Inlet Booster for CNG Reciprocating Compressor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CNG stations are custom-designed and inflexible, requiring significant time to build and relocate, and are energy inefficient due to the need to de-pressurize and re-pressurize gas, limiting flow capacity control.
Innovation Solution
An inlet booster is introduced to raise inlet pressure and increase flow throughput, allowing for adjustable flow control and accommodating a wide range of gas pressures, integrated with a high-pressure reciprocating compressor to enhance efficiency and flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional CNG stations are custom-designed for specific site conditions, then they can meet equipment design specifications, but they take a long time to build and are difficult to relocate
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor is designed with a universal inlet pressure range capability, allowing it to operate directly with various inlet pressures (including low pressures down to 0 psig) without requiring site-specific customization or inlet regulators. This enables the same equipment design to be deployed across different site conditions, reducing both build time and relocation difficulty.
2Reliability
If an inlet gas regulator is used to modify site conditions to meet equipment design specifications, then the compressor can operate within design parameters, but gas pressure is sacrificed and energy efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor design incorporates variable inlet pressure capability through adjustable compression ratios and variable speed drive technology. This allows the compressor to accept a wide range of inlet pressures (0-200 psig) and adjust its operating parameters accordingly, eliminating the need for inlet regulators that would de-pressurize the gas before compression.
3Ease of operation
If fixed speed compressors are used, then the system is simpler to operate, but flow capacity control is not permitted
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor system incorporates variable speed drive technology that allows dynamic adjustment of the compressor speed to control flow capacity. This enables the system to adapt to varying demand conditions while maintaining ease of operation through automated control systems that adjust speed based on required flow rates.
4Loss of energy
If the compressor accepts low inlet pressure directly, then inlet regulators are eliminated and energy efficiency improves, but the compressor design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The compression process is divided into multiple stages with intercooling, allowing each stage to handle a smaller pressure ratio. This segmentation enables the compressor to efficiently handle low inlet pressures without requiring excessive compression ratios in single stages, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining energy efficiency.
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 achieves increased flow capacity, reduced energy consumption, and cost savings by allowing adaptation to varying site pressures and load requirements, with the inlet booster positioned to optimize dryer design and reduce equipment needs.
Implementation Method 1
the inlet booster comprises an upfront booster to raise the inlet pressure going into a high pressure compressor
Implementation Method 2
a compressor component including a reciprocating compressor for further increasing the pressure of the natural gas
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a natural gas compression system, comprising a gas inlet component for the entrance of natural gas into the system, a booster component for increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a drying component for drying the natural gas, a compressor component including a reciprocating compressor for further increasing the pressure of the natural gas, a valve control panel and storage component, and a dispensing component.