US 4,783,961 AGranted

Natural gas pressure differential energy recovery system

OwnerRandall W. Waltersinventor

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Abstract

An energy recovery system is disclosed for recovering energy of highly pressurized natural gas when it is depressurized prior to distribution. The system includes a processing vessel which defines a bounded volume. The vessel is partially filled with water. A shaft extends through an aperture formed in the processing vessel with the shaft reciprocally moveable through said aperture. A conduit connects the high pressure natural gas to a gas inlet disposed within the processing vessel. The inlet is disposed beneath the level of the water within the vessel. Gas flows from the inlet in a predetermined path toward the water level. An exhaust conduit connects an outlet of the processing vessel to an expansion tank. The outlet is disposed above the water level within the vessel. A lift chamber is connected to the shaft and has an opening disposed to admit gas flowing along the predetermined path. The chamber is sized for gas collected within the chamber to urge the shaft to move toward the water level. Valves are provided for releasing collected gas from the chamber when the shaft has moved to a predetermined location. As a result, the shaft continuously reciprocates within the processing vessel as pressurized gas flows to the expansion tank for depressurization. The reciprocating movement of the shaft is utilized to translate the mechanical movement into usable energy for performing work.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An energy recovery system comprising:

a processing vessel (18,18') having wall means defining a bounded volume, said volume at least partially filled with a liquid (30,30');
a shaft (24,24') extending through an aperture (22,22') formed in said processing vessel, said shaft terminating at a free end disposed within said processing vessel, means for sealing said aperture and accommodating reciprocating movement of said shaft through said aperture;
a source (10) of a pressurized gas;
an expansion tank (12) having a gas inlet (14) and a gas outlet (16);
first high pressure conduit means (34,34') for connecting said pressurized gas source in gas flow communication with a first gas inlet (38,38') of said processing vessel (18,18'), said first gas inlet disposed beneath a level (32,32') of said liquid within said processing vessel (18,18') for said gas admitted to said first gas inlet (38,38') to have a tendency to flow in a predetermined path from said first gas inlet to said level (32,32') of said liquid;
exhaust conduit means (42,42') for connecting an outlet (44,44') of said processing vessel (18,18') in gas flow communication with said gas inlet (14) of said expansion tank, said processing vessel oulet disposed above said level of said liquid;
lift chamber defining (146,46,46') means connected to said shaft (24,24') within said processing vessel to define a lift chamber (148,48,48') having a bounded volume with an opening (150,50,50') disposed for admitting into said lift chamber said gas flowing in said predetermined path, said chamber sized for gas collected within said chamber to urge said shaft free end toward said level (32,32') of said liquid;
gas discharge means (156, 56, 56') for releasing collected gas from said chamber when said free end of said shaft has moved toward said liquid level to a predetermined location;
whereby gas may be collected in said chamber and said shaft may be moved to said predetermined location with said shaft moving away from said predetermined location upon discharge of said collected gas from said chamber, said shaft thereby assuming a reciprocating motion which may be utilized to perform work.

6 more elements

An energy recovery system for recovering energy from a high pressurized natural gas comprising:

a processing vessel having wall means defining a bounded volume, said volume at least partially filled with a liquid;
a shaft extending through an aperture formed in said processing vessel, said shaft terminating at a free end disposed within said processing vessel, means for sealing said aperture and accomodating reciprocating movement of said shaft through said aperture;
a source of a pressurized natural gas;
an expansion tank having a gas inlet to receive pressurized natural gas and reduce pressure of gas admitted to said expansion tank;
a high pressure conduit means for connecting said pressurized gas source in gas flow communication with a gas inlet of said processing vessel, said gas inlet disposed to admit gas to flow and collect in a volume of said processing vessel above a level of said liquid within said processing vessel with gas within said volume urging said shaft free end to move toward said level of said liquid;
gas discharge means for releasing gas from said volume and admitting said released gas said expansion tank when said free end of said shaft has moved towards said level of said liquid to a predetermined location;
means for blocking flow of gas from said volume to said expansion tank after said gas has been discharged to permit said shaft to move away from said level of said liquid to a first position;
and
means for recovering energy from said moving shaft as said shaft moves between said first position and said predetermined location.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.