Reciprocating Compressor Inlet Valve Using Discharge Gas Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reciprocating compressors vent low-pressure gas to atmosphere or recovery systems, making it unusable, which is undesirable.
Innovation Solution
An inlet valve system that uses high-pressure gas from the discharge side of the compressor to control the opening and closing of the inlet valve, eliminating the need for venting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If low-pressure gas is vented to atmosphere or recovery systems, then the inlet valve control is simple, but the gas is wasted and cannot be utilized
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the high-pressure gas from the discharge side to automatically control the inlet valve opening and closing, eliminating the need for external low-pressure gas sources or venting systems. The high-pressure gas serves dual purposes: driving the compressor and controlling the valve timing
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding vented gas to atmosphere, the system recovers and utilizes the high-pressure discharge gas for inlet valve control, converting what would be waste into a useful control medium that improves overall gas utilization efficiency
2Loss of energy
If high-pressure gas is used to control inlet valve opening and closing, then gas utilization efficiency is improved, but the valve control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The high-pressure discharge gas performs multiple functions: it drives the compressor compression process and simultaneously controls the inlet valve timing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control gas systems while improving gas utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a control valve assembly that mediates between the high-pressure discharge gas and the inlet valve, translating high-pressure gas availability into precise valve timing control without requiring complex external control systems
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
Prevents venting of gas by maintaining the inlet valve in an open or closed position using higher pressure gas, ensuring efficient utilization of the gas within the compressor system.
Implementation Method 1
flowing a control gas from the high pressure gas source to the rear element surfaces... where the control gas applies a second pressure to each of the rear element surfaces to maintain each of the inlet valve elements disengaged
Implementation Method 2
Each inlet valve element may be configured to move between a closed position to an opened position by applying differential gas pressures to a front element surface of a front element portion of the inlet valve element and to a rear element surface of a rear element portion of the inlet valve element
Data Source
AI summary
An improved inlet valve system for a cylinder chamber of a reciprocating compressor and a method for utilizing a high pressure gas source to control an inlet valve system for a cylinder chamber of a reciprocating compressor is disclosed. The inlet valve system may include an unloader, a valve assembly including a cylindrical valve body circumferentially disposed about a central axis of the inlet valve system, and a control valve actuator including a control valve body. The valve assembly may include a plurality of inlet valve elements disposed respectively in valve element ports fluidly connected to a control valve passage. A high pressure gas source is utilized to hold open and close the inlet valve elements via the control valve passage in order to control the capacity of the reciprocating compressor.