Liquid-gas contacting pump drive apparatus and method

In a glycol gas dehydrator including a contacting vessel having a gas inlet to receive a wet natural gas, a gas outlet for the discharge of dry natural gas, a dry glycol inlet to receive high pressure dry glycol, a wet glycol outlet for the discharge of high pressure wet glycol, and means within said contacting vessel for providing contact between the wet natural gas and the glycol flowing therethrough;

• a glycol regenerator;
• a first line in fluid communication between said wet glycol outlet and said glycol regenerator;
• a second line in fluid communication between said regenerator and said dry glycol inlet;
• a fluid pump in said second line to receive from said regenerator substantially the entire output of low pressure dry glycol from said regenerator for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• a fluid driven motor in said first line driven by high pressure wet glycol from said contacting vessel;
• a rotary shaft connecting said pump to said fluid motor for providing a portion of the power to drive said pump for pumping substantially the entire output of low pressure glycol from said regenerator to said contacting vessel;
• and
• auxiliary drive means independent of said glycol operably connected to said rotary shaft for supplementing the power provided to said pump by said high pressure wet glycol and said fluid driven motor.

In a system for removing a predetermined component of a gas with a liquid absorber;

• a contacting vessel (T) in which the liquid absorber is in intimate contact with the gas to remove the predetermined component therefrom;
• a treating vessel (R) to receive the liquid absorber with the predetermined component therein for removal of the predetermined component from the liquid absorber;
• a first fluid conduit (16, 20) from the contacting vessel (CT) to the treating vessel (R) to convey the liquid absorber with the component therein from the contacting vessel to the treating vessel;
• a second fluid conduit (18, 15) from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) to convey the liquid absorber without the predetermined component therein from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) thereby to provide a regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• a rotary fluid motor (M) in said first conduit driven by high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• a rotary fluid pump (P) in said second conduit to receive from said treating vessel (T) substantially the entire output of low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• a rotary shaft (24) connecting said fluid pump (P) to said fluid motor (M) for providing a portion of the power to drive said pump for pumping substantially the entire output of low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel (R) to said contacting vessel (T);
• and
• auxiliary drive means (E-1) independent of said liquid absorber operably connected to said pump to provide power to drive said pump supplementing the power provided by said fluid motor.

In a system for removing a predetermined component of a gas with a liquid absorber;

• a contacting vessel (T) in which the liquid absorber is in intimate contact with the gas to remove the predetermined component therefrom;
• a treating vessel (R) to receive the liquid absorber with the predetermined component therein for removal of the predetermined component from the liquid absorber, said treating vessel heating the liquid absorber to a relatively high temperature over around 380 F. to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• a first fluid conduit (16, 20) from the contacting vessel (T) to the treating vessel (R) to convey the liquid absorber with the component therein from the contacting vessel to the treating vessel;
• a second fluid conduit (18, 15) from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) to convey the liquid absorber without the predetermined component therein from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) thereby to provide a regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• a fluid motor (M) in said first conduit driven by high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• a pump (P) in said second conduit to receive from said treating vessel (R) the entire output of low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• means (24) connecting said pump (P) to said fluid motor (M) for providing power to drive said pump for pumping low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel (R) to said contacting vessel (T);
• a bypass conduit (49, 48) downstream of said pump (P) to permit circulation of said regenerated liquid absorber through said pump during start up while bypassing said contacting vessel;
• a separate container (41) of liquid absorber in fluid communication with said second fluid conduit (15, 18) and in fluid communication with said bypass conduit (49,48) to permit said container to be supplied with liquid absorber from said second fluid conduit (15) and said bypass conduit (49, 48);
• and
• valve means (51) for said bypass conduit (49, 48) to control the flow of liquid absorber through said bypass conduit, said valve means (51 ) opening automatically upon start up of the system to permit circulation of said regenerated liquid absorber through said bypass conduit and closing automatically upon normal operation of the systems after start up to block circulation of said regenerated liquid absorber through said bypass conduit.

In a system for removing a predetermined component of a gas with a liquid absorber;

• a contacting vessel (T) in which the liquid absorber is in intimate contact with the gas to remove the predetermined component therefrom;
• a treating vessel (R) to receive the liquid absorber with the predetermined component therein for removal of the predetermined component from the liquid absorber, said treating vessel heating the liquid absorber to a relatively high temperature to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• a first fluid conduit (16, 20) from the contacting vessel (T) to the treating vessel (R) to convey the liquid absorber with the component therein from the contacting vessel to the treating vessel;
• a second fluid conduit (18, 15) from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) to convey the liquid absorber without the predetermined component therein from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) thereby to provide a regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• a fluid motor (M) in said first conduit driven by high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• a pump (P) in said second conduit to receive from said treating vessel (R) the low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• means (24) connecting said pump (P) to said fluid motor (M) for providing power to drive said pump for pumping low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel (R) to said contacting vessel (T);
• a normally closed flow member (45) in said second fluid conduit (18, 15) responsive to fluid flow in said second fluid conduit and maintained in an open position upon flow of liquid absorber to said pump above a predetermined minimum amount;
• and
• means operatively connected to said motor and responsive to said normally closed flow member (45) to stop said motor (M) when said normally closed flow member (45) is closed.

