Gas Compressor Cleaning via Recycled Cooling Liquid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning gas compressors, especially in natural gas processing, are inefficient and costly, often requiring offline shutdowns or complex online systems that can disrupt operations and have environmental drawbacks, as they struggle to effectively remove fouling deposits without damaging the compressor.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the extraction of a fluid from an intermediate stage of the gas compressor to separate into gas and liquid phases, where the liquid phase is accumulated and reintroduced to the compressor inlet to remove deposits, utilizing the existing fluid stream for cleaning without a dedicated solvent, allowing for online operation and reduced system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If offline cleaning is used to remove deposits from the compressor, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but system downtime and loss of productivity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses its own process fluid to perform cleaning functions. The compressor continues to operate while a portion of the process fluid is diverted to accumulate liquid phase, which is then injected back into the compressor for cleaning, eliminating the need for external cleaning operations and shutdowns
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning operation is performed continuously during normal compressor operation rather than requiring shutdown. The system continuously diverts process fluid, accumulates liquid phase, and injects it back into the compressor to maintain cleaning action throughout operation
2Reliability
If dedicated solvent is added to clean the compressor online, then cleaning function is achieved, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase due to permanent nozzles and piping systems
Solution Approach 1:
The process fluid serves multiple functions: it acts as both the process medium for compression and the cleaning agent. The same fluid that is being compressed is diverted to accumulate liquid phase and then injected back for cleaning, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cleaning solvent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning function is extracted from the main compression process by diverting a portion of the process fluid through a separate accumulation path. This allows the cleaning function to be performed using the process fluid itself without requiring permanent nozzles and piping systems dedicated solely to cleaning
3Reliability
If process fluid is diverted to accumulate liquid phase for cleaning, then cleaning capability is improved, but fluid flow to compressor may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system operates in cycles where process fluid is diverted to accumulate liquid phase during normal operation, then the accumulated liquid is injected back into the compressor for cleaning. This periodic action allows sufficient fluid to be accumulated for effective cleaning while maintaining continuous operation and adequate fluid flow to the compressor
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
This approach effectively removes deposits from gas compressors while maintaining operational efficiency, increasing compressor performance, and can be performed quickly without shutting down the processing system, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
supplying the accumulated liquid phase to the inlet of the gas compressor during a cleaning operation so as to remove the deposited solid material from the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A method and corresponding gas processing system for cleaning deposited solid material from a fouled portion of a gas compressor whilst the gas compressor is in situ in a natural gas processing system are provided. Cleaning of a gas compressor is achieved by accumulating liquid removed from cooling gas used for cooling the gas compressor and supplying the accumulated liquid to an inlet of the gas compressor in order to remove deposited solid material from the gas compressor. The cooling gas is extracted from an intermediate stage of the gas compressor.