Cold gas dryer for compressed natural gas
AssigneePrice Compressor Company, Inc.
InventorBilly F. Price
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process and apparatus for dehydrating natural gas while filling a compressed natural gas storage vessel are provided. The natural gas is dehydrated through a process of compression, followed by expansion for cooling, and freezing or condensation of water from the cooled gas onto the surface of a moisture collecting material. The invention provides dehydrated compressed natural gas which can be used to supply natural gas vehicle filling stations.
Claims11
A process for dehydrating natural gas vehicle fuel while filling a compressed natural gas storage vessel for subsequent transfer of the gas to vehicle fuel tanks comprising:
- supplying natural gas to a compressor;
- compressing the natural gas to a pressure equal to a pressure desired in the compressed natural gas storage vessel at completion of filling;
- rapidly reducing the pressure of the natural gas to a pressure about the same as a pressure contained in the compressed natural gas storage vessel during filling;
- directing the natural gas across a moisture collecting material;
- and
- supplying the natural gas to the compressed natural gas storage vessel.
A system for drying natural gas vehicle fuel while filling a compressed natural gas storage vessel for subsequent transfer of the gas to vehicle fuel tanks, comprising:
- a compressor for compressing natural gas and providing the compressed natural gas;
- a pressure controlling means for receiving the compressed natural gas from said compressor, and keeping a substantially constant discharge pressure on said compressor while inducing a pressure drop in the natural gas stream;
- a dehydrator vessel containing a moisture collecting material having a large surface area for contacting natural gas and dehydrating same;
- and
- a storage vessel for receiving the dehydrated compressed natural gas and storing same for dispensing as a vehicle fuel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.