Air-Driven Degasser Assembly Seal Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air motor leaks in directly mounted degasser systems contaminate sample gas and make leak detection difficult, diluting hydrocarbon measurements and introducing errors due to the mixing of air and lubricating oil, and the direct mounting design complicates maintenance and operation.
Innovation Solution
A degasser drive configuration that isolates the degasser seals from air motor leaks by spacing the air motor away from the degasser chamber and using a diverter to redirect leaking air away from the degasser shaft seals, ensuring that air leaks do not contaminate the gas samples and allowing for easier inspection of the air motor without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the air motor is directly mounted to the degasser, then the space needed is reduced and vibration is reduced, but air leaks from the motor contaminate the sample gas and make leak detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the air motor from the degasser chamber by positioning the motor outside the chamber and using a drive shaft that penetrates the chamber wall. This segmentation isolates the motor's air leaks from the sample gas environment while maintaining mechanical coupling for drive transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a drive shaft as an intermediary element that transmits mechanical power from the air motor to the degasser impeller while physically separating the motor from the sample gas chamber. The drive shaft acts as a mediator that allows motor operation outside the chamber while still driving the internal components.
2Device complexity
If the air motor is directly mounted to the degasser, then the number of assembly components is reduced, but leak detection becomes difficult and maintenance is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the air motor from the degasser chamber, the patent enables independent access to the motor for inspection and maintenance. The motor can be removed and serviced without disassembling the degasser chamber, facilitating easier leak detection and repair while maintaining relatively simple assembly requirements.
3Productivity
If high pressure and high flow rates are used in the air motor, then degasser performance is improved, but air leaks from seals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air motor from the sample gas chamber environment and positions it outside the chamber. This removes the harmful effect of air leaks from the motor seals from the sample gas processing environment, allowing high pressure and flow rate operation without contaminating the sample gas with leaked air.
Data Source
AI summary
Degasser assemblies, systems and methods, including an air-driven degasser assembly that includes a degasser having a drive shaft with a seal that inhibits intrusion of ambient air and an air motor having a motor shaft that drives the drive shaft. The motor shaft is distinct from or integral to the drive shaft, and the air motor is positioned to direct air leakage around the motor shaft away from the seal.