In a system for removing a predetermined component of a gas with a liquid absorber;

• a contacting vessel (T) in which the liquid absorber is in intimate contact with the gas to remove the predetermined component therefrom;
• a treating vessel (R) to receive the liquid absorber with the predetermined component therein for removal of the predetermined component from the liquid absorber, said treating vessel heating the liquid absorber to a temperature adequate to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• a first fluid conduit (16, 20) from the contacting vessel (T) to the treating vessel (R) to convey the liquid absorber with the component therein from the contacting vessel to the treating vessel;
• a second fluid conduit (18, 15) from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) to convey the liquid absorber without the predetermined component therein from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) thereby to provide a regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• a fluid motor (M) in said first conduit driven by high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• a pump (P) in said second conduit to receive from said treating vessel (R) low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• means (24) connecting said pump (P) to said fluid motor (M) for providing power to drive said pump for pumping low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel (R) to said contacting vessel (T);
• and
• stop means (110, 124, 126) to stop said fluid motor (M) in the event the rotational speed of said motor exceeds a predetermined maximum thereby to protect said pump;
• said stop means comprising a diaphragm operated valve (70, 71) in said first fluid conduit upstream of said motor (M) movable between Open and closed position, said diaphragm operated valve being actuated for movement to a closed position in said first fluid conduit upon the reaching of said predetermined maximum rotational speed thereby to block flow of said liquid absorber to said fluid motor.

In a system for removing a predetermined component of a gas with a liquid absorber;

• a contacting vessel (T) in which the liquid absorber is in intimate contact with the gas to remove the predetermined component therefrom;
• a treating vessel (R) to receive the liquid absorber with the predetermined component therein for removal of the predetermined component from the liquid absorber, said treating vessel heating the liquid absorber to a temperature adequate to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• a first fluid conduit (16, 20) from the contacting vessel (T) to the treating vessel (R) to convey the liquid absorber with the component therein from the contacting vessel to the treating vessel;
• a second fluid conduit (18, 15) from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) to convey the liquid absorber without the predetermined component therein from the treating vessel (R) to the contacting vessel (T) thereby to provide a regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• a fluid motor (M) in said first conduit driven by high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• a pump (P) in said second conduit to receive from said treating vessel (R) low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• means (24) connecting said pump (P) to said fluid motor (M) for providing power to drive said pump for pumping low pressure liquid absorber from said treating vessel (R) to said contacting vessel (T);
• means (100, 102) to monitor the temperature differential between hot liquid absorber in said second fluid conduit and the temperature of said pump (P);
• and
• stop means responsive to said temperature differential when said temperature differential exceeds a predetermined amount to stop operation of said motor (M) and said pump (P).

A power unit for a glycol gas dehydrator system in which water and water vapor are removed from natural gas, the power unit operable for positioning in fluid conduits between a contacting vessel and a glycol regenerator;

• said power unit comprising:
• a fluid motor for positioning in one of said fluid conduits to receive high pressure wet glycol from said contacting vessel and to convey low pressure wet glycol to said glycol regenerator;
• a pump for positioning in another of said fluid conduits to receive substantially the entire output of low pressure dry glycol from said regenerator for pumping to said contacting vessel;
• rotatable drive shaft means connecting said fluid motor to said pump for providing a portion of the power to drive said pump for pumping substantially the entire output of low pressure dry glycol from said regenerator to said contacting vessel;
• and
• auxiliary drive means not responsive to said glycol operably connected to said rotatable drive shaft means for said pump to provide power to drive said pump for supplementing the power provided by said fluid driven motor.

A method of removing a predetermined component of a gas under pressure with a liquid absorber, comprising the following steps:

• circulating the liquid absorber through a contacting vessel for intimate contact with the gas therein so that the liquid absorber absorbs said predetermined gas component;
• providing a first fluid conduit between the contacting vessel and a treating vessel for conveying the liquid absorber and gas component to said treating vessel for removal of the gas component from the liquid absorber to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• providing a rotary fluid motor in said first fluid conduit driven by said liquid absorber;
• providing a second fluid conduit between said treating vessel and said contacting vessel for return of the regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• pumping from a rotary pump in said second fluid conduit substantially the entire output of said regenerated liquid absorber from said treating vessel to said contacting vessel;
• connecting said fluid motor to said rotary pump for providing a portion of the power to drive said rotary pump;
• connecting an auxiliary drive means to said rotary pump independent of said liquid absorber to provide a portion of the power to drive said pump to supplement the power provided by said fluid motor and high pressure liquid absorber from said contacting vessel;
• providing a rotary shaft for said rotary fluid motor and said rotary pump;
• and
• driving said rotary pump from said rotary shaft.

A method of removing a predetermined component of a gas under pressure with a liquid absorber, comprising the following steps:

• circulating the liquid absorber through a contacting vessel for intimate contact with the gas therein so that the liquid absorber absorbs said predetermined gas component;
• providing a first fluid conduit between the contacting vessel and a treating vessel for conveying the liquid absorber and gas component to said treating vessel for removal of the gas component from the liquid absorber to provide a regenerated liquid absorber;
• providing a fluid motor in said first fluid conduit driven by said liquid absorber;
• providing a second fluid conduit between said treating vessel and said contacting vessel for return of the regenerated liquid absorber to said contacting vessel;
• providing a fluid pump in said second fluid conduit and pumping said regenerated liquid absorber from said treating vessel to said contacting vessel through said second fluid conduit;
• connecting said fluid motor to said pump to drive said pump;
• providing a bypass fluid conduit for said second fluid conduit downstream of said pump to permit the circulation of liquid absorber in said second fluid conduit through the pump while bypassing said contacting vessel;
• circulating liquid absorber from said pump through said bypass conduit during a start up operation for bypassing said contacting vessel;
• and
• providing fluid control means for said bypass fluid conduit to permit the flow of liquid absorber through said bypass fluid conduit during start up operation and to block flow of liquid absorber through said bypass fluid conduit during normal operation.