Air Compressor Nitrogen Switching for Faster Gas Pipeline Purging

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing leakage test for gas pipelines in ME-GA (low-pressure dual fuel propulsion) engines requires a separate, expensive compressor and takes about 4 hours due to low-pressure nitrogen generation, increasing testing time and cost.

Innovation Solution

A nitrogen compression system utilizing an air compressor to generate compressed nitrogen for purging gas pipelines, incorporating diverter valves and decompression valves to manage air and nitrogen flow, reducing the need for a separate high-priced compressor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate compressor is used to compress nitrogen for leakage test, then nitrogen can be compressed to required pressure, but the compressor is expensive and has low capacity resulting in long compression time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen compression capabilityVSAvoidcompression time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The air compressor is designed to perform multiple functions: it compresses air for engine starting and also compresses nitrogen for leakage testing. By making the compressor universal, the system eliminates the need for a separate dedicated nitrogen compressor, thereby reducing equipment cost and utilizing the compressor's full capacity for both purposes without being limited by low-capacity specialized equipment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the air compression system and nitrogen compression system into a single integrated compressor unit. The compressor can switch between compressing air and nitrogen based on operational requirements, merging two previously separate functions into one system. This consolidation reduces the number of equipment pieces and leverages the compressor's high capacity for efficient nitrogen compression during leakage tests

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a separate compressor is used to compress nitrogen for leakage test, then nitrogen compression can be performed, but the compressor is expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenitrogen compression capabilityVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The existing air compressor serves itself by also handling nitrogen compression tasks. Instead of requiring an additional separate compressor for nitrogen, the system uses the already-installed air compressor for dual purposes, making the system more cost-effective by avoiding redundant equipment investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system reduces the time and cost of leakage testing by using an air compressor with greater capacity to generate compressed nitrogen, eliminating the need for a separate compressor and shortening the testing duration.

Implementation Method 1

an air compressor which generates compressed air used to support starting of an engine for propelling the hull and supplies the compressed air to the engine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression

Data Source

PatentUS12613004B2Nitrogen compression system for leakage test on gas pipeline used for engine and vessel including the same

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 HANWHA OCEAN CO LTD (KR)

AI summary

A nitrogen compression system for a leakage test on a gas pipeline used for an engine according to the present invention includes: a nitrogen generator which is installed on a hull and generates nitrogen; a nitrogen storage tank which stores the nitrogen generated from the nitrogen generator; an air compressor which generates compressed air used to support starting of an engine for propelling the hull and supplies the compressed air to the engine; an air supplier which supplies air to the air compressor; and a first diverter valve which is installed on a first diverter pipeline connecting the air supplier, the nitrogen storage tank, and the air compressor and is controlled to supply any one of air and nitrogen to the air compressor. When the first diverter valve is controlled to supply nitrogen to the air compressor, compressed nitrogen compressed by the air compressor is used to purge a gas pipeline connected to the engine.