor valve;
- a plurality of priming valves coupled at first ends to respective gas intake lines and at second ends to a priming flow line in communication with a negative pressure source, wherein each of the priming valves is configured to selectively allow gas to pass through the priming valve;
- a gas analyzer coupled to the gas analyzer flow line and configured to identify a concentration of at least one constituent gas of gas in the gas analyzer flow line;
- and
- a controller comprising one or more microprocessors, the controller electronically configured to selectively activate individual ones of the plurality of sensor valves and individual ones of the plurality of priming valves to at least:
- allow gas from a first gas source to flow through the gas intake line into the gas analyzer at a first time while priming a second gas source by allowing gas from the second gas source to flow through the priming flow line;
- stop the gas from the first gas source from flowing through the gas intake line;
- and
- allow gas from the primed second gas source to flow through the gas intake line into the gas analyzer at a second time while priming the first gas source or a third gas source by allowing gas from the first gas source or the third gas source to flow through the priming flow line;
- wherein the controller is configured to prioritize gas sources based on one or more environmental factors and at least one of recent gas concentration levels or operational efficiency.
8 more elements
A method of analyzing gas from multiple sources at a gas extraction site using a multipoint gas analyzer system, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of gas intake lines, each coupled to a respective gas source positioned at different locations of the gas extraction site, wherein a plurality of sensor valves are coupled at first ends to respective gas intake lines and at second ends to a gas analyzer flow line, wherein each sensor valve is configured to selectively allow gas to pass through, and wherein a plurality of priming valves are coupled at first ends to respective gas intake lines and at second ends to a priming flow line in communication with a negative pressure source, wherein each priming valve is configured to selectively allow gas to pass through;
- performing gas analysis using a gas analyzer coupled to the gas analyzer flow line, configured to identify a concentration of at least one constituent gas of gas in the gas analyzer flow line;
- and
- controlling, via a controller comprising one or more microprocessors, the selective activation of individual sensor valves and priming valves to at least:
- allow gas from a first gas source to flow through the gas intake line into the gas analyzer at a first time while priming a second gas source by allowing gas from the second gas source to flow through the priming flow line;
- stop the gas from the first gas source from flowing through the gas intake line;
- and
- allow gas from the primed second gas source to flow through the gas intake line into the gas analyzer at a second time while priming the first gas source or a third gas source by allowing gas from the first gas source or the third gas source to flow through the priming flow line;
- wherein the controller is configured to prioritize gas sources based on one or more environmental factors and at least one of recent gas concentration levels or operational efficiency.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.