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US 4,355,652 AGranted
Purging device
AssigneeNone recorded
InventorLawrence B. Perkins
Life of this patent
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AssigneeNone recorded
InventorLawrence B. Perkins
Estimating the term…
A device and method for purging a liquid carrying conduit with pressurized gas, the device having a reservoir for holding a quantity of gas which is connected to a supply of pressurized gas. The reservoir is also connected to the liquid carrying conduit. In response to a first signal, a first valve isolates the gas reservoir and the supply of pressurized gas and a second valve communicates the reservoir and the liquid carrying conduit. In response to a second signal the first valve communicates the reservoir and the supply of pressurized gas and the second valve isolates the reservoir and the liquid carrying conduit. The first signal can indicate when the liquid carrying conduit is carrying liquid and the second signal can indicate when the conduit can be purged. Preferably, this device can be attached to a gas well separator to prevent freezing of the pipe conveying liquid away from the separator.
A device for use with a separator tank system of the type having a gas and liquid separator tank connected to a holding tank by a holding tank conduit, a gas actuated main valve on the holding tank conduit regulating the flow of liquid therethrough and responsive to gas pressure in a main valve gas conduit, and a liquid level valve responsive to the liquid level in the separator tank for regulating gas pressure in the main valve gas conduit for opening and closing said main valve, the device comprising:
An improved gas well separator of the type having a gas and liquid separator tank connected to a liquid holding tank by a holding tank conduit, a main valve on the holding tank conduit regulating the flow of liquid through the holding tank conduit, the main valve being a gas actuated valve which receives pressurized gas for actuation through a main valve gas conduit, the main valve gas conduit having a regulator responsive to the liquid level in the separator tank for regulating the flow of liquid through the main valve, the improvement comprising:
A method to prevent freezing of a dump line on a gas well separator of the type having a float valve responsive to the liquid level in a separator tank which actuates a dump line valve to regulate the flow of liquid from the separator tank to the holding tank, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
Degasification of liquids: regulation, control including valves and floats
Devices preventing bursting of pipes by freezing: by preventing freezing
Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells: arrangements for separating…
Devices or appurtenances for use in, or in connection with, pipes or pipe systems: arrangement or mounting of devices, e.g. valves, for venting or…
Term ended 21 Jul 2000 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to devices for purging liquid carrying conduits and more particularly to methods and devices for purging liquid carrying conduits with pressurized gas.
2. Background of the Invention
The FIGURE is a schematic view of the present invention shown attached to a gas well separator depicted schematically in a cross sectional view.
Referring now to the FIGURE, the device of the present invention is shown attached to a gas well separator 11. The pipes, valves, etc., are shown schematically. The tanks are shown in schematic cross section.
Separator 11 comprises a separator tank 13 which receives gas and liquid from a gas well through a gas line or pipe 17. As the gas and liquid pass through separator tank 13, the liquid drops out and the dry gas passes out of tank 13 through a dry gas line 15. The liquid from separator tank 13 is periodically removed by way of a pipe 19 and a dump line 33. Pipe 19 opens into the lower portion of separator tank 13 so that liquid at the bottom of the tank 13 will pass into pipe 19. Pipe 19 is connected to dump line 33 which is, in turn, connected to a holding tank 21 which ultimately receives the liquid removed from the bottom of separator tank 13.
The liquid from the gas well which passes into the separator through pipe 17 frequently contains both water and oil. As the water and oil mixture drop out of the gas, the water begins to separate from the oil forming an oil layer 23 above a water layer 25. Normally, it is desirable to maintain this separation since the oil can be more readily sold or used in its separated state. Therefore, when the liquid is conveyed to the holding tank 21, it is desirable to convey only the water layer 25 in this process. A separate valve, not shown in the FIGURE, can be provided on separator 11 to draw off the oil layer 23 at desired intervals.